Scoop

Uhhhh, maybe we should leave out the "really Big..."

Thing is, Griff.... You were to damned polite and it got you in trouble... If you had said it looks like a great big cock, no one woulda noticed!! LOL

Also, Alan doesn't call this design "rare" or "hard to find," which I appreciate... I still wish there was a differential between these and what I consider a true 3 level swirl. Again, it is a term that was clearly understood.... Then, literal interpretation stepped in and changed the meaning. Now, the edges are blurred and the difference of definition for those who coined the term, is tough to fight.... Everything Changes.....

Griff, I guess it's the interpretation of "Tri-level"..... Actually, maybe Tri-stage IS a better term... It's not really about "levels"... It's about sections of design patterns. This marble..... Actually, I feel BOTH marbles.... Have 2 design patterns. The core, which is a white base with transparent stripes and the outer layer of thin yellow and / or white lines... The fact that the transparent color "floats" still makes it part of that design... Sooooooo, OK... It IS 3 levels... YUP!! That's a literal thing. AND, finding this type of marble is not difficult at all.... It's just about as common as any other type of swirl out there. Sooooo, what's the big deal?? What makes it different or RARE??? NOTHING. OK... Now.... Let's think about OTHER tri-stage / Tri-level designs.... Ya know... The ones that are REALLY rare and hard to find..... The ones that people who are looking for "rare, hard to find tri-stage / tri-level" marble are looking for.... Here's a more graphic, detailed explaination.... I am one of those people who for many years, has been specifically been looking for Tri-stage / Tri-level marbles... If I walk into your room at a show and you say you have one, I'm interested.... If you show me a REAL tri-stage marble, I like it and I can afford it (Always a key factor for me... LOL) I will buy it.... If you show me one of the marbles in this thread.... I'd buy the first one. NOT because it's a tri-stage. But, because I LIKE it!! If you show me the second one... I won't buy it... Cuz, I already have a TON of those and don't need another..... They are not rare. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

Yup... This is definitely an easier case... For me, it's not about the amount of space between the core and the colors... It's gonna be crazy if we get to the point of having to determine "how much space" qualifies... It's all about style and design. There could be a mile of space in this one and it wouldn't matter to me... The color is a part of the core design. I know many people may feel differently... But, if they are looking for a "rare" tri-stage marble... Called that, because of it's intended design, not a technicality... This is NOT one of them... If your happy to buy a car that looks like a Mercedes, because you can't see a difference. This is the perfect "Tri-stage" for you....

OK... I don't want to start trouble... But, I've gotta ask this.... (Leroy, hold on and no matter WHAT I say... Remember, I love ya!!! ) In past discussions about polished marbles, there has been a lot of views on how much it effects value... And, how damaged does a marble have to be before polishing IMPROVES value, rather than lowers value... So.... Here's a marble... It sold for $700.00 based on the fact that it is supposed to be all original... The rest is hypothetical, because we only have opinions, not surety of it's being polished... (Stated clearly... So as not to effect this auction...) Let's say, the buyer gets it and determines that it IS polished... What should the difference in value be?? How damaged would this marble have had to be in order for the value to be better polished, than in original damaged condition?? Given the fact that there doesn't appear to be any "left over" post-polish damage and it doesn't appear as though a lot of glass was removed... Is it possible that the original condition could possibly have been bad enough to warrant polishing that would enhance, rather than subtract from it's value??? It's pretty tough, aside from living in an aquarium for a long period, to damage a marble that much, without doing deeper damage.... Sooooo, could it be... That this marble may have had the naturally made "ripples," maybe a few scratches and 3 or 4 light hits, or teeny chips and someone thought it would be SO MUCH better if all that was removed and the marble was squeaky perfect??? THAT is what scares me about marble polishing becoming a "common" practice...

