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I retired back in 1998 and a Realtor friend, Landon Daniels, collected marbles and invited my wife and I over to visit him and see his collection. He put a quilt on the table and opened his safe and started showing some rare or HTF machine-mades and handmades, saying this one is $1,000; this one $2,500; this one $600, etc. He also showed me his shooter Peltier Superman and a Vacor Serpent and mentioned a "little bit" of value difference, even though they looked pretty much the same - especially to me since I knew zip at that time. He said there are many others that are hard to tell apart so "learn before buying". We went to a SeaTac Show in Tacoma a couple months later (just on the Saturday show day) and looked around - ended up buying one marble - a Marble King Bumblebee shooter for $5. After that, I started looking online and determined that buying packaging (mainly marble bags by MK, Peltier, etc.) was a good way to learn about marbles. Of course there were some fantasy bags being made around that time but they were not ones made by marble companies so I knew something was off. Alan Basinet and I got together online and communicated about these fake bags and started letting buyers on eBay know that they were bidding on fake bags (back then you could communicate with buyers and warn them). However, as we all know, eBay needs their fees so soon they changed it so you could not communicate directly with buyers through eBay. But, you could still see the ID of who was bidding and figure out how to get ahold of them and still warn them. Six months later or so, eBay found that out also and quit showing the ID of who was bidding, etc. and here we are today with a "buyer beware" mentality of eBay (and other sites). Oh, by the way, bags were "the thing" for me and 4,000 plus later, they still are. I did heavily collect Akro corks, metallics, Ravenswood and various other machine made marbles over these 25+ years.

It started for me in the mid 1980s. Maybe 85 or so. I was visiting my grandparents and my mother went up in the attic and found her old marbles from when she was a kid. There were marbles from the early 1960s on back to turn of the century. I collected anything you can imagine, and knowing they were old interested me. Then when we were at a local antique store, I noticed the owner had some marbles in a case behind the desk. I asked him about them and he loved how much I was interested, so he started telling me about those cool corkscrews I liked so much and others. He sold me a few as I could afford them and I was totally hooked. I asked for old marbles everywhere I went. I thought I had it bad back then... lol if I only knew. But it's just fun, what really matters isn't made of glass.

Some of mine

A few of mine

Master Tigers Eyes

I would again like to thank all the people that respond to my many posts. I have been off work due to surgery. Today I found out I will be off for another month to recover. Marbles have really been a bit of a savour for me. Therapeutic for sure! I have had down days, and I head down to my office, sort marbles, take pictures and post them here. When I guess one right, or find something really cool, it makes me happy. I have learned so much in a short time on this site. Sometimes I get over zealous and post a bunch in one day. I apologize if sometimes I fill the page. Just know, this is a day I am sitting, and healing in my own way. Thank you again to all that respond to my posts. I have had some dm chats with some of you, and welcome anyone to drop me a message. All the best to all of you. And thank you one more time!

Ultimate Japanese transitional score from the Seattle marble show!!!

A couple of my favorite Sistersville Alleys . . .

I am no saint but I will not account for any misbehavior towards new collectors (or others for that matter). There are no stupid questions—just ask and be rewarded. This place—“The Marble Connection” is the oldest marble collecting site on Earth. (Maybe the whole Universe) We are all here to further the knowledge of these cute little orbs known as many years as humans have been together and enjoying the partnership that has been bringing us together for many years, all of us together—regardless of whatever. I just love this stuff—just love it—all are included—“All “for sure from “newbie” to Expert. Let’s just keep it to marbles and enjoy each other’s opinions—politics and otherwise can be talked about elsewhere. This is a marble site—let’s just talk marbles and keep it there. What a great thing to talk about and discuss---(and they do not take too much room) Marble—On!!

