popeyecollector

A member of our local marble club who specializes in peewees was showing his prized collection at a marble show when a collector showed a keen interest in one very fine peewee. "Sorry, it is not for sale." - the peewee collector replied to a buy inquiry. The prospective buyer did not give up. "Would you take $1,000 for it? The peewee collector replied, "Would you like a bag for that? Sorry, I do not remember what the $1,000 peewee was. Big Indian

These are not play or impact injuries to the agate marble. Agates fracture to the inside forming a subsurface "moon." Kids used to soak their damaged agate shooters in lard to make the moons less visible. The marks you see were preexisting imperfections in the raw agate pieces that went deeper than the surface. Your agate was probably a second tier product of the grinder. Agate marble shooters were only one of many agate products that were made in Germany from the Brazilian geodes - nodules. (when the German supply was exhausted in the early 1800's.) They also made agate cane heads, teapot handles, book covers and jewelry to name a few. The Russians even had an agate room in the Czarist imperial palace. (Still there but in disrepair.)

I collect -- pre-1950 Popeye (Thimble Theatre characters - Olive Oyl, Wimpy, etc.) Krazy Kat toys early Felix the Cat toys lightning rod balls, etc. early novelty clocks (Ansonia is my favorite) anything vintage with a crow or raven (like Rookwood and Steiff) I move on when the prices get too high ! ! Yes, I own a big mint Indian swirl. sign me --- Big Indian - no braid - (Locks of Love got the braid . . . )

It looks to be coated with something like oil, epoxy or some other exotic. Doubt that it is in water. But hardly a normal looking surface.

Let's get the newer collectors up to date on the three big same cane clowns that were found and sold on the East Coast some years ago by Elliot Pincus. The dynamic trio - including a single pontil end of cane - eventually were sold at auction on separate lots for jaw dropping amounts along with hefty buyers' premiums. Someone must have more information: size, pictures and a record of the five figure prices paid for those clown beauties. Big Indian

I agree with the last few posts. The large single potil end of cane Indian swirls are beautiful, quite rare and expensive. Condition and more and different colored surface canes the better. Smaller examples recently coming from Lauscha are rumored to have been dug -- sold, then cleaned up and have a modern ground pontil. Big Indian - no braid

From the left in the box - row #2, column #2. What is that marble?

The Akro salesman's case looks like a much wiser investment than one Cotes Master loaf marble!

Could not locate the gutta percha pictures but here are the china pictures and Hansel's Indian single pontil. Popeyecollector As far as having a documented origin, these marbles were found in an old porcelain factory in Effelder-Rauenstein, less than 10 miles from Lauscha, as the crow flies. Attached Thumbnails Even more small chinas I picked that last pic just because ... and then I saw that the yellow dot on that top one of the group of three was special. This pic has a closer up view of the yellow dot. #69 hdesousa As far as origin goes, here is the only antique German marble I've seen, where the probable maker is known. This marble (1 13/16" or 46 mm) was recently bought from a 60 year old, who said her grandfather, Fritz Greiner-Perth, made the marble in Kühnertshütte, Lauscha. Attached Thumbnails

Again, WOW !! I was blown away by some of the recent and archival pictures that have surfaced on this Board: - the mint assortment of decorated chinas that was discovered stored in a porcelain factory near Lauscha, - Hansel's beauriful and large single pontil Indian swirl with probable provinance tracing it back to its maker, - and still an enigma, those psychedelic gutta percha marbles. These all belonng in museums . . . Do hope some skilled person out there can organize these marbles for an easy view. Big Indian with no braid

