wvrons

That is one big project. Several of those companies do not have any company named marbles. Some do not even have one named marble even by collectors. Some did not even put a company name on any package. Some will be a big list of names even by company. I think that I have a list of about 84 names of Vitro marbles. Peltier names have to be in the hundreds or a thousand. The names may not do a lot of good if there is no picture of the named marble. I think it may be a few years project if possible at all ? Some marbles have two names east coast or west coast. More are named almost every week. It is a wish by all collectors, but no one has done it yet. It will be lots of long days, months, or years.

Jim, not the salesman sample box. These are just box sets from Akro. The actual salesman sample box sets are much larger and more variety of marbles. Plus more expensive, most of the salesman sample box sets are $10,000.00 each. I think Steph posted a picture of one maybe this last week, maybe over in the id section ? The box you pictured is nice. The box is missing some marbles, it is 100 count, missing the dividers, and some damage. The box alone above is worth almost as much as the marbles. All maybe $200.00 or $300.00. The marbles in each row should match like the box Chad posted. Exactly what marbles are in the box also affects the final price.

I think you have a Heaton Firecracker.

The Vitro Anit Blackies are not super rare but it takes some hunting to find more than a couple. Anti Backie = a white base with a color other than black around the middle or center. With the two poles of another color, both poles being the same color each. Post them if you have them.

If Jabo it is one they made in the last couple years that they were in business. I do not have enough examples of them or that familiar with all of them. They did malke some then with cut lines showing. The had several that are very close to Vitro's. The size would be correct for the later Jabos. The purple base might be odd for late Jabos ? What points to CAC ? Not big numbers of CAC, but they made some that size. If a cobra it would have action going on inside. I have never owned a transparent purple base CAC. Trying to remember if I have ever seen one ?????????

I have one Paul Bunyan toy Ox with the box. My box has wear . Nola has two Paul Bunyan toy Ox's with Paul Bunyan marbles. Both in the box and in great shape. Ric Anthony has a Paul Bunyan toy Ox . His came with Akro 7/8 inch patch marbles, not sure any had oxblood ? I interviewed three past employee's at Ravenswood Novelty. Not a one remembered packaging or seeing any 7/8 inch size marbles at all of any kind. I took three Paul Bunyan marbles with me during each interview. None of them had ever seen a Paul Bunyan. All three of those are now deceased. Maybe the were hired after the Paul Bunyan marbles ? I have talked with three people who were at the last auction of the contents of the Ravenswood factory. They never saw any 7/8 size machine. Jack Bogard was one, he bought one Ravenswood 5/8 machine and marbles. He ran that machine at Jabo but it was to slow to make any money with. Faye Safreed daughter of the late Edwin Safreed. He was the main man at Ravenswood start to finish. She said her Dad made the Paul Bunyan marbles. Maybe it was a very short time and early ? I have learned over the years that for sure not all in print is 100% correct. I also have learned for sure that memories get distorted, not on purpose, but it happens. It was a lot of years ago. Currently I have seen or know of more Paul Bunyan toy Ox's with Paul Bunyan marbles than known Akro marbles. About six that came with with Paul Bunyan marbles and two with other Akro marbles. Someday someone may find out for sure no doubt as to who actually made the Paul Bunyan marbles ??? Ravenswood ? Akro ? Master ? Packaged for sure by Ravenswood Novetly. I have not seen them in any other companies package.

A few from Sistersville WV 1932-1936.

Akro

A few Anti Blackies

OK that solves it . It is a early Alley made at the Sistersville location in 1932-1933. No doubt at all. Exact colors can make a big difference for id's. The last picture color is different than the earlier pictures. Just shows how important that the picture color looks like the marble in hand. Nice Alley. Not $100.00 but not far off.

