Ric

Thanks for showing those, Steve. I too wonder whether Akro packaged those Hot Shot bags. They were so big on branding it seems strange there is no mention of "Akro" on the bags. In addition, I've wondered if those bags are related to the Big Shot mesh bags, which were filled with WV swirls. Some Big Shot bags were jobbered by Pressman and others were packaged by Heaton Agate.

The postal zone makes sense. For a minute, I thought maybe the label was made in Japan. But if that were the case, you might expect to see "Printed in Japan"? According to one source: On Thursday, February 20, 1964, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for ALOX and the name was first used on 4/1/1919. (http://www.trademarkia.com/alox-72187101.html). So it would seem that mine were packaged sometime after the trademark was registered. As for the ones you show . . . ?

Any reason they couldn't be rejects from a patch run gone bad? The colors match some of Akro's patches too.

Dani, People would definitely see you coming. They are really bright. I had to grab 'em. The other kind of cool thing is how the patterns on the two laces line up almost perfectly in the package to make a checkerboard pattern. I'm a little perplexed by the "Made in Japan" and the "14MO" after St. Louis on the label Al shows. Anyone have thoughts?

Those look like marbles to me too. Here are some Alox shoe laces . . . but no marbles on the label, unfortunately.

I agree with Alley for the OP, and here are a few more dug Akro swirls for comparison - they are such outliers. Although, it wouldn't surprise me if there are buckets of them out there somewhere.

Eight vanes (or is it six with splits?) makes it a little less common, doesn't it?

Sweet . . . the colors are great and a nice size too!

If the marbles were made in the U.S.A. by one manufacturer, they would almost have to be MK or Vitro. If not . . .

Nice Watermelons, Edna. Thanks, I'd still like to see what people call a Watermelon Patch though. I've seen a few different kinds of marbles that people called Marble King Watermelon Patches but none of them looked like it to me.

It almost looks like the third pic is a different marble than in the first two pics. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Akro-Agate-11-16-Mint-Rare-Oxblood-Dragon-Patch-/111081923977?pt=Marbles&hash=item19dcffa589#ht_21wt_1320

Thanks Duffy, I'm surprised I haven't seen more of them. Were they limited numbers?

Nice Bill, Yeah . . . I've got the yellows and I've got the orange ones but I dont have them both on the same marble. And hey Clyde, are all three of those Akro?

Seriously, Jeff, you've done a super job with the web sight - it's gone to whole new level. Thanks!

Would it be totally crazy to call the one I posted a Berry Pink P&R?

Man it felt good to stretch. And what you can't see in that picture is the perfectly-sized block I was using for a pillow . . .if I could've gotten Bill to bring me drink I might stayed there for a while. lol

There really are a bunch of killer handmades in there. Almost makes me want to start collecting them . . .

Well, Roger. I'm glad you appreciated the post. It was all in good fun. And I'm sure you know me well enough to know that wasn't the last example I had. lol. I actually have quite a few from that site, and there's considerable variation in them too. As for the Watermelon patch . . . heck man, I'm not even sure I've ever even seen one. I've seen about six pretty much completely different marbles people have called MK Watermelon patches though. And I have to agree with Duffy about it being sort of odd that you don't see many, if any, patch styles of the much more common P&Rs like Bumble Bees. Although, I did come accross a group of patches with those colors that people smarter than me thought were Bumble Bees - I'm not entirely convinced. Maybe I'll try to see if I can find them and post pics, just for fun. And if anybody out there could show a picture of a Watermelon patch sitting next to a Watermelon P&R, I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one to appreciate it.

Normally, I'm pretty reserved . . . vanilla or chocolate; strawberry if I'm really feeling crazy. But pineapple seems like it might be pretty good. Are you getting paid for this? lol. I'll nab one tomorrow on my way home and report back . . .

Hey Roger, I found one that has a flake/chip. Here's what it looks like. Here's what it looks like after I wet the chip. and here's what it looks like on a blue shop towel after I hammered it. lol. I think you should try this . . . well maybe just up to the wetting part. But seriously, I've seen chips that look all kinds of white, but after you wet them the real color shows. I've done the experiments . . . if the glass is white, it stays white all the way through the wetting and hammering stages. lol. Glad you're back Roger. I just started a week off and I'm ready for some fun! LOL.

No veneer that I can tell, Roger. Do you see white under the colors on yours? I can't see it in the pics. And from what you show, and looking at mine in hand (I have quite a few more), I'm about 98% sure yours is the same as some of mine - the colors, the brown streaking from the patch through the geen and the AV flecks would be too coincidental if they weren't from the same maker, don't you think?

Maybe. lol.

William, Nice mibs (background too - lol). Do you have IDs? Is that left one all green AV?

Here you go, Roger . . . some variants from orange to red to extra colors - many have the AV flecks too.

Hey Roger, I'm glad to hear you're on the mend and I'm happy to see you back here. I'll get you pics later of some that look just like that. - they came out of the ground at the Sistersville Alley site. Some folks, including Ron, as far as I know, don't think Alley ever made patches and lots of the dug ones do match up with dug Akros. But FWIW, I'm not yet 100% convinced that Alley NEVER made patch marbles - even if only by mistake.