1930s Marx Tin Litho Mechanical Cat Wooden Ball Toy Key Parts Repair

Vintage pre-owned condition with heavy age and play wear. The mechanical action does not work when tested and the toy is being sold as-is for parts, repair, restoration, or display. Tin body has substantial lithograph loss, scratches, scuffs, oxidation, surface rust, discoloration, dents, bent or misaligned areas, and wear around the seams and tabs. Wooden ball has heavy paint loss and staining. Tail and moving components show oxidation and wear. Includes the blue metal key shown, but it is unknown whether the key is original or correct for this toy. Please examine all photos closely for condition and completeness. DESCRIPTION Vintage circa-1930s Louis Marx & Co. lithographed tin mechanical cat toy featuring a large yellow bow and a red wooden ball held between its front paws. The circular MAR-X logo is visible near the cat's rear leg. Marx used a logo consisting of MAR within a circle with a large X through it. This style was designed so the mechanical cat would move forward while playing with or pushing the wooden ball. Similar Marx examples are commonly described as lever-action or mechanical cat-with-ball toys. Measures approximately 8 1/2 inches long, excluding the extended tail. The mechanism is currently nonfunctional. No attempt has been made to open, lubricate, adjust, or repair it.