hdesousa Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I have several similar lumps of melted marbles. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220790073633 (I will try to post pics from Bert's description later) Also have a 1978 postcard from the Chicago Historical Society depicting marbles melted in the Great Fire of 1871. (pic attached) The marbles have no evidence of play wear, although they have lost their luster. They are better than your average marbles, with ground pontils, lots with mica, and there are many from the same cane. (I'm hoarding these to keep them out of SP's hands - we don't want anyone remelting them into unsigned playing marbles) (Just kidding!) So I think they are the really what they are supposed to be, from a warehouse or store that sold them, and not purposely melted as a scam. Besides, they usually sell for much less than the marbles would have, unmelted. Anyone have any solid additional information? e.g. How could glass marbles avoid being melted into a puddle, in a fire that burns up practically everything else - i.e., How were they stored? What did their container look like? etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Pics of Bert's melted marbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 One more pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migbar Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 If the marbles only went up to about 1300 degrees or so, they would be only partially slumped like these examples, and not melted flat. mike b. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poplarhead Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 If the marbles only went up to about 1300 degrees or so, they would be only partially slumped like these examples, and not melted flat. mike b. About a year or so ago a lump came up on Ebay form Chicago Fire. Plus the Chicago Hisotrical Museum has an example. http://wertel.blogspot.com/2010/10/great-chicago-fire.html Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobBlock Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 I remembering seeing similar chunks over thirty years ago. I doubt anyone was faking them back then, the individual marbles were worth more than the chunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clydetul62 Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Years ago one of the boards members (Buddy) had set fire to a box from Bo Stiff. Thinking the box was empty after getting the marble Bo sent him. Bo later called asking if he liked his extra gift. Buddy went back to the ash pile and found the extra marble. Slightly disfigured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I would imagine quite a few general stores with marbles have burnt over the years. I sure would need some very good documentation before believing any glob for sale on Ebay came from the Chicago fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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