akroorka

I think that this may be a Chinese torchwork marble at 5/8" but it seems a bit refined---tell me what you think. I know that some of these are really nicely made and probably made by an advanced worker , but who knows for sure. Marble--On!!

3/4" Killer for sure---- Marble--On!!!

I call these clear woodies , what are your thoughts? ---9/16” Nice too look at for sure. Marble—on!!

Thanks for that Ron--join the club. I am not big on names either--I do remember faces though. Marble--On!!!

I would say not Akro due to the bubbles in the marble. Green in all makes of marbles is the most common color to show AV which is unintended. Akro made very few marbles with purpose to show AV and I am not sure if they ever intended any. Master Marble and Master Glass both had marbles with bubbles in the glass as did Peltier. This marble looks like it may be Opal as well. It could be a "dug" or "experimental" Akro but I have not seen any with bubbles in the glass like this from any digs. Just because of the glass I might lean toward Peltier but that is a modest lean. Marble--On

There is a seam on the other sides, it blocked the marbles so I went with that side of them. Here you go.

I believe that these were considered Vitros until someone dug a load of them out of an Akro dumpsite. Yellow is usually darker.

How about that hand shooting marbles on the header---looks like Golum to me--lol

Nice work Pittsburgh!

Here are a couple of cool old give away bags--"Best in Asbestos"

Great work Steph, Consider my box out of circulation. If I find more, I will take them out of circulation as well. Fakes abound in all areas of collecting and a thread like this will make someone look twice at least. I buy weird/odd things all of the time just to see what they are all about, marbles included. I love doing research and you took it further than I did and I applaud you for it. The fact remains that the box is of vintage manufacture, it holds 40 5/8” marbles perfectly and it held something round of that size for quite awhile before being sold empty. The stamp may be a fake, as we all suspect but the box it-self still has me by the ears. I have wondered if Master Glass could have done something like this after they owned Akro but shot that down because the box looks earlier. Marble—On!!

I think that they are legit. The Pavcraz is not even close, but the rarity of these boxes camoflaged that. The reason for the logos being off kilter is probably because the paper with the ("silkscreened?") logo was applied to the box with the logo on the paper. The dimensions between the logo and the company name are probably all right on. Marble--On!!

Thanks Ric, Keep your eyes peeled for another box or item stamped with this stamp. One may show up and I doubt that it was only used once. It is tiny at 1-3/8" and probably made by someone involved in the stamping hobby craze that many folks enjoy. I did look at a bunch of Akro stock boxes as research and found that not all stamps were used or made alike. I do not know if Akro used "rubber stamps" but this one looks like a rubber stamp was used. Marble--On!!!

Another few shots may help. I would like to see a shot of the bottom(yellow) to see what that big long seam/fold in the left image does. That lighter yellow part looks interesting. My first reaction without reading and just looking was"Cool Marble King". It could be a dug Akro though, some strange things showed up in the digs. Marble--On!!

I could not think of another reason that it looks this way. It looks like it sat on the side for awhile with some rusty water inside. If you intend on keeping it I would not attempt any cleaning. I might stick a Silica Gel Desiccant Packet, like the ones that come in vitamins etc in the bottom to get rid of any residual moisture. Good Luck!!

I agree that it is not Vacor—at least not a Rooster. The first image looks like a slag and the second looks like a swirl--a hard one to call for sure. Marble--On!!

You are right to ask because the Master #5 boxes were faked (maybe some others as well). Looking at the logo in the circle with the mMm. In the fakes the middle “M” side posts are straight up and down. The originals flare out to the sides at the top like yours does. Great question! Marble—On!!!

"What is that blue tray on the second shelf nestled into? Is it a WPA project?" Yes Ric, it is one of those I just recently learned about on this board, a great find without even knowing about it until just lately. I had always pictured someone just getting crafty with an akro piece. We have another with one of those little polar bears on it too. My wife and I used to manage a county park that was filled with WPA stone work. Amazing stuff with animals and dinosaurs fitted into the stone work walls, one or two had marbles for eyes. Sadly it was all knocked down in the name of progress. Really sad--- Marble--On!!

Thanks Steph, I will stay on the fence with this one after I louped it at X64--yes my eyes hurt. I could see the hairs/threads of the paper. Some of the stains are over the top of the stamped ink. Hard to fake this IMHO. This box has some age to it that could not be faked or would not have been faked due to it's age. I wish that I could see another in my lifetime. I will mark it as questionable for those that handle my estate based on your most excellant opinion and my doubts as well. As always, Thanks and Marble--On!!!

Helmets and Football season---a great choice no doubt. Helmets are a sight to see when in a mass like this. "Almost Oxblood" is still a color to be recognized, in this post at least. Its almost hard to believe that these were once considered Akro. I think that I have a few Vitros---I used to call them veeetros now it is vitt-rows.(I still like veeetro though) that have unintended oxblood in them. Some searching will be done. Marble--on for sure!!!

Here are some pots and various items that we keep on the back screen porch. The mice do not seem to bother them in the winter as they do everything else---I need a more ferocious cat for sure. He (Ragnar) is gentle compared to my previous eater/enjoyer(Larry) of rodents and the meat that they provide. Akroware--On!!!

I am giving this post a bump. I know that the future of marble collecting needs a bump too. Do not be ashamed of what you may collect. I have started a Pokémon marble collection. If you want kids and young adults to get excited about marbles—include some of these at your next show---that is if you can afford to. My kids are in their late 30’s and early 40’s and the last Pokémon craze had them lit up looking all around the city for whatever it was that they were looking for. Of course the grandkids were with them searching. I do not know the first thing about Pokémon but I do know that these marbles are numbered, easy to collect and find and most would qualify at 7/8”. They come in a variety of glass colors, opacities and at least two releases. I am just guessing at the manufacturer of the marbles. I wish that I could find a listing of them all. The display case is awesome and the round empty places are intended to add more marble holders from another set of selected collectable marbles. The pouches are numerous to say the least. Pokémon was even in my spell checker!!! Marketing genius!! Marble—On!!!

Foreign they are. The biggest one of all--lets see some more. Many will be future high enders. They competed with the Japenese and survived and now they are competeing with the Chinese. Respect to them no doubt. The more we learn the better. Marble--On!!

Great--- ID Ric. I will start looking for one--you nailed it for sure. Like a mini ship in a bottle what patience it must take to make one. My sausage fingers would make a dibacle of it. Marble or nèihuà--on!!!

Time for some Vacors--I have loved these Wavebreakers, since I first laid eyes on them. Marble--On!!