bumblebee

While definitely CAC, I see patterns that suggest remelting of the rubber, probably to repair teeth marks.

This thread reminded me of this yard sale score over at LOM from 2011.

Could it be as simple as fewer new faces in the hobby? Veterans are picky. After five years in the hobby I don't think I need to own another white-based cork, two-color WV swirl, or 5/8" slag unless they are exceptional examples. That being said I still rarely win anything on eBay. People still seem to be overpaying for the stuff I want. I only make one show a year so I can't comment on show prices. I did notice some great deals in March at the show and regret I didn't arrive earlier and with more cash. I'm still trying to land a "complete" NLR collection in wet mint condition. I never touched Germans due to price but they're starting to look reasonable now.

Here's my one and only 1" tri-lite that I wouldn't trade for anything but maybe a 1" CAC.

Wow. I spranged my smile muscle.

So Rich are you saying that we can no longer claim that a marble was made in a definite period of history by a definite company? We are entitled to our own opinions about what we like to collect, but not our own facts. I get the line about collecting what you like, but you seem to be implying there is no difference between remelted CAC cullet and original CAC marbles? Obviously in this hobby we sometimes can't say exactly for sure who made what, but it's fairly easy to distinguish between a remelt and an original, particularly in hand. If your definition of CAC is broad enough to include contemporary remelts of original CAC cullet that's your choice, but I think most collectors make the distinction not only to accurately reflect historical reality but also because our eyes can easily spot the differences.

As a courtesy please always define your acronyms. These may also be MFKACs (Marbles Formerly Known as CACs) or RRRRRs (Recently Rounded Remelts Risking Resale)

Juicy Vitros, everyone! Here's some of my favorites.

Even Photoshop filters couldn't UNfocus an image that much. He must have like 40 sheets of tissue paper between the marble and his lens.

It is my eternal torment that some billionaire out there just made $25,000 on his investments faster than I could type this, yet he cares nothing for marbles.

Thanks! It's pretty cool especially for scanned vintage photos/slides, but I'm baffled why it's so large.

Would it be the same as the pink ones described here in 1851? If not, does anyone have the pink variety?

I was reading in a recent golden rebel auction listing that some collectors speculate these marbles were made only once in a single run (however long that lasted) and that the small ones are always a deeper school bus yellow, whereas the larger ones are always lemon yellow. Is there any factual basis for that speculation about why they are scarce? To me it doesn't make sense that they would limit production of such a pretty marble unless there were quality control or cost issues. Then again, maybe kids back in the day preferred other styles? I assume similar speculation would apply to the Blue Galaxies? I now own a 9/16" golden rebel but had never seen one in the wild prior to that. Aside from 5/8" and 1" (which I've seen online) did they also make all the other sizes? They are pretty. I put some of my best marbles in a tray and let my 10-year-old pick out her favorite (for her marble inheritance) and she almost immediately picked my little golden rebel. Had I put a nice Superman in there, she might have chosen that instead.

I agree. Seeing those first two I thought to myself there was no way they could look good again. But they look great now.

If it were me I'd ebay the $50+ ones individually and promote them here. Your photos are fine for eBay. Then the rest I'd sell in lots of 10-20 on eBay with plenty of good close-up photos. You could probably do well selling those more colorful Akro corks individually if you didn't mind the bother, assuming they are wet mint. They seem to have dust (or is it scratches?) on them.

Meanwhile, here's a 3/4" sparkler that could have been yours for only $384: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marbles-Akro-Sparkler-3-4-/290942836304?pt=Marbles&hash=item43bd8b5e50

I'm tempted by the $32 kit but the seller has very sketchy feedback...

Wow, a true nut job. Did you see his completed auctions? 99% unsold Buy it Now. He tried to sell the one you had your eye on for $859. Yup, we all know what he can do with his WET, PREMIUM marbles.

I had my first good score recently. I had hardly ever found higher-end marbles in the wild like these and it seemed almost too good to be true. My gut told me they were the real deal, but by the time I was half way home I was totally paranoid and upset that I might have been taken with repros or remelts. It was a terrible feeling I could not shake. Had I been taken I would have quit the hobby for good. I don't think I enjoyed those marbles until days later. Sure you can blame my inexperience, but the very fact that I had to worry like that proves in a sense that this hobby has been corrupted. Add to that the avalanches of special runs and contemporary machinemades that even old timers get tricked on, and you have the makings for a hobby that is becoming too risky and too "dirty" for newcomers.

Wow, if that's wet imagine his dry!

The bloodie was my first "good" CAC I found in the wild. Prior to that it had only been slags. I'll never forgot my surprise and delight at the deep milky white and the depth of detail in the finely striated brownish red ribbons. I knew that marble was special.

That first photo with the two grown boys on the floor with marbles is priceless.

Seems like a statement that could be scientifically tested today assuming someone is ready to sacrifice a flinty and other glassies.

Their other marbles had similar cute IDs, but they at least were all machine mades. I just adore agates. Now I just need to find some dyed yellow and green ones.

Apparently you people who search for phantom conquerors don't like hand cut bullseye agates. Surface wet mint (with some subsurface moons) and .875" and very finely faceted, with a lot of translucency under the bullseye when backlit.