Mibcapper sez, "Not much interest." Too bad Shane. China marbles that were decorated - unglazed and glazed - be it lines, spots, leaves, bird tracks, flowers, elaborate designs or scenes - were all done by hand. Glass cane cut marbles and agates were also hand manipulated by labor intensive activities. All these were created at the whim and the artistic skill of the frantic cottage industry worker. Many of us appreciate their work and admire their production. Same goes in spades for the under appreciated contemporary marble makers of today. Those marble making people of today are truly creative and should be viewed with awe for the orbs they are turning out. But, sadly no. The machine mades of the last hundred years have grabbed the spotlight and made some all gaga and deeply invested in what has been spit out by robotic factories. They were turned out daily by the boxcar load, a pattern dictated by the luck of the batch mix, and tweaking of the machines by the plant engineer. Who then went home and let a night shift try to keep the process going 24/7. Add beer bottles, lawn chairs and a sleepy crew - now machine collectors have pigeon holed these low quality control factory products ad nauseum. Sure, some are beautiful. But not many beauts existed in a boxcar, workers lunch bucket or a factory dump site. Great hype on some discoveries, but . . . When I was a kid I marveled at how far my Wrist Rocket slingshot could send a machine made marble up the calm Blue River in Nebraska. And let's never forget, as the prices continue to go up - those scoundrels in China, Bulgaria, etc. with their torches, furnaces and growing skills will soon be able to dead on reproduce any marble -- as has been done with so many other collectables. Can we discuss this and not turn it into a brawl . . . Big Indian -- no braid "Stay thirsty my friends."

Isn't there a simple techniqe that marble polisher Leroy Johnson talked about using Windex spray or liquid dish detergent? Moisten the suspected marble with Windex, then try to pick it up between your thumb and index finger -- polished marbles are slippery and hard to hold. Not an exact science but a start . . . Chime in Leroy. Big Indian, no braid

Lloyd, Nice Popeye boxes. Were these "gem picks" from the grain elevator give away group that you bought some years ago? I bought a yellow Popoeye box from you at that time. Steve

It is great to see that many of us do not need to spend the equivalent of multiple house payments to own a nice marble. Big Indian, no braid

George was quite a man with very diverse interests and talents. I acquired a number of his great marbles over the years; wish I had bought more! He will be missed. My sympathy to Betty and the family . . . Respectfuly Steve

I agree with Steph. All this Board needs now are profanity laced tirades from the Dark Side to spiral us out of control. People, let's come to our senses . . . Big Indian

Moderator, Thanks for setting up the link on the eBay auction. On my computer - I need to click on the sold banner to see additonal views of the tournament medal, felt patch and that really great paper crown. I have the felt Marble King patch and brass tournament medal but could not see pushing to $250 or whatever just to get the paper crown. [ Probably my foolish error.] ~~~ Anyone know of such a paper crown for sale? ~~~ I like our threads where we stay on topic where good marble information and questions are shared and hopefully discussed. Big Indian

Sorry, I do not know how to do the eBay call up of this auction Item: #181144919987 it just closed on eBay for $214.00 . Looked like a bargain price for a Marble King brass tournement medal, felt patch and a paper crown. What is the history of the Barry Pink - Marble King tournaments? Did these tourmanents lead to a national contest or were they a Marble King barn storming promotion? Big Indian

lstmmrbls, I completely agree with your words. I too can well remember past problems. People who live in glass houses ... Big Indian

Excellent responses to my questions on the Akro spinner cup. Thanks ...

Most shows are large and the location, quantity, price and quality of merchandise gets confusing. I take a pocket notebook with me when I room hop - taking notes on which room numbers had what. This saves me lots of time avoiding rooms that I have previously visited and allows me to quickly find sellers and marbles that I want to revisit. Big Indian

How do those Akro spinner cups work? Do they just make the cork pattern or is there more to it? Vane number? Number of colors? Position and locaion on the machine? Thanks

It looks to me like another one of those messed up Pelts. BAZINGA!

This is a bit of marble trivia you may find interesting -- A friend underwent physical therapy to restore strength and sensitivity to his fingers. An exercise that the physical therapist had him do was to locate and dig marbles out of a softball sized glob of molding clay. What other uses??

All of us from the early days of marble shows fondly remember Lynn. He was the gentleman at every show - who found, bought and sold many of the most beautiful hand made marbles that I have ever seen ! ! ! Those marbles that he preserved and passed on to loving collectors are his legacy. Rest in peace Lynn . . . Steve Nelsen