Very hard to choose, but if I had to . . . A Periwinkle cork on a translucent green base. Akro 🤩

My wife and I collected "slag glass" and McCoy pottery together for many years. Auctions, flea markets, estate sales, yard sales--etc etc. Then one day at an antique mall in Oshkosh WI we found this book by the Hardy’s--What? They made marbles too?? This pushed the limit for me--then I found a book by Everit Grist--off we went. Of course we had friends that collected other things that thought that we were "nuts" about collecting marbles. I had a friend "gift me" a coffee can full of marbles from her ex. I dumped them out and said---oh no--These are too valuable for a gift. About $7,500 later she knew. This was about 30 years ago and they still hold their value. About forty books later--here I am. Then the internet changed it all. I still have the marbles that my mom gave me from her dad--one was beat up like Chads Akro slag ( nice one by the way)--mine was a Oxblood Eggyolk--just a killer old used up marble. Grandpa played marbles---no doubt. Marble--On!!

These are my faves--for today at least. Yep! Akro Patches from Les Jones (rip)--killer marbles--just killer. Marble-On!!

I have had a few pocket marbles over the years but the "magic bean" is the one I've carried ever since I found it digging the Alley Pennsboro site with Nola, Ron and Billy. It's one of my favorite things. 🙂

A couple of my favorites.

Some pictures of the display 🎉 Thank you all who made this possible Forever thankfull Marble On Brothers and Sisters !!!! 🙏⚓️♥️

Some cool Ravenswood Novelty marbles dug by David Tamulevich in the late 1990’s

Last bunch

A few more

This one is nuts!

Last two for this Akro Friday, promise. Coral on Blue, it looks like a translucent base, but light doesn't shine through at all. Oxblood cork on a butterscotch or custard base 19/32"

I bought this postcard for a couple bucks I suppose maybe 25 or 30 years ago in an antique store and I put it in this art deco frame I already had that once held a picture of a famous actor named Robert Taylor. The frame has a hinged backdoor and I thought I'll take a peek and see who and where did this get mailed and when. So the back reads. From Ellen Owen to Miss Bertha Buttles in Ricketts PA. Ricketts PA is a ghost town. There is a State Park nearby named Ricketts Glen near where that town once existed between Williamsport and Wilkes Barre. This was delivered around April 1, 1907. I'd hate to be a post office employee trying to figure out this chicken scratch. I can't make out the town New whatever PA it is from. I am glad it made it's way to me. I have it right in with my framed cats eyes marbles now.

Probably my best find of 2024: Peltier “Yellow Lantern” 🟡 Looking forward to ‘25!

I am very fond of my spotted dicks. From the Advent Calendar my marble friends surprised me with in 2019.

I got this in the mail today.

I collected coins for 45 years or so. Just hung it up and these keepers are locked in a safe. My last active venture was chasing ancients. Most are silver Greek and Roman coins and a Shipwreck 8 Reale coin. I know what they are but the info is on a spreadsheet. Just eye candy for you I hope. Here's a collage of what I have in that dept.

MK Monday / 6-Panel Cub Scout with heavy red accents

Here is the start of my long-promised replacement of the seam tutorial I accidentally deleted a couple of years ago. Some companies are known for more swirly marbles. Some are known for having lines or patches of colors which run from seam to seam or pole to pole. If marbles have poles or seams it is helpful to show them when looking for IDs. Rather than try to define the jargon I'll start by posting examples. And rather than wait until I have all the photos ready, I'll post them as I take them. So here I am starting with some Master-made marbles. Masters often have relatively small U-shaped or V-shaped seams or "cutlines". Some people might consider them to have "poles" where the ribbons come together on top and bottom. I took photos of both poles here. Sometimes seeing both ends can help with the ID.

She was one of my first oxbloods. She's pretty.

What a great time y'all! Thanks to everyone who came!! Lots of people from around the country, loads of marbles and money changing hands! Great people, new and old friends, people I can't wait to see from show to show. Good food, awesome hotel and staff, and on a few occasions I heard how well sales were. Debbie said she thinks this was a record show for sales, another guy said this one smashed all previous shows for sales. I couldn't be happier! Check out the pics, also shown are a couple pics of some of us eating pizza provided to showgoers on Friday night The welcome screen on the TV screen in the event center was provided by the hotel owner, a surprise to us! What a great family owned and oriented hotel... they really go the extra mile to accommodate us and make us welcome every time. 5 of 5 stars without hesitation!

