BobBlock

I finally got around to taking images of the 2nd Sparkler box

One more bump. The Northeast Marble Meet is this weekend in Marlborough MA

For you Griff, I'll have a fishin' hole dug right next to it.

Interesting read. What I don't understand is, if the patent office originally said that Hill could not claim that his helical groove system was substantially different than MFC's single channel machine, and the court affirmed the Patent Office position that Hill's helical groove system was old technology ("In machines for making spherical bodies, the helically grooved rolls appear in the Kempster patent of 1888, the Williams patent of 1903, and in Bornemann of 1901. So far as the teaching of those machines in the art of making spherical bodies is concerned, it is not considered material that they were used for making metal balls, whereas the Christensen and Hill, although broad enough to be used for other purposes, were used only for making marbles.") and not patentable, then how was MFC's system sufficiently different from the old technology so that he was granted a patent?

I'm pretty sure the Hardys have or had one. I seem to recall Hansel having one as well, you might want to check with him. I sold one in one of my auctions about 15 or so years ago, I'd have to go back and look to see if I still have the records from that sale.

Haha. Mine are all being buried with me. Big ol' hole in the ground :-)

I had talked to Cheryl about using his images to produce a book for Schiffer as a legacy to Alan. Later on, about a year ago, I inquired on location of the hard drive with the images from his auctions and was told that the drive, all image files, and records, had been destroyed. It's a shame, it would have been a really nice book.

He will be greatly missed.

All exhibit tables are now sold out. If you are planning on attending and staying at the hotel, you must make your reservation by this Sunday in order to get the discounted room rate. Actually, you'll need to do it in order to get a room, there is a hockey tournament held in the area on Columbus Day weekend and the hotel is going to release the room block back to the hockey group. There are three exhibitors at the show who have never sold to the public before (handmades and machine mades) and they are downsizing their collections, so there should be plenty "fresh to market" material at this show. All info is at www.marblemeet.com

There are only two tables left for this show, as of this morning. Go to www.marblemeet.com if you want to reserve a table. Thanks.

I wrote an article about Codd bottles a couple of years ago. There is a link at this address http://www.marblecollecting.com/marble-community/marblecollecting-com-newsletter/

The 35th Northeast Marble Meet is about 6 weeks away. It will be held October 11 and 12, 2014. On Saturday there is a marble auction run by Bert Cohen. On Sunday is the marble show. The meet is being held at the same hotel as usual in Marlborough Massachusetts (about half hour west of Boston). There are still some tables left, so if you want to exhibit let me know. Full information on the Meet, and a link to reserve a table, are at the website www.marblemeet.com

Currently I am working waaaay too many hours at work to devote serious attention to the book. Hopefully that will change in the next few months. I've seen the rants on other social media sites about my books. It's really simple, if you don't like what I've written, then write your own book.

The purple is caused by the magnesium dioxide in the glass interacting with sunlight.

I maintain a list of upcoming marble shows at http://www.marblecollecting.com/marble-community/marble-show-calendar/

I went to a house clean-out sale last Saturday where I bought 18 Mint lutzes 11/16" to 7/8". 14 Banded and 4 Ribbon. I'll post an image later today.

Also, open stretched space at top. Smooth finish to top. Concentric ridges around the surface of the marble (you can see them reflected in some of the images).

As someone else mentioned here, it is old but remelted.

Scott, send the three bottles to me, and I'll make sure you get three empties back in a week :-)

Larry Van Dyke used to run the Las Vegas marble show (for those who are wondering who he was)

I think the patent is for the box design, not the marbles.

I've seen two of these in 40 years. I think Hansel might have one? Anyways, very very rare.

During the month of July, the Enfield Public Library is celebrating marble playing and marble collecting at the Pearl Street branch of the library. On July 19, they will be holding a marble tournament at the library. In attendance will be the 1963 National Marble Champion, who still lives in Springfield MA. The library asked me to put an exhibit together, which is currently at the Pearl Street branch (until July 31). See images attached, Also, I'll be doing a lecture on marble collecting at 7PM on July 16. The library's website is http://www.enfield-ct.gov/content/25775/1310/1325/default.aspx

She had posted a link to the auction a few days ago on my Facebook page (which I don't allow). So, instead of just deleting the post, I mentioned that there had been discussion on the marble boards as to whether the marble was old or new. Then she got pissy.

These are interesting boxes, you see them at the flea markets in England. The box says "Marbles Empire Made". Probably Hong Kong.