Our display, pictured above, was acquired via eBay in two separate auctions, years apart.

The Flubber Gallery was previously not aware of the existence of a Twistables store display. But like almost every other Marx product line, a display (called a "demonstrator") probably existed, somewhere. These demonstrators were essential to selling their new products. Most often these displays were mass produced; but occassionally they were created solely for toy indusrtry trade shows. The story of how this display came to be recovered is an internet-age detective story of sorts, or just dumb luck..

The distinctive yellow cardboard Twistables sign picturing Mickey Mouse, was purchased first, (for $30) in 1996. The sign, which was a rarity in itself, came with an original Marx Factory manila envelope stamped "Demonstrator" – which indicates that the sign was intended as a store display, or was part of one. In the same envelope was a vintage printed instruction sheet illustrating how to assemble an unfamiliar multi-tiered store display -- topped by the yellow sign. The instruction sheet was the first indication that a large Twistables store display existed.

About 5 years later, by sheer chance, an odd, multi-tiered display stand with Marx Twistables glued onto it caught our attention on eBay. Without a product name or company brand, the red and yellow wooden display appeared to be homemade. However, the display bore a strong resemblance to the one pictured on the instruction sheet that came with our original Twistable cardboard sign (remember?) bought years earlier on eBay. We were intrigued, and easily won the auction. When the display stand arrived, and was set up, there was a distinctive notch on the top of the center yellow wooden pole. Our original yellow Twistables cardboard sign also had a notch, at its bottom. Amazingly, the yellow cardboard sign effortlessly slipped into the top notch, thus re-uniting and completing the rare 1961 piece - 40 years later! Now, where's the original Marx factory shipping box? - AW