Scoop

:Party_fest30: Have a great one, Terry!!

I can see what you mean, Steph... Of the many designs out there, these may be about as close as it gets... But, I still have to question if it's close enough to be confused. I'm sure there are probably individuals that cross over. I wish I could describe the difference that I see, but it's tough to do. And then, there is that question of size... That may be the no-question defining key.

It takes 2 (or 3) to keep this going.... If you guys are really sick and tired of all this (as MANY of us are) you could simply walk away and let it die.... As long as one person is attacked... Be it Galen, Steve, Edna or whoever else jumps in... They will see the need to defend themselves... Galen asks why he has no defense... Ya know Galen, I agree with so many of the things you say... I just don't see the need to pound it into the ground. You've made your point 10-20.... Maybe 100 times?? Is there ANYONE out there who doesn't know how Galen feels??? Speak now, while the thread is on top!!! Is there anyone who ISN'T sick and tired of all this Shnit??? If so, please keep posting. What the hell, Rick... page 12..........15.........20..... Go for it!!! As long as there's another idiot who has to get the last word, this thing will just go on an on, getting sillier and sillier..... Count the participants and you'll see how many people care anymore....

Gary, I can't answer that question.... Again, GA is probably the place for it... But... I can't remember... Were you interested in working with soft glass (wine bottles) or Boro? (Like Pyrex) The 2 don't mix and are different in the way they're handled... Few glass workers do both... Both have positive and negative aspects... So.... If it is possible to use the bottles, that would be a lean towards soft glass.

I don't think I've seen enough variety of the new runs to really judge... But, as much as some are really beautiful, I've still gotta lean with the Champs... There's just such a unique movement to the swirls in Champions and that blending of the orange / pink / red's.... It's tough to beat...

Damn Gary!!! That's a GREAT score!!! Stainless steel is the best, based on what I've heard (My son has been toying with this. I've been gathering info. But, in his senior year of HS, it's taking a back seat) Here's a pic of the Carlisle Flame-off. They have 2 of these cool circular work stations that can handle 6 workers at a time. They're sitting right on the steel... Two other tips I got from there... An unpainted concrete floor (kept clean so anything dropped might recover without picking up crud) And... Ventilation, Ventilation, VENTILATION!!!! In the past year or so, there seems to be an increase in reports of glass artists with cancer issues in the respiratory / throat area... Coincidence?? I doubt it....

LOL It's all funny, Bo!! It's a breath of fresh air!! Thanks!!

I'm listening to U2's "It's a Beautiful Day" as I type!!! Hope it's happy and beautiful for you both!!! :4Party:

I love this "Black Cat" painted china by Shawn Weaver!!! And, one of the earliest contemporary glass swirls made by Richard Marquis. Purchased in 1979.

Thanks Nathan!!! Gary, I linked this over to Glass Addiction....

Port Authority in NYC and NOBODY has seen it??? We need to organize a field trip!!! :Cool_653: I wonder what inspired it?? (Well DUH, Marbles inspired it!!! But, WHY??)

'Sorry Bo.... 'Looks like your research has gone to hell.... Maybe try a poll with ONLY TWO choices!!! ROFL

Here's that link... Ray's Cats I'm still thinkin' they'd sell faster in smaller groups, Griff.... You oughta be able to get the $100

This is on the walls of the Port Authority subway station in NYC.... Anybody seen it???

Damn, I tried to bump this up and it got knocked down before I could hit refresh!!!

I think Griff is right... This has a let's get it on with vintage feel!!! LOL I'll go vintage, but I'm OK with the '71 in my garage....

No Bo, I was responding to Sami.... Steph will vouch for me.... Last week, I was complaining that all the Jabo talk was getting a little over bearing... And no, I'm not running out to buy a bunch.... Some old habits die hard. It's just the same old song and dance... Change happens whether your with it or not.

