Al Oregon

Let's try and look at this from a new collector that is thinking about collecting marbles. And, let's say they are looking to collect machine-made marbles - older ones like Peltier, Christensen and up to WV swirls. I remember when I started collecting about 15 years ago. My wife and I sat down with Landon Daniel. We knew nothing about marbles. He shows us a variety of his marbles - high end stuff. Then he shows us a few of the newer marbles, like the Mega (Vacor) Serpent, and a couple of contemporary or re-worked or cullet-made marbles that looked like the older machine mades. He explained the difference but, to my eye, they looked the same. While I decided to collect marbles, I also decided to collect lower value ones so I could learn about marbles. I collected packaging to see what companies made what marbles. Of course, I learned along the way to recognize most of the "replica" marbles. This took time and going to shows, etc. If I started collectin marbles now and sat down with a knowledgable collector who would also show me the replicas that are out there, from Vacors to Scott's to Wilganowski to some Jabos and some recent Sammy's, I would have a hard time wanting to collect marbles because of ll the one that may be 'replicas'. New collectors are probably not going to take the time to learn the fine details to tell the difference and when they get burned, they will walk away. Beside the electronic age taking away kids playing marbles (and subsequently being a collector when they get older), these 'replica' marbles, as they proliferate, will be a detriment to the continued growth of the hobby. Just my thoughts trying to look at it from a new collector viewpoint.

Yup, it was a fun time. Eddie & Madeline's first time at the Crab Pot - ordered, 'Crab, Crab & Crab' (3 different types). It's always fun to see friends periodically and even some nice marbles and a bag or two, for me.

Good list - thanks for letting us know about it.

Steph - were you 'modularforms' on one of the boards? Here was a picture posted back in December 2007.

Nice pic!

Here is a picture that Galen (I think) used several years ago to describe the diaper fold.

I am sorry to hear that. I did not know George but my prayers go out to his family.

Hey, it is paper that is over 100 years old. Mind blowing for US... Of course in Europe, that is only the equivalent of a week or so... However, it is still amazing to have marble related items that are that old (besdies the marbles themselves).

I have a couple bags like that. I'm not sure if they are fantasy bags or 'real'. They have a variety of marbles. I would think they are from the 70's or 80's. Here's a couple pics.

I am sorry to read that. Paul was a true gentleman and a fine marble maker. He and Dee were always a pleasure to talk to at shows. My prayers to the family!

Neat pictures! Thanks for sharing those. The 'model' making the marbles does look like a French version of Sammy Hogue...!

That's fine - all my pics can be used by anybody (as long as they are not saying that they are selling that specific bag...).

I looked through pictures of my Vitro All Red bags (with the name All Red in the header) and the Gladding-Vitro All Red bags and did not see any that had the metallic sheen look. That would be late 50's to 1969 as Vitro and then 1969-82 as G-V(and a couple years into the Paris Manufacturing era after G-V). I did find a couple of Paris bags that appeared to have marbles with a metallic sheen. Also, a couple other bags without Paris on it had some of the Vitro blue metallic marbles in it along with some All Reds that appear to have sheen. I added the pics below. I did not find anything resembling the All Reds in the Anarcortes packaging so it was probably before then (even though some Anacortes marbles had a metallic sheen). So, in guessing, I'd say 1980's.

Again, great pictures, Edna! And that is neat that Lawrence Alley III was there. I'm looking forward to his book. Did he mention any time frame for completion?

Cool earrings! Maybe Griff can wear them with his dress and hat from the Ladies Run... (payback for the gutta percha pun)

That's too bad but glad no one was hurt. He has a nice workshop.

Looks like one of the best runs to me also.

Yup, a good deal...

One option - since marble collectors now know how important it is to keep records (we know the companies really didn't) would be to contact the people that ran the Amana Show back in 1996 and see if they still have their "records" of who attended. That might help narrow it down.

Neat one!

Good reference

Here is the reply I received from Brian Estepp: I had Morphys send marble to me to take another look. It is Christensen green guinea with two curved pinch lines.I am having them reshoot the photos to show the spotting of the colors that are not seen and state the as made stretched surface blowout I did not see the first time looking at it.

Did anyone email Brian E. to get his take on that marble and why he thought it was a guinea?

Steph - are your hands tired yet from copying all the pics that you don't already have.....?

Amen