Akro product

[William]

After checking out posts by some of you regarding akro agate glassware such as ashtrays, gearshift knobs, children's tea sets, etc; I googled this area of interest and found all kinds of neat stuff produced by the company other than marbles. Anyone know what fair pricing would be if I came across such items? I don't think I really want to use Ebay as a reference. Thanks!

[wvrons]

I don't think Akro made gearshift knobs. Pricing for Akroware is different for each type and size piece. Pricing is Also very different for each color.  Some pieces there has been only one piece ever found. Prices can be from $1.00 to $1000.00 or more for one piece.  

[Chad G.]

Here's the link to a store for you to take look at, they used to have over 4000 pieces and now are slowly rebuilding after C19. Akro agate arsenal was & still is the largest Akro marble related store site there is, I believe Ron Knows them personally. Here's the link. I have bought several items from them in years past, it used to take me hours to look over all their stuff. I believe they have more but an Email or contact through Ebay is probably necessary to find out ?? On another note, I also agree with Ron on the shifter knobs & Akro never making them, even though many appear as large corkscrews or marbles, no provenance that "I've ever seen" proving that Akro ever manufactured them. "Houze" made many beautiful knobs though !! I used to collect them, cigarette lighters etc.... I still have many pieces of Akroware but nowhere near what I used to have. As you are well aware marbles eventually & almost always lead to anything & everything marble related. You have been bit my friend as we all have.............

 

LINK:  https://www.ebay.com/str/akroagatearsenal

[Berryb]

A little caution is required here. Akro has gotten to be a generic term for slag glass. While Akro made lots of items they did not make all of them. There is also the added problem that they did not mark all of the items they made. Here are some pics of some slag items I have. The only one marked is the pitcher and that is made by Imperial Glass. I am pretty sure the yellow pot was made by Akro, but it is unmarked. I used to think the ashtrays were Akro because of the Oxblood, but have since learned they could be from anywhere.  The little blue boat is from Japan. You could make a nice collection of slag glass things, but if you want to specialize in Akro you need to learn to identify it just like marbles.

[Chad G.]

"Yes" agreed, the first is a large Imperial pitcher, mine is red, second is an Akro toothpick holder, the ashtrays I'm not positive & the little slag boat is a game piece. All the items on the link I gave are fully identified and guaranteed to be what they say they are. The store I gave the link to is "most" dependable. The Akro I.D. book written by Roger & Claudia Hardy is available rite on this site, the same link I gave above. I agree with Bruce, many things claim to be made by & will actually imitate Akro. Many, many manufacturers made slag glass, I think I only paid $12.00 for the imperial pitcher, if it were Akro it would have ran me a pretty penny.

LINK :https://www.ebay.com/itm/Roger-Claudia-Hardy-AUTOGRAPHED-Book-The-Complete-Line-Of-The-Akro-Agate-Co-1/164783797299?hash=

 

[Berryb]

Chad; I agree that if my Imperial pitcher were Akro it would be worth more. That's odd because my pitcher is alot better made than anything Akro ever produced. The glass is both heavier and has the seams polished off. You can feel the difference in quality just by holding it. I only paid 5 bucks for mine. Thanks

Bruce

[Chad G.]

Agreed Bruce, the pitcher I have is very heavy duty, I did think it was Akro until I turned it over & seen the same sunburst type pattern on the bottom of almost all the imperial pieces.  "Yes" a very thick piece of glass, the pitcher can barely be seen in this pic on the upper left hand side, there is also an amber slag glass lion made by summit in the forefront. I believe the summit glass lion is also a copy of an earlier mold, I'm not sure exactly who made the earlier piece  ??

 

[Ric]

11 hours ago, Berryb said:

Nice Bruce, I really like the boat!

[William]

I'm going to look into acquiring some of these pieces....I have picked up some cool pieces over the years like Fenton, Fire King, Tiffany, etc. I now wonder if I have ever come face to face with similar pieces like these and didn't know it!

[William]

Saw a couple of pieces today, white with blue swirls. The name was Vogue New York. A small planter and small vase. Very beautiful but passed on them.

[William]

Found this cool little piece last week 

[Chad G.]

Good one, called a "Beggars Hand" William a toothpick holder, yes with the crow icon on the bottom obviously made by Akro "Nice" I have a similar one except w/  a white base & orange swirls. maybe I have a pic ?? Ah !! found it. I'm looking for a rainbow (multi) colored one like Ron's but like most of the other "good stuff" almost impossible to find them now.

Here's the best crow impression I have on the bottom of one of the Med. large Akro Dart vases

And the vase itself, the "Darts" are the name they gave the little points running down the side of the vase. They have China cups & creamers etc also w/ the dart pattern. They made so many different ones next to Impossible for me to name them all here.

I think this is a creamer also w/ the "Dart" pattern on it, I like the washed out look on this one.

 

[William]

It was marked "Akro Agate " on the tag in the display case I found it in but wasn't absolutely sure with it only having the markings shown and not actually stamped with the name. Didn't have enough on me but there is a mate for it at that place. With the positive ID, I will be picking it up today. 

[Chad G.]

