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A very few full size walking
Frank Marshall figures are know to exist. I myself only know of 2
that are outside of my own collection, one being Champagne Charlie
at the Vent Haven Museum, and another owned by Mr. Bob Abdou. I
myself own 2 of Marshall's walking figures and here is one of them.
I have taken some close up shots
showing the way the mechanism is attached to the left hand so that
while walking the ventriloquist can control the movement of the
mouth. On this particular example it is done with a long lever up
the arm attached to a cord which is then attached to a brass lever
on the underside of the shoulder board and then again attached to
the mouth lever on the head stick.
My other walking figure has this
mouth movement accomplished by a squeeze bladder in the hand which
runs to the mouth.
This figure is large and stands about 50" tall. The legs are all
basswood and are jointed as well as the arms which are also basswood
and jointed. The arms are attached to the shoulders with metal
straps to facilitate the weight when walking the figure. These do
weigh in at around 20 pounds.
This fellow has moving side to side self centering eyes and also
slot jaw. The paint and wig on the head have been redone, the paint
is around 40 years old. I replaced the wig.
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