Steph

For Bob's commercial collection

Nancy, did you play jacks? My mom was very good at that.

lulz Love it

Took me a minute to realize you meant all that color was on the inside. I was distracted by the color on the outside of that first one. Five apiece? Neat.

very innersting

Vacor's claim was this, "En 1944, comenzamos a fabricar la popular canica "Trébol" e incrementamos nuestra capacidad sustancialmente para cubrir los mercados locales de México." "Trébol" translates to Shamrock ... whatever that would mean for a marble.

Thanks for the stories. Keep 'em coming. "I think my older brother collected Cabbies' buttons to wear on his cap." That's pretty cool all by itself. New one on me.

There is a 1955 Sports Illustrated article with Japanese Cat's Eyes. And there are some funky marbles identified as being Cat's Eyes, which aren't identified by country, which I've seen discussed several times without resolution. (link) The marbles pictured in the article were said to be from the collections of Sellers Peltier and Berry Pink. Heaton has in the past been given credit as being first. That's the version of events Marblealan reported. I just wondered where the story came from to begin with. Vitro and MK started making cat's eyes in response to Japan's. But Vitro has been given credit with starting in 1954, while Marble King and Peltier are said to have begun in 1955. So I wonder where the 1954 date comes from for Vitro. I can't remember seeing it in ads. Also, the 1955 SI article might even imply that Vitro had not sold their cat's eyes yet, since the caption for the Japanese Cat's Eyes reads, "JAPANESE CAT's EYES, now being imported in millions, are threat to U.S. marble industry. Different and more colorful than today's U.S. marbles, they are a big hit with kids." Why were Vitro's cat's eyes excluded? Professional rivalry? Or because they weren't available yet? Since supposedly MK and Peltier both came out with theirs after Vitro, I hadn't worried much about whether MK beat Peliter or not. But if Vitro didn't really come out with them in 1954, then naturally I'll be curious about who hit the market first between all three. So, worldwide, Japan seems to have made the first international splash, though some think Vacor may have started making them in 1944 for local markets, which would put them before Japan. And in the U.S., Heaton was once given credit with being first, but last I heard, Vitro was. And now I'm wondering about why the story was ever believed about Heaton, and where the 1954 date came from for Vitro. Is it possible that MK or Peltier actually started before Vitro?

Akro Tea Set (link)

From where did the story about Heaton being the first company to make a cat's eye come? Also, what evidence do we have that Vitro started making cat's eyes in 1954?

It sure has a green cast on my monitor.

I've practiced shooting a few times as an adult. I suck. I tell myself I'll practice on more regular basis, but then of course I don't. In sixth grade there were some girls who played marbles, but my mother wouldn't let me play for keeps, so I missed that chance to learn the sport and bond with the kids. I needed bonding -- that was the 9th school I had attended -- I needed bonding something fierce. But Momma didn't get that. Oh sheesh ... TMI? lol ... I hope your marble playing stories are more fun than mine.

Hope he is feeling better!

Gorgeous

nice dimension for your Alley collection

What about the beams which seep out from the bottom?

(Dani's copy)

Wildwood is coming up soon .... June 16th. This article has a collection of photos. Past Marble Tournament Photos -- The Press Of Atlantic City

Thanks for that reminder, Craig. I remain fascinated. I have moved that thread to the archives, but I'll move it back out if someone bumps it for more conversation.

Intriguing

Gotta love the lines on that agate.