Boy, I must be a different type of DA (denseass) as I don't recall ever hearing about the story not being true about Wissmach, etc. So, Edna, the following information, posted by Ron Shepherd back in 2002 after talking to Dave McCullogh, was all BS? Here is the post:
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More Champion Furnace Marbles Info
Posted by Ron & Paula Shepherd on 12-15-2002 on Marble Addicts Board
After Marvella's Marble Show, we received a phone call from a collector in Canada requesting more information about the Champion Furnace marbles. Because of his previous connection with the Champion Agate Co, I called Dave McCullough (JABO) and asked for any details he might have about these marbles and this is what he told me: In the mid 90's Roger Jones, a very knowledgeable glassworker at Champion, used glass from the Paul Wissmach Glass Co in Paden City, WV to wash out the tanks when changing runs. This was done a couple of time a month. The reason for the fractures is that the marble glass was not compatible with the glass from Wissmach (Wissmach makes plate and cathedral glass). Mr. Jones told Dave that the yellow glass from Wissmach worked best for his purposes and I suppose that is why yellow furnace marbles are the most common color. BTW, this practice would have stopped in 1996 or 1997 when Mr. Jones passed away.