Steph

Have received word from an esteemed collector that he has known of all three kinds of packaging for some time -- the Master, the Penny King and the Alox. Has had Alox bags with these marbles for well over ten years -- from two different collectors. Two bags with four marbles and one bag with seven marbles. I never heard of the seven-count bag before. So that answers the question about them being known in Alox packaging before the marble collecting world got to know Nancy. Now the questions are when were they sold and when were they made. The Master packaging is from the 1950's or later. There was some doubt about whether Master Glass could have made such pretty marbles in that decade. But they did make smaller cat's eyes which are quite pretty -- clear base, nice shades. So it's not hard at all for me to believe that they could have made larger marbles with similar glass.

Never heard of it. While other people are thinking about it, I sent a question off to a friend who might know.

Show us pictures first! We could tell you if it's one you're likely to never come across again intact ....

Yes, you're modern. No complete beginners thread. Hard to know what to say as a "Here are the first things to learn." Easier to see someone's marble and then chat about it. And the questions you would think to ask could lead to some fun discussions, when you're ready to ask them. I was about to say you could maybe go into a store and see what kind of marbles they sell, so you'd know some new styles. Well, yeah, that's probably a good idea. But there will be some old marbles which look kinda like the new ones and it just takes time. Here's a thread with some modern marbles in it:

Nice! Thanks. The Alley oxes are still new to me, so I'm drinking them in.

That would be a chip. Below is a link to a thread with some pictures of pontils. To the best of my knowledge, your marble is "modern", that is, made after 1970. It's machine-made. There are some older marbles with embedded frit. However, most will be modern, made in Mexico or China. With some new varieties made in special runs in smallish quanties by Jabo and Dave McCullough within the last ten years.

Bump! Keeperthread!

I saw Kate's British Vogue cover which called her HRH ... and I knew her new family hadn't seen fit to call her a Princess so I googled to see if HRH was really right ... and I saw those other names. Lady Carrickfergus! That's so great.

*speechless* He does have kind of a strange look on his face .... Now you owe me a magazine for getting my hopes up! keeperthread

I have quite a few of my own I can add, but I'll start with this charmer from Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/373446994079328542/

How is this possible?! Real dandelion ... and other natural items ... the insect died of natural causes https://www.etsy.com/listing/274135168/dandelion-bees-flowers-paperweight

Baron Carrickfergus .... do you know who that is? and Lady Carrickfergus?

There has been a Ric sighting! Okay, not here. But he lives! He'll be bahk.

That's a good answer though! Needed to be mentioned. I had some 1"-ers which might have been the American-made version ... but I can't swear they weren't European ... and sold 'em without ever knowing so I don't have them around to ask about.

Ohmigosh, how was I not subscribed? How was that possible? I'm subscribed now.

still loving The clear based competitors are hard to see on the track, huh? I was rooting for Fishy Fish!

Wonderful to have you, Richard. As far as I know, you're right about there being no UK marble factories. Not for toy marbles. But from what I've seen you guys have some nice antique German handmades hiding out there.

Here's one of the non-Alox packages I remember with similar: