Steph

There was a time when I was downloading things so quickly that I didn't even take the time to put keywords on the links. "I'll sort those later." And then came the time when my antique computer stopped indexing, so I couldn't even search for the downloads that I _had_ put keywords on. And then came multiple generations of back-ups on small-capacity disks. And now that computer that I was on at the time is hidden away in a corner. So ... all I have is the fuzzy memory. And it's possible that it was from some kind of nostalgic article such as you mention -- so maybe I classified it as fuzzy from the start because I was trying to make an estimate such as you did about what nostalgic point in time the person might have been referring to.

Jason, this was my follow-up thread ... it's in the archives: https://marbleconnection.com/topic/11384-california-agates-incredible-find/ Oh look at the photobucket watermarks on those photos (that the grandson of the founder sent me). I need to do something to fix that -- to do the pictures justice again. Sadly, after the first nice contacts I didn't follow up again in the timely manner with George Mitchell's grandchildren. I had hoped to update them with all the documents I found even though they might not be as impressive as the first but I was at a low point in my life and didn't follow through and then the time slipped away. Surely I'll do better with at least making the photos presentable again.

Chad, this is an old pic that I've posted a lot but I figure you'll get a kick out of it .... squishy Akro sparklers .....

fun ... and I loved that game at the fair

Hello. Welcome. That left marble looks like a winner. And you are correct about the other being "pedestrian" -- a common cat's eye.

Ooooh ... pix are looking mighty fine!

Ha! Love it. I _think_ there might also have been a stone version called snot agate. I can't currently point you to where I got that idea, but somewhere loosely in my mind is a memory of seeing a newspaper article from no later than 1905 which referenced snot agates. But of course I could be completely making that up!

I think specifically "Sunset" on that big red and white Peltier. Nice to have one so big.

Mixture in the top group. At first glance I thought transparent swirls, but then I noticed much regularity in the ribbons, so maybe the majority are more of a seamed type of marble, such as Peltier Rainbos or Japanese marbles or Master. The group of 5 are pretty. Not sure quite what they are. Maybe Vitro? A little bit of Peltier and a lot of Vitro in the bottom group. Some Bullseyes and Conquerors. Possibly other Vitro styles. And maybe a Master.

Yabba dabba doo!

Take the green marbles out into the sunlight. Roll them back and forth and see if the green has a sparkle or other glistening sheen.

I'm going to disagree with Al on that one. I think many WV swirls were single ribbon marbles. Probably many of those in Scott's group have a single ribbon which in hand you could trace from start to finish. But in most of these cases it's a softer looking ribbon. For me the distinction is recognizing the marbles as being Veiligglas. I think of the Veiligglas ribbons as having more crispness than softness but basically mostly it's just a matter of recognizing the marbles as being European or not and I don't have the words to explain it. Here is a thread that Winnie (from Amsterdam) started to show off her wirepulls: https://marbleconnection.com/topic/20865-veiligglas-wirepulls

Most of those are commons with negligible monetary value. The Asian cat's eyes on top. The modern Asian marbles on the bottom. Now if any of the green cat's eyes are pure aventurine that would make them interesting and could add value. But basically these are among the commonest of commons. That said, there are a few more interesting ones mixed in with the rest. I've circled in black some vintage or possibly-vintage ones. And I circled in red the ones I'm most interested in seeing more of.

Okay ... that's a special one. A very large handgathered marble. I think maybe Japanese transitional. And while small transitionals are relatively common, that size puts that in the hard-to-find category. I don't know what kind of price it could be worth. But I'd call it a keeper because who knows the next time you might find one.

lol & seek and if you move or remodel, there's always the chance of a hidden treasure

Actually, I'd like to see more views of the big one with the darker blue ribbon.

Nice find! Big yes to NLR ... in case you really needed that info.

Agree with Al's assessment. One which might not be Alley is this one. More views might turn that into a Japanese transitional or something else outside the WV swirl family.

Transitionals are foreign. Most from Japan. (Some might say all from Japan, but I'm thinking of some other marbles which might fall into the transitional category and which might be from Europe or China. But it's usually safe to answer "Japan" about a transitional.)

My eyes also stopped on those two as possible Veiligglas. Then I decided that I wanted them to be Ravenswood!

I know the struggle! Maybe 20% of my pictures qualify as presentable but as hard as I have struggled with them in the past I'll take presentable and be happy with it.

I don't know about THE defining trait. I have most if not all of the color combos covered up there. They're dug marbles from Pennsboro.

Maybe I'll bump the thread 9 more times.