Ric

I think they are probably all Alley Agates.

You know, once again, these crazy marbles often don't fit our rigid definitions. To me, it's a BLAR with a wide and well defined central ribbon. To someone else, it might be a Hybrid Blackie, and I probably wouldn't argue too much about it. Given the choice between a BLAR and a Hybrid Blackie, I'll choose the more likely (common) possibility. As a seller, you may opt to go the other direction. Ultimately, a correct ID is up to the buyer anyways - buyer beware, as usual.

They were only in business for about six years. Have you ever checked out Joe Street's old reference site, which is now hosted here?

Hah, In that close up shot the debris does appear to have a shovel under it.

I think they're both Akro too.

Just a little different variation of a Tiger Eye. If it's on clear transparent it's a Type III and if it's on opaque white it's a Type IV.

Vitro Black Line All Red.

I'd say it's an Akro, but more of a patch than a lazy corkscrew, IMO. Having said that, when it comes right down to it, it's not very easy to define where "patch" ends and "lazy corkscrew" begins. To me, your marble is right on the cusp of it. For me, a lazy corkscrew has to have offset seams (yours are slightly offset) and it needs to travel more than half way around the marble (yours doesn't appear to).

I agree with Akro slag.

It's a West Virginia Swirl but it's really hard to tell who made this one - it's pretty heavily damaged and it could have been made by one of a few different companies, IMO.

As far as I can tell from these photos, it's a heavily played with game marble. I would say it's vintage but I couldn't say if it's an old one or a newer one - probably sometime between 1930s-1970s though.

I wouldn't call them brushed patches either. Is the base glass on the second one opaque or transparent? It's hard to tell from here.

I totally agree. I advise you to take your time and learn more about marbles before you start spending too much money. Unless, as Alan said, you happen to have way more of it than you need. And if you have to ask us about potential purchases of common marbles, you're not there yet, IMO.

I agree it's Vacor and I'll bet Art is right about the name too.

I have had it a long time and I honestly don't remember, Brad, it's possible I got it from you. Was that the year I gave you a ride to the Columbus airport after the show?

Sure looks like a Wasp to me and it's easy to understand why it was one of some kid's favorites too.

I think Cairo is a good possibility too.

I agree too.

I agree. I like it when you can see the striping in the matrix - it gives you a sense of how the opaques turn out looking the way they do.

I agree with Chuck, not oxblood, just fine striping.

Yes, that's a powerful LED flashlight up and to the right of the marble with a weaker one coming from behind. I was holding the strong one about 2 ft away from the mib, as I recall. I just move them both around until I get the matrix lit up as best I can.

That's an interesting group of marbles but I am really digging the Vishnu box.

They are both nice Alleys, for sure, but I am pretty sure they're distinctly different. I'll post one like yours next to the one I posted earlier sometime tomorrow - maybe I'll be able to convince you. 🙂 What size Is the one you posted?

I think many of us have gone through that phase. Your photos of the snakes are just outstanding - absolutely gorgeous!

@chucks_mibs I've got one a lot like that and I consider it an Auger. I think it's always important to remember that these are toy marbles coming off a machine at a surprising rate, and they often don't adhere to our rigid definitions. It seems like on some of these particular types the "core" of the auger spun out a bit from center too, if you get my drift.