Again, I have to compare knowledge of "Then" vs. "Now..." It used to be that I could feel pretty confident about what was polished and what wasn't... With the machines and such... My confidence Has slipped significantly. So, when guys like Buddy, who have seen TONS come out of a machine say "BINGO," I'm seriously compelled to listen and take another look... What I'm seeing, isn't so much to do with the 5th photo, as it is with the 6th.... And, what Galen says..... I could say that I've seen pontils on unpolished marbles that look like the 5th photo... But, the 5th photo isn't clear enough for me to say that... And, I don't know what Mandrakes and Buddy know... However.... That 6th photo... Usually, the first pontil.... Which would be the heated end of the cane when the rounding process begins... Is pretty smooth and well twisted... Whisps of the twist usually taper down pretty tight and disappear in a very indistinct melting sort of way... This pontil, with it's perfect little circle that seems to be light in color??? Yeah... I have to admit... It doesn't look right. Pontils have lots of differnt looks and this could be fine... But, for $700?? I'd want to see it in hand unless I had a solid return guarantee....

Awesome, Chris!!!!

WOW!!!! How COOL is that??? Thank you so much for the story!! But... Thanks even MORE for being the person to make that connection and "save" a child!! Truly Awesome!!!

(Should I be feeling guilty??? I just got my invitation to be a "Power Seller..." It's almost tempting to decline....)

Over the years, many terms have changed.... Most, more by "popular use" than accuracy... It's something the older collectors have had to deal with... Trying to "Hold Our Ground" on certain terms (Hence, the "Tri-stage thread...") I think this is one of the reasons a lot of older collectors "Bow Out" of the boards. It's tough to see all that you know suddenly "change." And, no matter how hard you try to stand up to the "rules" that you know, a hoard of young experts will tell you what's what.... With time, the lines blurrrr... The term "Akro Superman" starts to make sense... Suddenly, Joseph's Coat of MANY colors, has turned predominantly blue, or yellow, or green... It's hard to stand against the buffalo herd with your hand up, saying "Whoaaaa." In time, many of "you" will become many of "us...." Things you thought you knew, will change.... Oxblood has been "On the Move" for a long time.....

Huh.... No mention of content on the stamp... Just a warning to be sure they aren't fake.

It's not all stamps, David... That just means that there are stamps in that category that will be pulled if detected... Click on the "stamps" link and you'll see the specifics... I'd betcha, the swastika stamps are there...

Urrrrghhhh..... If there was ever a marble to test my resolve on that, this one could be it!!! LOL I guess I have to call it the "Missing Link" between 2 styles!! Those transparent lines are so much more distinct and pulled away than the "usual" of that style... So... I'm gonna cop out and say... It's not about the name. It's about the marble!! If this style were to be considered a tri-stage, this type of tri-stage would be the most common and least desirable.... YET, this marble as a 2 stage is equal to, or better than some clear cut tri-stages!!! Like the song says... "It ain't the meat, it's the motion!!!" No matter what you call it, this marble clearly ROCKS!!!

I might agree with that sentiment... It's probably been 30 years since I've been involved with anything like that... And, with 2 teenagers, the issue is a concern to me.... I'd also like to agree with the banning of the Swastika for purchase to neo-Nazi skinheads. I certainly don't approve of the slaughter of elephants for their tusks, or turtles for their shells (Oh yeah, tortise shell... Even if it's a 100 year old carved hair comb.... BANNED!!) BUT.... This is a country that prides itself on "Freedoms." If a kid is going to get hung up on drugs, it won't be because of a vintage issue of High Times purchased off of ebay... There are reasonable government regulations for all of these items. Ebay DOES have accomodations for "Adult Only" auctions..... Antique ivory and tortoise shell are legal to sell...(But, not on ebay...) What really gets me is... Despite these measures, many of these TRUELY "illegal items" are slipping through!! Rather than police the areas properly, they are using useless blanket measures to cover their butt and still, the fox is in the hen house!! I know it's a HUGE system.... I try to understand that it MUST be terribly difficult to cover all of the bases that pose problems. I just think they need to start using their millions to bring in some people who have a CLUE and tie off some of the frayed edges properly. The whole system is spinning out of control. I never expected I could find myself enjoying a story of a Nazi item sale so much!!! Thanks!!

