Other additional components were available, too, fabric drapes, or a swimming pool with slide, a white picket fence, yard toys. Mint in box, latter now sells for $100 or more.

It's easy to see how art imitated life in above house description of that era, but it's a bit sad and shocking when one learns that 1962 model replaced garage with a bomb shelter, although they also added new 'family room,' as well.

Marx continued to produce metal dollhouses, particularly spruced up Colonnade and Colonial models until end of 1970 when company went out of business. They'd provided sturdy, attractive houses at reasonable cost to at least two generations of American children. Today, they are readily available in secondary market at attractive prices.

Barbara Cohen, Littleton, N.C., owns a (mint in box) T. Cohn metal dollhouse, #66, 1950 model made for Superior Toys. It sold for $3.98. 'I can't decide to sell it or to build it,' says Cohen. 'It's a real treasure.' A metal dollhouse featured in 1948 Montgomery War Christmas catalog appears to be first modern metal design. Manufactured by T. Cohn in Brooklyn, N.Y., house had six rooms and sundeck with five windows and a front door that opened. Original price was $4.75. Most of early Cohn models had hipped gable roofs and were clearly labeled with company name--'T. Cohn Inc. Made in U.S.A.' They produced metal dollhouses from 1950s into early 1960s, almost as long as Marx, though not as successfully.

The Wolverine Supply & Mfg. Co., was founded in 1903 by Benjamin Bain. The Pennsylvania plant designed tools and dies, but got into toy business when a customer went bankrupt before he could take delivery on his sand toy manufacturing equipment.

Wolverine went from gravity-action sand toys (1913) to housekeeping toys (1920s) to Rite-Hite toy kitchens (1959) to dollhouses (1972-1990). They designed seven dollhouses, none of which was up to standards of very well-made houses bearing other name brands. Like those others, though, each sold complete with plastic furniture. Proud owner of small Wolverine Ranch House is Dorothy McKinsey of Bremerton, Wash. 'I got it a couple years ago at a thrift shop for only $5.' Present value is $30 to $50, so Dorothy bought a real treasure for pennies on dollar.

If child in you longs for a dollhouse, it seems as if an old metal dollhouse may be way to go. Because there were thousands produced, many are available on today's market. Besides that, all furniture in plastic awaits your interior decorating pleasure. But that's another story!