Steph

The first Akro corks were officially introduced in 1930, according to the earliest documentation I can find. It's possible that they were being made in 1929. However, the only styles I think possible at any time in 1929 were Prize Names, Onyx (including Cardinal Red) and Imperials. Onyx and Imperials both appear in 1929 advertising, but it's not likely that they took corkscrew form yet. The contest where Akro introduced their new line of marbles and invited children to help name them -- promising a prize to the best name -- was run in 1930.

I am 99.999999999999999999% sure those are not Akro Spirals. Not in 1929. And I am reasonably certain that foreign marbles could be shipped very very cheaply. I know that some people say it's myth that marbles were used as ballast, but I think they were used in a related way. Like categorized as "ballast" officially in order to get breaks in the cost of shipping, even if they weren't technically being used that way. The word "ballast" was used at least once in news reports in the 1950's in connection with American marble manufacturers trying to get Congress to put a tariff on Japanese marbles in an attempt to save the hard hit American marble industry. Japanese marbles were being shipped in a bulk way which undercut American costs. The Japanese marbles we recognize were lower quality than MFC's, Akros, Peltiers and CAC's of the 1910's through early 1930's ... and I don't recognize any 1920's American marbles in that marble machine. Alox was not making marbles in the 1920's. Alley was getting started in 1929. Ravenswood in 1928.

More cranberries. More. MORE. MOAR! Big bowl of cranberry and raisin oatmeal cooked in milk. No sugar. Gobs of fruity goodness. Mmmmmmmmm.

Melvin Belli -- the famous lawyer -- was a demon on Star Trek. Goes from defending Jack Ruby to having a guest spot on Star Trek. The episode where the evil being corrupts the children. His son, also named Melvin Belli, was one of the children. Still need to learn who made that happen.

Don't hurt yourself! Just having to move some furniture around in my head to make those marble styles fit. Bumblebee thinks not cats -- which would be convenient for my brain blueprint -- since I would be astounded to learn of cats being made so early. But still some other interesting marbles in the bunch.

The top center one looked like I could see separated vanes. And then about a third of the way down from it, I thought I might be seeing a light-colored cat's eye. Even if not cats, we still have some surprising patches and ribbons.

Don't recall ever seeing anything like it. Interesting. Someone might yet meet the reserve -- they could be waiting to snipe it.

I know I have seen the answer! (It's not you, is it?) I'll hold back from googling for now ......

Ohhh ... you made a cast of it and then made the sulphide figures?

That is very believable to me. I'm not sure when that started being so believable to me -- I didn't used to think it possible -- but now it makes sense. If transitionals were in 10's and 20's, that would leave room for patch style marbles in the 30's. Then the war. Then the well-known and well-made cat's eyes.

We got quite the extension of the warm weather. First snowflakes today. Nothing that will stick.

Bump coz I'm so excited by seeing foreign-looking marbles in a 1929 ad in that vending machine thread. My paradigm is slipping. Maybe prematurely but bumping anyway.

... need you over here: http://marbleconnection.com/topic/19348-marble-vending-machines Am I looking at an assortment of foreign marbles? Made in the 20's? *head asploded*

This is the February 1930 ad -- their photo of the machine is overlaid with another photo -- an image of crude swirls: http://aa.arcade-museum.com/Automatic-Age-1930-02/Automatic-Age-1930-02-119.pdf They say that they have 14 different assortments and every time you order you get a different assortment. Here is a June 1929 ad -- with more text, no photo: http://aa.arcade-museum.com/Automatic-Age-1929-06/Automatic-Age-1929-06-107.pdf

Do you guys see cat's eyes too?

I'm practically positive that it's too early for Akro. As in 99.999999999% sure. Peltier might have had Peerless Patches at that time, but they would have been nice ones. So I started to wonder if these might be Japanese marbles. Now it looks like I'm seeing some cat's eyes in there too. Too weird. At first I wondered if the magazine date might be wrong, but no, there is apparently no typo there. It's 1929. That marble assortment is Just. Too. Weird.

Was wandering through and noticed this thread .... ..... and then looked at the marbles in the vending machine ...... Do I see patches? And equatorial ribbons? .... maybe even marbles with both equatorial ribbons and a patch on the end?? ??? In September of 1929?????? Who could have made them in September of 1929?

hot chocolate-flavored custard

Cool! I have one of my mother's tops. I also have some other tops to practice with since I don't want to practice with hers.

Rubbing alcohol comes with an expiration date.

Thanks. I'll go take some ibuprofen.

My arm might be better now. Two-and-a-half months later. I suspect I broke it in more than one spot. The elbow and a couple of inches lower. I really shoulda gone to see the doctor. But nothing was protruding so I kept saying it was okay. But it wasn't. But I think it is now. I don't dare lift anything heavy with that arm alone but I have most of my range of motion back.

For the record, we have learned that Ray Laubs made it. Some elaboration about the monkeys.