"Safe Driving School" Windup Toy Car, 1950-1960

01

Artifact Overview

In 1919, Louis Marx and his brother David founded their New York City toy company, with the aim of producing high-quality toys at reasonable prices. They quickly became one of the most popular toy companies in America and, by the 1950s, were considered the world's largest toy manufacturer. Tin wind-up toys, like this car, were one of their specialties.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Toy car

Date Made

1950-1960

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

2011.148.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Tin (Metal)
Plastic

Technique

Lithography

Color

Ivory (Color)
Green
Black (Color)
Yellow (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 2.25 in
Width: 2.5 in
Length: 6.5 in

Inscriptions

Printed on hood: LEARN / TO / DRIVE Printed on trunk: DUAL CONTROL / DRIVER / TRAINING / CAR / 305 Printed left side: CAR NO. 1 / SAFE DRIVING SCHOOL / (within logo) MAR /TOYS / MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NEW YORK, NY Printed right side: SAFE DRIVING SCHOOL / CAR NO. 1