11 hours ago, William said:

It was marked "Akro Agate " on the tag in the display case I found it in but wasn't absolutely sure with it only having the markings shown and not actually stamped with the name. Didn't have enough on me but there is a mate for it at that place. With the positive ID, I will be picking it up today. 

"Yes" the crow logo on the bottom that shows in your pic as well as mine is Akro. I know it's kinda indistinguishable being so small but if you have a loupe and a good stamp of it on the glass you can almost make out the crows head, the wings for sure. The third one is from my beggars hand showing the same 766 #'s as yours, the 7 and or the 4 maybe the moth or something ?? A few more examples for ya. Some of the Akroware only has numbers and doesn't display the trademark crow logo, so time & experience are your best friends.

Here are a few pieces of Imperial slag glass. Slag glass yes, Akro no. Almost every glass manufacturer that ever existed made slag glass at one time or another. I watch the pricing and stamps and buy what I like as long as the price is appropriate and the seller isn't claiming it to be something it's not just to make an extra buck. These are all relatively low value pieces but some Akroware and very early & rare Imperial can be a bit on the pricey side.

                                                                                      "IMPERIAL" slag glass not Akro

 THE STAMP ON THE BOTTOM OF THESE TWO IS THE SAME & INDICATE A MANUFACTURE DATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1951. HERE ARE THE IMPERIAL STAMPS THEY USED.

 

[William]

Went over and grabbed the mate 😊

[Chad G.]

Yesir !! 100% Akro, nice pair of hands 

[wvrons]

A few of the Akro Hands toothpick holders. Be careful buying these. Check and feel around the rim for chips. The glass is very thin on the rim edge. These are easily chipped and the value then goes down over 50%.  Some Akroware items are marked and some are not. Some colors are more rare and extreme to find in certain pieces. Black color is always rare, and it is true black. Black and gray swirl is even more rare than solid opaque black. Not as much variety as marbles. But enough variety and learning to keep anyone busy a few years. Right now is a good time to buy as Akroware prices are way down compared to 2-3 years ago. 

#1 

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[wvrons]

You will also find Akroware in wire holders. The wire holders were original with the glass piece. There are a big variety of these, simple to more elaborate. 

Above are the smallest pots Akro made, called Thumb pots. Alley also made Thumb pots almost identical in size and colors. The one key is that the Alley Thumb pots area slightly larger diameter bottom. The Alley Thumb pot bottom is the size of a nickel. The Akro Thumb pots bottoms are the size of a penny. Any Thumb pot marked on the bottom with Braun Corwin was produced by Alley. Most of these are sold as Akro. The Thumb pots are small. They are about 1 1/4 inch tall and 1 1/4 inch across the top. Both companies made opaque ones and translucent ones. Some are solid color and some are swirled.  Some Akro are marked and some are not. The only Alley Thumb pot marked is the Braun Corwin. It is better if the bottom of the pot does not have the hole punched out. The opaque Alley Thumb pots are a little more rougher than Akro. The opaque Alleys are more marbleized or swirled than Akros. The most common color will be the old kitchen jade green.  These small Thumb pots are still sought after. They can range in price from $20.00 to $50.00 for solid black, a very nice swirled one or nice swirl translucent ones.  The rack above for the Thumb pots is only the second one I have seen.  I also have a rack of Alley Thumb pots that spins in a flat circle. Watch for these, they are easily missed, they are small. Most Akro and Alley Thumb pots also came originally with small fake flowers in them. Of course the flowers are a bonus.   

[wvrons]

Akro lamps and the shades usually have oxblood swirl. 

Akro Bell. These can be clear or solid opaque colors. The clear ones to be complete need the small perfume bottle inside. Some of the opaque colored bells, certain colors are very rare.  These are not marked Akro. 

A rare Akro item not marked Akro, but marked Heinz. It is a small green glass pickle tray.  It is holing the Akro Thumb pots.

 

 

[wvrons]

Akroware can also be addictive as well as Akro marbles. 

[Tommy]

I just have a few pieces the first 5 are marked with the Akro symbol. Ashtrays except maybe the scallop..

The second 2 have no markings..are they Imperials?

 

[Chad G.]

The flower vase on the left is Akro, I believe it's called a lily vase, if you look real hard in the center of the bottom there should be a crow in the middle and made in MADE IN USA  of the underside of the bottom and the # 658  on the opposite side. Some may be unmarked but that piece (Lily vase) is Akro. On the made in USA on all 5 of them I have the "S" is backwards. The purple & white on the right in this pic looks like an Imperial toothpick holder ?? The glass is usually very thick on them, maybe a closeup pic of the bottom if you can ?? Sometimes the stamp is very faint and may not be visible ??

[Chad G.]

There's the hand I really like, thanks for posting all the pix Ron 

 

Edited May 7, 2021 by Chad G.
addition of pic

[Tommy]

Those hand ones are crazy I think I might need one of those lol.

7 minutes ago, Chad G. said:

There's the hand I really like, thanks for posting all the pix Ron 

 

Thanks Chad for the info on the vase. The purple is a thick piece for sure.

[Chad G.]

Not positive on the Imperial but I've never seen another company than Akro that made the Lily vases.