akroorka

"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!!

Great marbles, the "bonux" has opened my eyes. I have never seen one before and researching them showed up some "ajax" that I have never laid eyes on. Great stuff--Thanks Marble--on!!!

Very cool, Is it ceramic encased in glass? I looked very carefully and it appears that the inner marble has five panels. If this is so, check out the number 5 in asian culture. Marble--On!!

"Old warriors that deserve to be posted and revered" Marble--On!!

Simply a great group of patches. Try to find these if you are back-filling a box--9/16" seems to be the norm. 1" is not an easy find for sure. Marble--On!!

Bricks with wear are like hand faceted agates with hit marks in my book. Old warriors that deserve to be posted and revered. Marble--on!!

This is a really great marble alan. It looks played with and not dug. With all of the research that you must have done, what is your opinion on the maker. I would guess that it was handmade from my angle. Maybe from an outhouse dig. Marble--on!!

I have exhausted my resources researching this one. Help me out if you can. The size is 3- 3/8” x 5-3/8”, measured on the top of the box. I purchased this box empty. I was intrigued by the marble “bruises” on the bottom of the box more than the stamp on the top. I originally thought this to be a “jobber” box with a fake stamp. I am not so sure now. The box is vintage, no doubt in my mind. The “bruises” show a very tight fit. The stamp is a stamp and not any new technology. What gets me is the “bruises” because they look like they were intermittently packed or offset, marble to space, marble to space, etc, and not in neat set rows of eight. More like eight then seven then eight then seven then eight etc. This leads me to believe that any dividers were lengthwise and not crosswise. The box will hold 40- 5/8” marbles as shown with 40 5/8” marbles that I backfilled for experimentation. They will fit only with vintage dividers without bulging the box sides. If the original marbles were smaller, say 9/16”, the bruises would have shown a more recognizable linear bruise in my opinion. I tried variations of different sizes which would not fit. The top shows no “bruises” which an 11/16” marble would have shown because they are above the top ridge of the bottom box. Two rows of 11/16” will not fit in the box with three rows of 5/8”, with dividers or with none at all. Please ask any and all questions, any advice positive or negative is welcomed. I love this stuff!!! Marble—on!!

I posted a link to an "Alibaba Page" below. There are a lot of Chinese glass items, including marbles for sale in the USA and probably worldwide. You can even buy Vacors on Alibaba. Search Alibaba for what you have and you will more than likely make your ID. The links explains "lampworked" which is more than likely "torchworked" which yours looks like to me. Marble--On!! https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/16mm-25mm-colorful-spot-mix-handmade_62355108286.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_title.3e3820c1F6E6Xy

Here is a nice little “Jobber Box” with some possible history attached. The seller said that this card was found under the marbles after he got home with it from a sale of some sort. Cooper was the Governor of Ohio 1929-1931. A political fundraiser giveaway? I probably will never know but it’s a cool thing nonetheless. I love this kind of stuff. Marble—On!!

I think that it is the the rare, one of a kind, Cat-Patch made by the Whonosewho Marble Company. I can see why you think it is Vitro and rather than calling it "messed-up", I think I would call it "Top Shelf". Another shot or two, including the stuff at the surface straight-on may help. Marble--On!!

Way too funny Ric, and I do not feel like a Jork for calling it--Thanks. Marble--On!!

Ric, Sweet marble that one. I have never seen one quite like it. Is it Akro?--sure looks like it from here. Does it cork? Corkscrews alway pop up with color combo's that amaze me. I refuse to be gun-shy and will call them like I see them, depite all of the contract runs. I looked at this one like I was going to buy it--lol. Marble--On!!

Show some bottles Pittsburgh, just add some of your marble digs with them. I have dug old dumpsites in Wisconsin but I quit when I started finding old cattle syringes. My kids and I had great fun doing this together, swatting mosquitoes, getting dirty for fun and walking home with a great time spent in the outdoors and most times finding little else but a bunch of rusty fingers, junk and bones. We always thought that it was a treasure though. Living around WV I am sure that you did better--show it off. I love the Steelers by the way, Just a close second to the Packers is all I can say. Marble--On!! and dig --on!!---Kids on for sure!!!

I'll join in and I can't wait to see some killer AV Pelts. Here are some big corkscrews accompanied by a little sibling. White is a color for sure!!---Clear is up for grabs lol. Black and White on!! and Marble--on for sure!!!

Just a size note--The big ones are 24" and the smaller ones are 18". I had a chance at a 24-incher on ebay in the last few months but the shipping was a killer---just under $50 and it was not an overcharge---size does matter with the USPS. Marble--on!!