I have been back and forth on these Paul Bunyan marbles either Akro or Master for 25 years. Who put the label on the Ravenswood bags that states made by Akro and why ? Maybe because they would sell better as Akro 25-35 years ago ? I ask Roger Hardy if he knew what a Paul Bunyan marble was. He said no. I showed him some twice years apart and ask if he had ever dug one or seen one dug at Akro. He said no. I ask if he had any in any of his original Akro box sets. He said no. I have looked through his collection maybe 25-30 times and I have not found any. If you check Marble Mania by Stanley Block 1998 page 99. He shows four Akro box sets. One with Unique(Grebe)marbles, One with Hero(Brown Thrasher)marbles, one Hero(Golden Tawny)marbles and one with Hero(Rainbow)marbles. Every box are all shades of brown colors. They all look like 7/8 size marbles. The marbles all have very similar patterns. On page 101 is another Akro box set Unique. These marbles are all more solid single color patch colors. Single colors on each opaque white base marble, of green, yellow, red, or blue. So I am not positive what the difference is between a Akro Unique, a Hero, or a Thrasher. I also had four different original box sets of 7/8 opaque patch marbles same size and looks as the Akro box sets. But these all were marked Unique and Made by Master Marbles. Each box had a row of different colored patch marbles. Some were the Paul Bunyan colors. I sold them two years ago to George Sourlis as he was writing a Master book and wanted these four Master box sets. What is the difference between a Akro Unique, a Hero or a Thrasher ? What is the difference between a Akro Unique and a Master Unique ?

Yes for sure Master sold 7/8 marbles to Alox and others.

The first one is messed up. Not Alley it could be Peltier. The second one looks Alley. But it that white is bright snow white like the picture shows ? It may be CAC. Or could be a nice early Alley. The colors look bright crisp and defined on the second one. It looks like quality glass. Is the dark color true black or dark brown ? If true black it is CAC.

You are welcome.

Al companies used many shades of blue and orange. By the cut llnes, thin orange at the cut, thin bubbly orange and orange peel. I would say foreign to the US. Maybe Imperial Asian.

I think they are probably all Madia's except maybe for the larger one. I think the Madia's were all 3/4 inch. There were nice wood box sets with a clear glass lid which had a moth etched in the glass for the Madia marbles. I had a few but don't know if I have one left or not ? Yes the run was named for her. I think it was done on or near her birthday. I have pictures of her at the run and lots of that run. But they are on floppy disc that I cannot open now.

Alley from the St.Marys WV location.

Those are strange. Look like the orange was very hot and just poured over a much colder white base.

All the Paul Bunyan's I have seen are opaque and very near 7/8 inch or larger.

Oh nice Akro oxbloods with yours. It is a rare marble toy.

Correct it is a Peltier transparent blue base MCS.

Who made these ? What is your opinion ? Ravenswood did not make them. Ravenswood bought them, named them, packaged them and sold them in their mesh and plastic bags. Also came with a rare large childs toy named Paul Bunyan with a Blue Ox. The marbles are placed on the Ox's back then flip his tail and the marbles roll across the ox's back and down across the head into a trough or track below between the ox's legs. I have one in a original box. Kids love it and will wear one out. The marbles were made by Akro or Master. None have ever been dug at Akro that I can find out about. The cut lines look more Master. They come in about five color combinations. They are all near 7/8 inch size. The most common color combo is opaque yellow base and red patch. Many of the Ravenswood packaged marbles contained one large Paul Bunyan marble. The Old Fashioned Marble mesh bags contained Ravenswood marbles and one Paul Bunyan marble. Did Ravenswood get the name from the Paul Bunyan game ? Did they get a order for 7/8 size marbles for this Paul Bunyan game. Since they did not produce 7/8 size marbles they bought them from another company and named them Paul Bunyan. I think the date of the Paul Bunyan game is about 1931-1933. This marble game or childs toy is rare to find. I know of about maybe six total in the hands of marble collectors. I have done a couple articles on this for the West Virginia Marbles Collectors newsletter in the past years. Have you got any Paul Bunyan marbles ?

GET WELL SOON !!!!!!!!!!!!!