Nate

Aventurine is very hard to photograph but I think I might see some light AV in the last photo. Sometimes looking at it in direct sunlight can help.

Weak but true Aquas X2

Thinking Jabo Classics

Thinking Vacor Bumblebees. Pelts like these don't glow orange/red as far as I know. 

I can confidently say that all are Vitro except that black one that you indicated was larger. Not sure what that one is, but it doesn't look Vitro to me.

Vitro Tri-Lite

Some sweet Alligator Eyes I was lucky enough to buy last year.

Yes, Vitro Conqueror. They occasionally come with 2 colors + white, and when they do they can look really nice!

On 7/26/2023 at 7:25 AM, Steph said:

There used to be photos there which made the single words make more sense.   I don't know why they disappeared.    

Ahhh, gotcha. Well that's a bummer, but thanks for checking it out!

@Steph Would there be any way to restore the text throughout this thread that has seemingly disappeared? For example, many of the replies on the first page only have 1 random word showing and it doesn't make sense / makes the discussion impossible to follow. If not, I understand, but thought I would ask Thanks!

18 hours ago, Ric said:

You need to be careful with what you read online. I have heard of Vitros and I have heard of Sparklers but I have never heard of a "Vitro Sparkler". 🙂

I agree it is foreign, and tend to think Vacor, like Steph.

Bit of a detour but this topic has been bugging me for a little while and I keep forgetting to make a post about it. Ron had posted a marble that he identified as a Vitro Sparkler a few years ago in a big Vitro ID thread on the AAM boards. The mib he posted does seem pretty different-looking from an Akro Sparkler, but it's been difficult to find more information about if these are indeed a thing or not, how to ID Vitro Sparkler vs. Akro Sparkler if they are a thing, etc etc. I know you know your Vitros, @Ric - maybe you can help demystify this one for me?

Photo of some of Ric's Vitro Tri Lites (top 2 look pretty familiar :D)

Good call @Steph. Came back because this one was bugging me and then I remembered that I have some. I am 100% confident they are Vitro Tri Lites. They are likely a bit larger than 5/8" but the ebay seller that Melissa's photo is from doesn't provide many details on their listings.

MK Beach Ball x 2

My guess would be old glass but polished.

Two on the outside definitely look Jabo to me.

Kinda looks Vitro to me.

Yep! Peltier NLR Christmas Tree

Vitro Multicolored Patch on the left. Vitro Tri Lite on the right.

On 1/11/2021 at 10:47 AM, Ric said:

Or these . . .

Hey Ric - do the two mibs at the top have a particular name? Or are they just Tri Lites? I just found a few with the same colors, same order of colors, and measure a little over 11/16". Thanks!

25 minutes ago, Carowill said:

Marbles are unfortunately rarely black or white.  There are many shades of gray.  Not like a baseball card or coin for identification.  Grading is a bit like CAC marbles, where everyone thinks they have one, even when they don’t.  Everyone thinks they have a mint marble, even when they don’t.  There are some fairly good grading guidelines, but not everyone agrees and it seems to be subjective depending upon whether you are a buyer or seller.  I understand your pain, but even if a committee was formed, I seriously doubt there would be a large majority of collectors who would embrace their decisions.  When you read the threads on TMC or AAM, the experts are often very divided.  I was in medicine for 45 years and there is a saying, “ there’s no always and no never in medicine.”  Seems to be somewhat true with marbles.

I definitely agree that the issue of identification is uniquely challenging when it comes to marbles. However, when it comes to authentication and grading, I think coins are just as complicated and subjective as marbles—if not more so. Before there were third-party grading and authentication companies for coins, dealers and collectors alike would rely entirely on their own subjective opinions for valuing coins. That's fine for those people with decades of experience, but it makes the barrier to entry extremely steep and discourages new collectors from joining the hobby. And even when ID is impossible for certain marbles, grading can often still be determined because it's a condition thing, not a maker or authentication thing.

I really hope someone comes along and established a method of third-party grading, authenticating and identifying (when possible) for marbles. Without it, I think it will be difficult for marble collecting to survive and thrive beyond the next couple generations.

Thank you all!

Marble #1 - 21/32” - Alley?

Marble #2 - 9/16" - Not sure... Jabo?

Marble #3 - 9/16" - Heaton?

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Fire1981 said:

It doesn’t look like a Phantom Conqueror to me because it’s not a veneered marble 🔥

Conquerors are veneered. Phantom Conquerors have a wispy white matrix.

Size is just below 5/8". Thanks!