Speaking of skatings, Cees... Congratulations on the Sven Kramer GOLD!!! I was thinkin' of you guys during the race... Our media was so hyped up for him!! They made it sound as if all of the Netherlands would slide into the ocean if he didn't win it!! LOL He certainly didn't leave any question about who was the BEST!!!

Don't be givin' 'em any ideas, John!!! ROFLMAO!!!

Back in the beginning, Ebay was such a GREAT idea!!! FREE enterprise that covered the globe in seconds!!! How freakin' COOL was that??? Simply MAGICAL!!! Then, things got taken a little too far... Need a Kidney??? Ebay had to ban the selling of body parts.... OK, that makes sense... After a while, other things became "banned material."...... Most of it made sense... There was logic to it... basic safety kinda stuff... I never felt the need to study the list of banned material, cuz I never expected I'd be in a position to actually sell anything that crossed that line.... I mean.... Really.... When joining a website, does EVERYONE read the miles of legal monologue before clicking on "I Accept These Terms??" Hell... We all know what it says and we know we aren't going to cross any of those lines, right??? Then, it started to get more personal.... I'm sure there were / are other things that I'm not even aware of... (Here's the list...)But, I do remember the anger some sellers had when the ruling came down that sellers could no longer sell anything related to a convicted murderer.... That seemed to be in response to the tasteless creation of the Serial Killer trading cards... There was a small roar from those who cared... But, it went largely unnoticed.... At some point, anything with a Swastika became "Banned Material." Hmmmmmmmmmmm........... Yes, I can see SOME logic... BUT, let's get REAL!!! The Swastika has had a TERRIBLE meaning for a relatively short period of time, considering how long it has been a symbol and how many cultures it has been a symbol from... Right there, the ban crosses the line... But, let's think about how it crosses the line, even as represented as a Nazi symbol... What exactly IS the point?? OK, Ebay says the use of that symbol is forbidden in some countries where ebay is in use.... Ahhhhh, I think that's a little weak... I bet, in 5 minutes I can find something legal on ebay that is banned in "some country" where ebay is active... No, I don't support Nazi-ism... No, I don't LIKE the holocaustic history of WWII.... HOWEVER... It IS history. It WAS very real... We cannot make it go away. In the collecting world, there is a HUGE base for military collectibles... Despite what anyone might want to think, Nazi items are a BIG part of that... What is the point of denying it's existance??? I just don't get it.... Then, there's the endangered species stuff.... Yep. That makes sense... Well... At least SOME of it does... But, when I can't sell a piece of Lenox china because the title of it's collector series includes the word IVORY???? Oh Please..... Spare me.... Sooooooo, for those who have gotten this far and have the patience to listen to me RANT!!!! (Ironically, when I'm SUPPOSED to be creating ebay auctions for start tonight....) Here's the article that sparked all of this....... Ebay Bans the Sale of..... I just don't get it...................... (OK, back to work... While impatiently waiting to be rescued by truely "Free Enterprise!!")

OK, I got the pic from Charles and now, I'm gonna guess Jim Davis...

Galen, your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!! If they're just a sampling of the yard, I'm jealous too!!!

Hey Charles, I sent you a PM about sending me the signature photo, so I can play with it in photoshop. For some reason, I can't copy it from the board... I thought the top name looked like Sam... Which would lead me to Sammy Hogue. The marble would fit there... But, I can't seem to make that bottom name into Hogue as I see it there!! LOL Edna would be the expert on that.... Steph, thanks for moving this for me.... I'm sorry, I'm easily distracted... Then, distracted from my distractions!!! LOL

I'll take it!!! We were supposed to have 12" by now... It started way later than forecast and we only have half of that, so far.... 'Still comin' down!!

..........................FINALLY!!! We're getting SNOW!!!! YEAHHHHHHH!!!! I love snow!!!

Very nice!!! Any date??

Steve, I feel your pain!!!! LOL Just as soon as I think I know what I'm doing... All the rules change!!!