Scoop

Welcome Chris!! Yep, we do chinas!!

Hey Di, if you use Barkeeper's Friend, just a little, deluted and VERY gently, you can ease off the tarnish very gradually until you hit the degree of tarnish that you like. Practicing on a random piece of brass will give you a feel for it, as it's very easy to go too far, too fast!! Yep, that's right!! NICE tray (and a great color!!! )

I'd go along with that theory, too.... In a production environment, speed and material thrift is a huge consideration.... 'Makes total sense.... Roger, if you work REALLY hard, I bet we can get 5 colors outta that baby!!! I'm counting the greenish / yellow in the center of the blue as it's own color... Even though it's probably a blend of the blue on the yellow turning it slightly greenish... It's so difficult to make naming things an exact science.... The problem comes when you break it down to include an obvious choice like this one... Then, the next one is only a little bit less like a "Joseph's Coat" should be..... Then, the next one and the next one..... Pretty soon, you've got a 2 color Joseph's Coat.... Soooooo, step outta the box and quit going by the names!! A marble should be considered valuable for it's own individuality rather than it's name.... I don't own a Guinea.... I don't like them. Their name & history makes them valuable. I've never seen one that turned me on enough to spend the "Going Price" for it (When I could spend that money on something I REALLY like!!) When I find one for a price that I feel is worth it, for how it looks, I'll buy it.... Buy what you like.... Names are a guideline and should not be the reason for the purchase....

Roger, I'll only disagree on one point... The name "Joseph's Coat" comes from the biblical expression for Joseph's coat of many colors... In traditional definitions (Before certain authors altered definitions to sell non-qualifying marbles for more $$$) a Joseph's coat MUST have 5 or more colors... You have some beautiful Joseph's Coats pictured, but you also have some beautiful marbles pictured as Joseph's Costs that are not....

Doh!!!!!! I never even looked at the size..... That's one of those factors of collecting machine mades that's so important, but if your trained in handmades, it's "all new..."

Yep, I'd second that motion..... Nice marble!!

Wow!! Galen's response was great... But Alan, that was awesome!! My pictures are really poor... I apologize for the shaky / blurriness... I wasn't in a good position and had to move fast to get these... But, these are pictures of the running of the Vitro Machine at Wheaton Village... The machine was donated to the museum and Scott Meyer put in a TON of hours stripping it down, fixing it up and getting it running... There was a small run of demo marbles produced in 2003 & 2004. This is probably as close as it comes to seeing a hand gathered process, unless some of the guys who are still doing it have some pics for us.....

The date and pictures would indicate to me that they are German handmades...... Beyond that.... Man, the options are huge.... I was thinkin' the Brandy was a clambroth... Then, I paid closer attention

I just got an email with this sad news from Nadine MacDonald.... I'm so sorry, Jane.... Way too young and way too much fun to be gone so soon.... He'll be sorely missed... Jane & Rick Jackman

I guess I should clarify what I meant.... It would be like that IF oxblood was transparent!! LOL

Wow!! It's like a brick with transparent oxblood!! Very Cool!! Depending on who saw it in Vegas (And, since they had it in hand) I would think they'd be the best reference... Give it a bit and see who chimes in.... But then, would you let us know the details of the Vegas explainations?? Thanks!!!

It almost looks like a "posed" picture, based on the serious faces, perfectly combed hair and rather stiff, well placed positions... But, how odd in those days to take a picture like that in such an informal manner (barefoot!!) If that's the case, I think I really like that Mom!!! LOL If they are brothers, they're pretty close... Triplets, maybe?? It would be cool to know the story........

Wow!! That's beautiful!!

Whew!!! I'm just so glad that USPS got it goin' fast... I was worried about Mikey standin' out by that mailbox with the nasty weather rollin' in down in the southwest!!! It was awesome to be able to "Give Back" a little (no pun intended.... welllllllll, maybe just a teeny one.... Ahhhh, oooops!! ) I believe those are the tiniest stitches I've ever done!!! And, I know how many tries it took Bo to get that box right...... It was a fun project!!! You're so welcome, Mike!! Thanks for so frequently and humbly putting smiles on so many faces!!!

We have to be careful here, as Mike is a very humble guy and we don't want to overwhelm him!!! LOL But.... Bob, you got that right!!! Mike, you've gotta chill out for a bit on the mailbox... I have to get some good pictures before I can post it... Our weather hasn't been very cooperative for that, lately.... I'll let you know when it's on the way!! (YIKES!!! The sun just popped out.... Gotta run!!!!......................... Uhhhh........Damn.......... Never mind............. "Life in New England!!!" LOL)

OK, that's what I have, too.... I'm glad I didn't dig for a few hours to get it out, only to find that it wouldn't help!!! LOL

Wow, this is cool!!! I know I have some of these in my ???? box... Maybe this focus will help me to burn their "look" into my brain... I tend to be ID challenged when it comes to certain machine made marbles, no matter how many times I see stuff about them... Does anyone have a copy of the Ravenswood catalog that David was selling quite a while ago?? I miss David!! He used to be a regular around here, but we haven't seen him for years... It seems to me that the family he used to come east to visit is no longer here??? At any rate... He had a bunch of the old order sheets from Ravenswood. I know I have one and if no one else has one handy, I'll dig mine out... It's in a box.... somewhere.... I can probably photocopy it well enough for others to download... It'll just take a while to find it.

Really, Steph's right!!! LOL Though, I think my favorite shot is the third picture of the first marble... Awesome!!!

WOW!!!!!! Very Cool, Carole & Mike!!!! I just received a package that contains a gift that I've been working on for Mr. Miggles.... I can't post pics of it just yet (I want Mike to get it, first!!) But, I will later.... After all the great little boxes that Mike sends out to make everyone's day, I thought he needed one of his own!!!

WOW!!!

I guess I'm standing right in between Dani & Galen.... I agree with Galen... If the marbles are so damaged that they need to be polished to look good at all... Then, your not doing any "historical" damage by polishing them... That damage has already been done. So.... That leaves the choice firmly up to you!! If you like them shiney & pretty, get 'em polished... If you like the "primitive" way they are, work with them as you like... The bowl idea is cool, or a jar on a window sill is always great!! Back when I had a turtle in an aquarium, that's what I usually did with them... (Dani, why not salt water??? ... What happens?? ) There was a time when Larry Castle took marbles that had a nice side, but a big chunk out of it and ground it down to a flat surface and used them to make jewelry... (see below) There was also a time when polishing was "taboo" because of the "fraud" factor... One could sell a repaired marble as mint to an unwary buyer.... In those days, that was the worst kind of "marble fraud" there was.... These days, that's pretty lightweight compared to the pitfalls that can happen... But, for newer collectors who aren't that "into" handmades (as is Carole's case) I guess it equates to rescuing a pet from the pound, rather than buying a shiney, perfect pure bred breed... Having these polished and giving them a good home, gives them a new life. Yes, they will lose their banged up "historical" look... But, there is no monitary or historical "value" to that look and there are plenty of "known examples" for us to draw on... So Carole, I think you're OK with whatever you choose!! Here's my Larry Castle necklace...

In these parts, it's never been acceptible to polish as far as prime collecting is concerned... Some people are OK with it, but in general it's always been a No-no... I probably should have clarified that I personally wouldn't bother to polish any of them. I'd just get rid of them... If someone else wanted to polish them, fine... BUT, that's the mind-set of someone who's collected 40 years, who can remember buying mint handmades for $3-5.00... I don't polish, cuz I don't need to... I've had to change my outlook towards others polishing. Marbles that I would have considered simply trash (like #4) can have a place if polished and the owner is OK with it. I would still be opposed to polishing 1, 2, 5 & 8... That's where I'd side with Dani.

Hi Carole, it's kinda tough to tell by pictures... But, from what I can see, I think I'd go with (from top to bottom) 3, 4, 6 & 7.... I can see a little of the damage on the first one and it looks a bit nasty in spots... But, if it has a good viewing area, why mess with it?? The color combo in it is beautiful!!! Also, with all of it's bubbles, I'd fear that taking it down to the point of eliminating the damage, you may open bubbles that will drastically effect the areas that are OK as it is... My general figuring would be... If it has a bruise or even a good sized chunk, that's it's history, as long as it can be pretty otherwise (That looks like it could describe the fifth one)... If it's been beat and there's just no pretty part of it and it looks like it could be pretty if polished, then go for it!! I'm curious about #'s 2 & 8? What's wrong with them? Just a little foggy?

Thanks Al!! Wow, I don't think I've seen all of those... Cool!! I forgot my "liberty" tray with helmets....

Thanks Carole!! They're fun to find... My son got a salmon colored one from a worker at our town dump!! He apparently found it in the trash, thought it was cool and sat it next to his station to use as an ashtray... Dustin saw it and told him what it was. He said,"Hey Cool... You want it??" ..... It's great bein' a kid!!! ROFL I also wondered about the one in the lower left of the transluscents... Though, that seems to have way more color than yours and I'd call it green before yellow... No way is it"off white." Or, the one on the lower right... But, that really doesn't show much of any yellow or green, it's pretty definitely off-white.... Mmmmm, it could be the same as the World's Fair one... Maybe a bit darker... Neither glow with the black light that I have.... It's really small, I need to get batteries for the bigger one....