BENgineer

I found this old post and would like to share some photos. I have No. 1 of 100 of BIG BLUE III and numerous others including personalized marbles to my grandpa from "Brownie".

I have quite a few from Robert Brown. My grandfather was good friends with him and I'm trying to learn more about him. He is mentioned in Greenburg's Guide To Marbles (hardcover 1994) if this helps anyone else that may find this.

So, I know this is an old post, but I cannot find this book unless it's over $100. I'm wondering if anyone has a good condition used copy they would be willing to sell for a much lower price? I know this is a long shot, but doesn't hurt to ask!

10 minutes ago, Ric said:

Here is a Blue Oxblood . . .

The oxblood is under blue and if you don't light it up good and look look closely it can look like a dark blue corkscrew.

I thought if the oxblood was over blue it was a blueblood? Just from what I've read, keep in mind I'm under 2 weeks into marbles.

I just wanted to also update everyone that I had several reputable sources say this is an Akro Oxblood Patch marble and not a Blue Oxblood. 

Also, I really enjoy reading the stories and seeing all of the photos! These are stories that will now forever be heard and help future like-minded marble goers. Thank you all for sharing and helping me!

52 minutes ago, Ric said:

You are really fortunate to have that marble and the letter from your Grandpa. The set is a heirloom for sure. If it were mine, I would do my best to see that it stayed in the family.

They definitely are! 

So, I found the marble that was mentioned in the letter from Dennis Webb I posted before. I happen to have No. 1 of 100 made. What a great feeling to know my grandpa was good friends with Robert A. Brown!

Here's one I can't seem to ID. Let me know your opinions!

Thank you for the helpful advice and photos! Definitely helps me understand better.

Yes, that helps a lot. I can see why it's not a CAC now! Some people are saying it needs to have 4 flame tips to be considered a flame. Not sure on that.

3 minutes ago, Carowill said:

CAC flames tend to be wider and spaced apart further than Alley and taper more.  Also, the Christensen white is usually much whiter.

Great info! Thank you!

18 minutes ago, chicagocyclist said:

It looks like Akro Oxblood to me.

8 minutes ago, Da Roberto said:

Yes, that's Akro's oxblood

I'm assuming you are both referring to the color of the oxblood that looks like Akro's. Do you have any advice or examples to help me spot the difference between the different company's oxblood color if so?

10 minutes ago, Da Roberto said:

Flame Alley

Are there any "tips" 😁 you can give me on spotting the difference between CAC or Alley marbles like one?

4 minutes ago, Tommy said:

Imho ..I believe it is a 🔥.... or really really close....😃

I think it has to have at least 4 flame tips to officially qualify 

The tips seem to almost dissappear into the marble. Not sure what else it'd be with my limited knowledge at this point in the hobby.

I'm not sure which company made this one, but it appears to be a Swirl Flame. I believe either CAC or Alley based on my research, but not sure the best way to tell. Does anybody know and/or can help with how to tell the difference?

I believe this to be a Akro Agate Blue Oxblood marble. Can anyone confirm this or let me know if it's something else? I can't find my caliper to measure still, but this is a "normal" size.

Yes, I am just trying to go one by one and identify them and I feel like once I have a few of each type I will be able to reference those to ID others. There's definitely a lot to learn and will take a great deal of time. I have so many of what seems to be endless types to go through. Slowly but surely I will go through each and every one and build my own database to reference. I've already ordered a book to help learn more and have referenced several other sites to help me.

I spent a few hours researching online and watching videos to just ID the Vitro Exotic Conqueror I posted on the general chat. I'm basically putting all like marbles together as I go jar by jar and trying to ID each one - putting all cats eyes together, all opaque solids together, all translucent together, etc.. Then I will later circle back to those and ID them for maker/type. I even found what seem to be wood marbles. Of course maybe 10 jars of clays/Bennington looking marbles also. Even if no value, I'm enjoying taking the time to hold and look at each one as I learn. 

1 hour ago, ann said:

Most helmets have a transparent "face." Sometimes transparent colorless, sometimes transparent colored . . .

Thanks! Starting to get a feel for certain types. Can't wait until I can easily identify them.

Here's one that I'm pretty sure is a Vitro Exotic Conqueror

6 minutes ago, Carowill said:

Most calipers will do both.  Mine has a small button to push for either mm or inches.  A 0.625 inch marble normally would be reported as a 5/8” marble.  However, it is not a really big deal, although some threads in the past have denoted that fractions are highly preferred.

Got it! Thanks for the info. Have a notebook going to help me 

21 minutes ago, Carowill said:

The majority of marble folks prefer using fractions and not metric measurements of marble diameters.

What do you recommend to measure? I think it can switch between inches and mm. I haven't found it yet, though.

9 minutes ago, akroorka said:

A very nice looking Vitro!

Size always matters--just sayin!

Marble--On!!

I'll use my digital caliper for future posts to help. 

17 minutes ago, Ric said:

Type I Vitro Tiger Eye with whacky ribbons - imagine pressing the orange and yellow up toward the purple patch so you have a white patch on the bottom . . .

I was going to say it doesn't look like a white pole since it's so small. This is why it's so hard for me to grasp the IDs lol. Then again I'm less than a week into them

9 minutes ago, Fire1981 said:

I believe that is a type of Tiger Eye. 🔥

I was told it may be that also, but other tiger eye photos I find are a little different looking.

Hello, I would like some help identifying marbles as I try to learn and sort the collection. Here's the first one...is this a Vitro Tri-lite Helmet?

8 minutes ago, Leigh said:

If you scroll down on this page, do you think it looks like shale? https://www.marblecollecting.com/marble-reference/online-marble-id-guide/agate-and-other-mineral/

I don't believe it does based on the photo they show. It may be? It's really hard and solid while also super smooth.