anyone know what this funky thing is that was with a bunch of germans? 1.18 inches

[Jeremysvt]

air bubble in middle, pontil one end 

[chicagocyclist]

'Cause someone liked it?

[Ric]

It's very crude, pretty much useless for marble games. Maybe it was made for decorative or industrial purposes - like for a lamp pull or claw foot or something.

[akroorka]

It is an odd one but pretty big. 
It could be an old “German” made by someone trying to “make the rate”.
Cool enough to post for me at least.
There are no bad marbles; some are just ugly to the masses.
Marble—On!!
😁

[Jeff54]

It was likely for a clawfoot chair or table leg. I've received a few, from Germany albeit not that big, but 1"   at least one is irregular too.  

[ann]

Or it might have been cut "first-off-cane" on a cane prepared for one of the swirl types. I have a few first- or second-off-cane types, and they usually have some trace of the design-to-come, but not always. If they do have some fraction of the design element, they usually are finished off as marbles - hard to find, but highly valued by some collectors. This one looks like just a first cut, and "no color so no finishing as a marble." Hence the protruding flattened cut. My best guess.

[Alan]

5 think that it is a machine made mistake.  Thats not a pontil.

[akroorka]

1 hour ago, ann said:

Or it might have been cut "first-off-cane"

 

8 minutes ago, Alan said:

it is a machine made mistake.

Or a last cut-off. I expect to see more bubbles swirling inside for anything else.
No machine made would end up like this.
These are just my opinions and all others are welcomed and needed.
Marble—On!!
 

[wvrons]

Could have been someone just checking glass, taking a sample of glass in a furnace.  The steel rod is usually just hit on something and the glass glob brakes off the rod.  Many times it is a flat clean break. This also fits with the big air bubble.    

[ann]

That makes sense too.

[Tommy]

Cool find 👍