Sometimes they do have something inside but that's not what the marble makers planned for us to pay attention to. The skin is about the ... skin.
Here's what you could see under an onion's skin but that's supposed to be hidden. lol.
http://marbleconnection.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=7520
I don't know why you think the clear base rules out Master. This is the first I've heard about them having yellow base glass. That doesn't ring true with my memory.
*fishing out Master box*
That one you pulled out for closeups is pretty wild, Dave.
I like (love) that red one in the back with the white pinstripes. What would that be called? Is it a "caged" something?
Yes, it was Don's. Here's where I saw it:
http://marblemental.....com/reply/8185
p.s., another neat Marble Mental thread about premiums: http://marblemental.yuku.com/topic/998
If I recall correctly, I have seen some with mixed makers. I remember being a little confused by them at the time ... trying to figure out if they really were mixed. I don't remember how many were in them. Could they have been Don's? Anyone recall those?
Interesting observation, Bill.
They predate the roll out of the exotics by quite a bit. How much, I don't know. But seems a comfortable amount. That's why I voted "old" and why I was curious about the new votes.
I just got a nifty set of fiber optic peewees. I had them out to enjoy them. And I dropped one straight down the crevice on the side of the couch. Might have to surgically extract it.
I'm also pretty sure there are some marbles under the entertainment center.
It was a pretty good thread for long while there. I learned way more than I knew before. I'll slide my thanks in now in case things go permanently north.
lol ... I just remembered I started the thread. I'm so noncommittal about the subject that I was reading the thread like a complete bystander ... which is still essentially what I am. So eneeway ... thanks again everyone! It's been fun!
I'm still not clear about whether the exotics are different types from what have been in people's collections before the year 1999. Sounds like some suggest they were but then others are skeptical about whether the same definition of exotic is being used.
If they were not in people's collections before their introduction in 1999 or later then that would suggest that whole runs were buried or discarded or smuggled out.
That makes me think of another thing. How big are these exotic runs? Are there identifiable types? Any feel for how many there were of any given type?
My initial thought was that the set on the right would be Rich's but I don't like making a guess on a tricky ID without larger pix. I'd prefer to see the texture and glass flow up close.