wvrons

Is the blue and green a helmet ?

The original first two marbles look like Jabos. I don't know the size but I would guess about 7/8 to one inch Jabos. Both are swirls, not slags or striped transparent.

The vast majority if not all the yellow base and red/orange Alley swirls and flames were produced at the Sistersville WV location. The marbles that the grandsons have which they got from the factory as kids, they have zero of these. Of all the dug marbles that I have seen from the Alley Pennsboro WV site, there is zero of these. I have seen 100,000s of marbles dug from Pennsboro From about 25 people who has dug marbles there over 20 years. The yellow base red/orange have been dug at Sistersville. I also have a original mesh bag from the Sistersville location. It contains these yellow base red/orange swirls and flames. I can date the bag because it was when Alley, Rosenthal and Pink were partners at Sistersville for a little less than a year in 1931. Pink had the patent on this double style bag sewn down the center. Alley was producing the marbles. Rosenthal was filling the bags. No doubts where and when these yellow base red/orange swirls and flames were made. The yellow base can vary with some, so can the red/orange swirls and flames. Why only that one year ? That I am not positive of. But many Alley marbles are unique to only one of his different locations. Some of it has to do with cost, what is available nearby to make them with, Yellow base is easier to control and work with than white, the kids always wanted to see red, etc. It was s simple two color marble. It is always possible a very few small amount could have been made at another Alley location. But I have no doubts the big majority if not all were made at Sistersville. Hope this helps some. Sometimes a simple answer just doesn't explain it. One of the few yellow base made at Pennsboro Bag of Alley marbles only made at the St.Marys location. You will never find a original package of marbles with the Lawrence Alley, Alley Agate, etc. name on it. He did not think that he was anything special to have his name on a package.

Center one is Alley made in Sistersville in 1931 only.

Correct

Correct. Sometimes you are able to see behind the black face or patch. The black ones are not easy to find. But the true red face or red patch helmet is difficult to find.

Might be Vacor.

I agree Peltier.

Not what I have seen or would consider a CAC layered sand. I also am not sure it is CAC. Might be European ? I am not even 100% sure of the definition or requirements for a CAC layered sand. The second marble is Ravenswood Novelty. One thing I have learned over 25 years. Is not to base a identification or assumption of a marble because of other marbles in the group. Marbles get mixed easily, old and new, USA and non USA, etc. So many people have been upset with me, when I tell them they have a newer Jabo in their group. Which has never been touched, in the attic, basement, craw space, cellar, etc. for the last 50 years. layered sand.

Top two Champions 1990"s The bottom three are Alleys.

You ask for them. How many ?

Bills example is one of my all time favorite Akro Chocolate Oxblood patches. It is three shades of chocolate base. Even a slight bit of white chocolate.

I have heard anemic oxblood. Oxblood color is suppose to look like the blood of a Ox. If you look up Anemia ,anemic or anemically = a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells. So the best oxblood color may be lacking some red in anemic oxblood. Most times what is considered anemic oxblood is burnt oxblood the temperature to high for the thinner oxblood color. The higher or longer the temperature is to high the darker the oxblood will go until it is dark red, brown and then black then it disappears. From what I have heard the most, Akro Chocolate Oxblood people were referencing a Akro Chocolate colored base and oxblood patch. The exact chocolate color base is always a varied discussion. Just like chocolate candy from light to milk to dark chocolate. Like the candy more people like the milk or medium chocolate color, for the Akro Chocolate Oxblood. They are rare and like Chuck said more of the medium chocolate oxblood patches were 3/4 size and opaque. There are smaller sizes and and some transparent or translucent, but most of these have the much lighter or much darker chocolate base. Any of the Akro Chocolate Oxblood patches are desirable. But the highest value or most desired is the 3/4 inch medium chocolate oxblood patch. I have never heard of Chocolate in reference to a certain color of oxblood. With Akro the chocolate refers to the base glass color.

Alley Opal Lady has a translucent opalescent base when backlit. Slight yellow tint to the base. The Lady Tater has a definite yellow/brown mix base. There are other Alleys that have the same lavender, pink swirls. Not are are named. The Alley Kurly Kate is clear base and lavender/pink swirl.

Yes, that was the last time I saw a picture of one. Nola and myself found a few for sale at the Sistersville WV show about 3-4 years ago.

The originals above are later Champions.

Alley West Virginian for both. The right one is the better version. Years ago these were considered CAC, just like the Blue Lady was. Many Alleys were considered and sold as CAC. The first Blue Lady that I ever bought, I purchased it as a CAC. Then years later I was crawling on top of them(Blue Lady and West Virginian)digging them and the matching cullet at a Alley site.

Dr. Marbles is a self given nickname by Jason Jura. He showed up collecting marbles about 3-4 years ago.

That is a rare Vitro. I have not seen one of those for a while.