I guess you’d call this a liberty? Picked up today

Multiple views of one of my favorite

It's with great excitement and anticipation that I am now FINALLY able to enable the site for ordering! *Be sure to follow the instructions when ordering so that we can match the book order to the Paypal or Venmo payment when it comes through* When submitting payment, be sure to put the unique order number in the notes for your payment of Venmo or Paypal so we know which payment matches the order. We have the site set to 1 or 2 book orders (many folks want one to use for study and one to keep mint). If you want more, you can order as many times as you like or if you want combined shipping, contact me and I'll get it figured depending on how many books you get. If you need to mail a payment then message me. We also plan to have books at the Des Moines show in a couple weeks. Thank you! Here is the link: wvswirls/ This is a quality, durable hard cover book with about 277 pages made of one hundred pound gloss paper with a super strong sewn binding. There are approximately 14,000 photos compiled and separated into their respective factories and in the case of Alley Agate, separated by factory location. Images are sharp detailed offset printed in Canada and the publishing itself was done here in the USA in South Carolina by Palmetto Publishing. The cover has a gloss lamination protectant and the book is about three and a half pounds, ~1 inch thick and 9x11. The quality is that of a reference book and the print is that of an art book. The book is $115 shipped with insurance or $218 for two. If you have trouble ordering or can't pay with the methods offered, feel free to message me.

Blood pool

When I first started collecting, it was for any Akro I could get my hands on of course, and back then money was always tight. The Cobalt and wispy White were one of the first combinations I actively hunted, couldn't get enough of them, but I had to sacrifice in other areas in my life in order to afford these back then, and now they have a sentimental place in my collection . What I love now is Orange, love that Akro Orange, all 254 shades and transparency/opaqueness of it lol (please don't take that seriously, I have no idea how many different Oranges there are). I also love Spirals, translucent bases, Periwinkle Blue, marbles that 'appear to be same run' and finding them at different times and locations, and certain dug marbles. I know I'm all over the place but it's all Akro. Here are some of my Akro out in the Florida sun ☀️, usually when I take my marbles outside it's to get them out of the path of a hurricane 🌪️⛈️ So this was nice.

This one even featured a few from my collection. A lot of lingering questions were answered in this video. Thank you @stephenb!

Akro Friday 1. Red, Orange, and Blue Special 5/8" 2. Red and Orange Special 3. Double stream Orange and Yellow on an Amber base 19/32" 4. Orange Spiral 5/8" 5. Orange, Yellow, and Lavender 21/32"

Marble King 😍 Enjoy 😁

Found with Tiger Eyes.

Several oxblood Greiners and a couple lutz!

Two Popeyes with that Colbalt Blue 1 Orange Cobalt and Green Popeye 5/8" 1 Red and Cobalt Blue Popeye 11/16"

Two four color Specials: 1 Orange based Special 21/32" 1 Yellow based Special 5/8"

This picture turned out okay! DAS necklaces and keychains from 2015

Just pick out your favorite marble/marble related item and post it. I will!😁--a really tuff assignment, I know--just pick your favorite today--still tuff but here goes--- I never met Nadine MacDonald in person. She was the pinnacle of”just being a nice person” that collected marbles. She shared all of her knowledge freely and never with any contempt for those who challenged her. She was a “Marble Jedi” for sure. (She did know her Pelts very well) She also made some hand painted and glazed marbles that should be cherished by all. This one is one inch and I feel blessed just to have it. Marble—On Nadine!!

My best Onionskin . . . 1 15/16" . . . okay, so it's my only Onionskin. Turns out I'm starting to fancy hand-mades. Heaven help me . . .

Simple but rare 3-ribbon cork.

1” Slag that is our favorite for two reasons, we love slag’s and how we came upon it. Was at our first major auction with many local collectors. Didn’t have a clue about marbles since we had just started collecting (spring 2023). All the seasoned collector’s bought every lot except the last one, I think they felt sorry for us. Was in the bottom of the dish all covered up. After that moment we were hooked.