Bagatelle
Marx Toys
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1954
Materials
Plastic and cardboard.
Measurements
22 mm (height); 250 mm (diameter)
Place of origin
Great Britain
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662373
Summary
A plastic bagatelle-type game called 'Donald's Acroball', (circa 1954), featuring Donald Duck and other Disney characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald's nephews, Dumbo, Chip and Dale, and Pluto. Images of these are colour-printed on a red background on the cardboard backing, all fairly small apart from Donald who is almost as big as the backing. The cover is made from moulded clear plastic which is now slightly scratched and dirty. Moulded on the inside of the cover are one large and seven small semicircular 'cups' for catching the balls when fired. The game is mainly circular except for the 'firing' part which projects to the right of the base. Inside this piece is a silver-coloured metal rod with a red plastic knob, which has a red plastic 'finger' on the end. The metal rod is inside a spring which becomes the 'firing' mechanism. Above this, extending up the side of the circular piece for approximately 10cm is the 'home' for the balls. There are five coloured plastic balls in red, green, yellow, blue and black. Printed in black at the lower edge of the backing cardboard is 'Brit. Pat. No. 712557, Copyright Walt Disney Productions'. When investigated, this patent was taken out in 1954. Printed in black on a white circle is 'Marx Toys Trademark, Made in Gt. Britain'. Printed in red on a yellow background in the balls' 'home' is 'Return Balls Here' with a black arrow showing the direction in which they should be rolled.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mrs Christine Brumbill in September 2006.
Makers and roles
Marx Toys, maker