J_Ding

Another specimen added to the ranks. This one smiled for the camera. So mint, it's scary.

More Akro glass.

And a vaseline snake.

Just something to look at!

Time for another Master...ordinary yes, except that big clear region. Interesting, I think.

Just to clarify, I wasn't saying that it was impossible to make...once you've got it, you've got it. Witness the similarity of Akro oxblood over many types of marbles. But it ain't at first, like making boxed caked either or as economical....unless I've been mis-informed.

Gets up off the floor after fainting.... Oh my! It doesn't really match that one! I'll try to see if I can get a passable picture and post it soon....it is weird...actually is brick, dark mossy green and purple glass...totally bizarre...and I warn you, ugly hammered...this marble saw action!

Yep. Ducks are ducks in biology too..but biologists argue about a few weird, maybe ducks, so...you know, some square pegs for round holes. I'd agree, most of those formulations on the atomic level are different for different manufacturers. Wasn't aware that CAC had oxblood, or near oxblood...is this so?

Those examples, that don't look classically like MF or Akro oxblood sure are a puzzle to me (not the one above, btw). I've got some too from other manufacturers that might be oxblood, but fall into that nether-world of 'maybe ox or maybe not.' I have Masters that would be close but I can't tell, but they wouldn't be a classic match to the oxbloods either, and I think here is the challenge. Ox or not (and not referring to other kinds of red either...I'm speaking of that dark, optically flat, red color only). My understanding is that the formulations for oxblood are very touchy but essentially revolve around a re-dox reaction between copper and iron atoms. This is a complex (for glass making) chemical oxidation-reduction reaction, but I currently remain unclear what is going on, as different readings from different sources are conflicting (I've red multiple accounts and interpretations)...I'm not, at this time, sure which is the current accurate thinking on this. What is clear, is that this is a very touchy reaction: depending on heat, other additives of the glass, presence or absence of levels of oxygen and the length of time the glass is in flux, production of oxblood is a very touchy thing indeed. If stopped at the wrong time in the melt, or the components of the glass, or who know what else, the glass may not turn out classically oxblood. So, I think the question has always been for me...is oxblood an actual appearance of the glass or the intent of the glass maker? On those 'fence sitting' examples: Was this intended and it just didn't entirely make it to the ox state? Or it only appears to be oxblood. I've always taken MF and Akro to be, classically, the best of oxblood makers (in the manufacturing age). But we've all seen those, hmmm, "is this oxblood?" kinds of examples too...when they clearly don't show the banding and dark ribbons and red striations of coagulated looking blood. I really don't know what to think. What is clear to me is that a glass maker just doesn't simple say, hmmm, "let's make some ox today!," without considering the fickle nature of this stuff; and no doubt, the cost of trying to make it, and then maybe fail, was always a consideration, especially later on. From my reading, this can be very fussy stuff indeed. (incidentally, I've read that ox can get more copper green when the cook/formulation doesn't work right...and I have a really really beat up, probably MF that has ox and tonnes of copper green glass regions and less ox...totally weird and in very very very bad condition...). Sorry about the on and on...I like chemistry! John

Fifth color inside...dark blue...hard to get on image.

Hard to know how many colors, but yeah, a beach ball!

Another boulder.

Five color (at least) Master boulder, with dark blue on the inside.

Thanks, Dave. I thought the glass was closest to Pelt from my experience. I have smaller rainbos with this kind of peach orange color that was similar to this.

Well, that's a start! Another oddball without a home...until it found me!

A 0.77," and what is this? I have my guesses, but I'll stand back. The base glass is clear as a bell, the ventral orange ribbon penetrating about halfway into the mib, but otherwise the colorant is mostly veneered. Thanks for your thoughts! John

Wow! Look at all those! Amazing!

I like the Akro call! A nice one!

Pushing Masters to the top. I like the heavier green in this one. Robust, as usual. Go ahead, ignore them: more for me!

Another one of those from post number 5.

No you aren't! Mint ribbon, mint condition! Sadly, I have only this one!

I'll take the un-named, under-appreciated oddballs every time. Like this one:

You know it! I couldn't bring myself to say the above marble was a HW. I think, another unfortunate name!

Steph...I think I ran down that metallic you were looking for in #16.

Another.