Check out Griff's Cat's Eyes for sale These are contemporary, made by Ray Laubs... And, they are REALLY cool!!! Hey Griff, you may do better breakin' up the group... I've got a few, but I'd probably buy a couple more... I just don't need a dozen (or, have the $$, either!! LOL)

Be patient guys... This too shall pass.... The best way to "move on," is to stop posting in the Jabo threads (keeping them on top) And, start new threads... If 5 people created 5 threads about anything... Eventually, the chatter will stop!! The better the topic, the faster the change over.... Folks wanna talk, give 'em somethin' to talk about!!!

Sami, I don't think the print on the box refered to putting them in play guarded protective cases and selling them for 3-digit dollars.... Do you? The truth is... Prior to 1985 - 90, machine made marbles were not taken seriously by very many collectors, unless they had something very special about them. Like, being in original packaging, being printed, like a comic, or having some other unique quality that made it stand out... If you go back into antique & collectible publications, there's many articles about collecting marbles... Machine made marbles are NOT mentioned (with the possible exception of the comics) Heck, if you go back earlier than the 1960's, about the only marble considered of value, was a sulphide. The publications are out there, doing the research isn't difficult.... I'm sure there are exceptions. But, as a group of collectors, that was the norm. There was a time when this exact same sort of conflict was going on between handmade collectors and machine made collectors... Many handmade collectors no longer participate much in the hobby, because they have no interest in machine made marbles.... They complained that there's too much talk about machine mades and they don't want to hear it... There was talk of separate forums for machine mades and handmades... There was speculation that it had nothing to do with enjoyment, only money... That the appreciation of machine mades would lower the value of the handmades.... It was a huge change. There was a lot of head shaking, with predictions of foolishness and doom.....!!!! Ring a bell?? I have no problem understanding why "We" collect them... I have to admit, it took me a while to appreciate them.. But, I caught on... In the past few years, I've probably bought more machine mades than handmades and... likely.... more contemporaries than either... I love all three, including Jabos. (Please note, RAR) That's exactly my point... Had I had an open mind from the beginning, I coulda had one hellova machine made collection, for a lot less $$ than you folks have!!! But, I was stubborn.... I just find it all very amusing how each newcoming group to the hobby fights for their "stake." Then, tells the next group that there's no room on this "old" turf for them... I'm finally getting the laugh that a grandparent gets when they start seeing their children having difficulty with "The Kids!!!"

I wonder how much the "Dirty Jobs" broadcast will have on the effect of sales for these marbles? Was there money made from it's being broadcast? (There's more than one way to make a buck!!) Jo, what was the date for that broadcast again?? I happen to catch the show last night and was thinking, it should be comin' up??? Good PR can make a lot of changes in old routines!! Whether the intent is to profit, or just to have fun (Or both....) It can't be a bad thing to keep people workin'.... Especially, through this kind of winter.

Could such speculation be helpful in keeping a certain company from closing it's doors??

And.... I'll add..... I was told, once, that Larry Castle had a hundred 100-gallon barrels of machine made marbles in his barn and the only reason he was writing books, was to make a pile of money!!! Well.... If you check back to one of the posts on Larry's passing, you'll see he was driving a bus up until 2 weeks before he died.... So, I guess that didn't work out so well. Yet, I know that he enjoyed devoting a portion of his entire life to simply collecting marbles.

I'll never forget the post that Larry Castle made on the earliest version of this board, when it was still a part of AOL.... He was announcing the publishing of his newest book and said... I won't tell you what it's about... But, I'll give you a hint........................... MEOW!!! The reaction was "NO WAY!!!!" a book about friggin' CAT'S EYES??? Holy Shnit!!! Where has this hobby sunk to?? You've GOT to be kidding, right??" (Alan was a wise-assed newbie then....) It had been so tough to accept machine mades and all the gushing about them.... But, CATS??? C'mon!!! Climb on the wagon folks and meet the "New You".... Whether you like it or not, time, like marbles, just keeps rollin' on!!!

My GOD, this is hysterical!!! To see how you "Machine Made Collectors" react to changes in YOUR hobby!!! Lou, I know it was a "slip" that you forgot to mention Swirls (the REAL ones, not the ones from WV) Clambroths, Peppermints, Sulphides, Chinas, Benningtons, Steelies and Agates..... You folks just don't know how long I've waited for this!!! :icon_lmao: