hdesousa

Yes, the Germans used ramps in their tapered boxes, but I doubt they chewed gum. I added the agates to the section labeled "Agate Section 3". No particular reason, other than that section may have originally held agates, but the 1" stone agates that I used would probably have been much too expensive. "Agate Section 3" probably held glass marbles; wish I knew what kind. Here's another pic of the box top, as you requested:

Anyone have any information on this? It was bought empty and I added the agates. The agates are 1" diameter. The box is approximately 10" X 6" X 3". I don't see where there's room for 150 pieces of gum nor for 150 marbles.

Here's more Albright stuff for you Steph. A salesman sample box.

Another one for you, Winnie.

Trying to figure out the purpose of antique toys is getting increasingly difficult. Somewhat like explaining a yo-yo or pogo-stick. Met a 24 year old, glued to her smart phone, who did not know what a fountain pen was.

I'll have to dig it out and get back to you.

There's one pictured on page 122 in AMMM (Six, Metzler and Johnson), lower left corner. Ignore the price guide. That was a bit of an inside joke.

OK, I'll jump in, in support of what spara50 says. Since we're collecting for enjoyment, the cheaper the marbles, the further your money goes, and the more enjoyment you can get out of collecting. For example, here's a fine set of German chinas with 6 limestone marbles and the bag their owner once used to keep them in. These possibly precede the invention of German glass marbles. I got them on eBay last year for about 1/3 of what I would have had to pay for them at a show a few years ago, since a dealer would have most likely gotten hold of them before me and would have had to mark them up to cover his/her expenses and profit.

Winnie, Post #3 has an original box from Ilmenau. http://marbleconnection.com/topic/6821-german-marbles-original-packaging/ There are also some small plastic bags with cardboard headers with similar marbles from Ilmenau.

Man, your clackers are old and fragile! "Clackers, also known as Knockers and Click Clacks, consisted of two large acrylic balls, which hung on either end of a heavy string. The two balls would swing apart and together, making the loud clacking noise that gave the toy its name. If swung too hard, the acrylic balls would shatter, sending flying shrapnel everywhere. Clackers were banned in 1985." http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com/bannedtoy/

Don't understand why you're sad. It's a lot easier to prowl through eBay than antique shops. Can do it much more comfortably - in your PJs and in a recliner if you want - a better selection and usually much cheaper than buying through dealers whom eBay has put out of business.

You should not find it strange. It's a perennial saying that "kids have it a lot easier than we did". No need to learn to write when you can print your name. And if that's too much, there's always "X" to fall back on. They don't even teach mental arithmetic anymore, I'm told. But kids have it sorted out. Look at this: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/drugs/stats.html And that doesn't even include "energy drinks"....

My guess is that they were made to imitate naturally colored minerals. Just like MFC's colors, which the Germans predated - carnelian, jade, turquoise, etc. Maybe the large ones were made for display?

Yes Aleecee, you're correct. A handful of small opaques makes as pretty a group as any type of handmade marble.

Thanks JVV. Vaseline glass is translucent, I think, and these are opaque, but I know what you mean. Yes, the yellow ones are highly fluorescent. I don't dare sleep with them.

Nice find! I think a true peewee peppermint (1/2" or less) is exceedingly rare. Can't remember having seen more than a couple, in total.

Here're my larger ones. The blue one in the back is 60 mm (2 3/8"), the fluorescent yellow one next to it is 2 1/16" (53 mm) and my favorite.

That's OK then. Sounded as if you were threatening to shoot that pretty and fragile marble.

That, once again, sounds like a stamp collector wanting to lick their stamps. :-(

Made of Gutta percha I presume?

Exceptional marble! In the video, you have the date of manufacture as 1870-1890 However, Paul Baumann, in "Collecting Antique Marbles" 2004 provides good evidence that goldstone aventurine was not used in marbles before the end of the first decade of the 1900's. From where did you get the 1870-1890 date?