Furnace Pieces

[Chordus]

One of the jars I got this last summer was filled with close to a hundred marbles with furnace chips in them. I've got a few questions about these marbles, since I currently know next to nothing.

1) The jar was labeled "poor man's sulphides," though I doubt this is the proper name. Do these marbles have an official name?

2) The marbles in the jar are all clear and transparent-blue. Given that these were accidents (I think), I assume that the furnace pieces could show up in any marble. Are clear and blue simply the most common?

3) The only time I've ever seen a Poor Man's Sulphide marble priced was an individual, clear one (standard 5/8ths) at $15. I would consider this high, but the truth of the matter is that I don't know. What are these worth?

[clydetul62]

There isnt a set price for them. They are pieces of oven brick that fell into the glass during manufacture. They can occur in any marble and are accidental. I have a double ingot akro sparkler with a piece in it.

[Alan]

They are generally considered refuse and were discarded at the factory.

[semdot]

There is not enough of these around to have a following, and they don't really have the shelf appeal to stand on their own merits. From that I would guess they have rather nominal value separately.

I would think they would have more value left together as a collection. Somebody took the trouble to collect these from 2 or more marble runs, or perhaps made them intentionally. As such, they are an interesting curiosity, even intriguing.

[lstmmrbls]

I do not believe anyone made machine made marbles with pieces of oven brick in them intentionally. As stated earlier it is fairly common and I would have a hard time placing any real value on the marbles.

[Chordus]

A sparkler with a furnace brick in it? That is so rock'n! Any chance you could post a pic here?

I have a larger marble with furnace brick in it somewhere, but it's nothing too fancy. The blue ones from the jar are quite pretty, though.

The marbles were all from a dig a while back. I wasn't on the dig, so I can't say too much about them, but that's the origin of them at least.

[david Chamberlain]

Have to admit that the promotional name "Poor Man's Sulphides" was rather inventive. Unfortunately it is a common occurrence and often irritatingly so. Still, there are people who get off on marbles with oven brick. David

[mmuehlba]

Have to admit that the promotional name "Poor Man's Sulphides" was rather inventive. Unfortunately it is a common occurrence and often irritatingly so. Still, there are people who get off on marbles with oven brick. David

I would call them internal flames ?? but I have been know to but just because of the oven brick in side as it then take just a common marble and makes it stand out a little . Mike

The only one bought separately because of the oven brick

others just the luck of the bunch bought.

I think I am just getting off on pictures of marbles

[Alan]

An Akro oxblood patch on clear and green with furnace brick:

[david Chamberlain]

Although the furnace brick does detract from the beauty of the marble I've found over the years that it does add a small premium to already interesting marbles. David

[Chordus]

Unfortunately it is a common occurrence and often irritatingly so

Well if that's how you feel, I'll be more than happy to take your unwanted oven bricks off your hands.

As for those posted pics, I want them. *Casually pockets both*