Alox Third Generation Run at JABO 2010

[schmoozer]

Does anyone have the backstory on this little packet? Not sure where I got it from, maybe a bonus from and old eBay purchase?

[Al Oregon]

This may help a little.  I think Ron was involved in the run also so he may chime in.

 

[schmoozer]

52 minutes ago, Al Oregon said:

This may help a little.  I think Ron was involved in the run also so he may chime in.

 

Thanks Al! I first had it in mind that I got them from you, apparently not.

we”ll wait for Ron to chime in.

[akroorka]

1 hour ago, Al Oregon said:

This may help a little.  I think Ron was involved in the run also so he may chime in.

 

@wvrons I will give him a heads up--Very interesting for sure.

Marble--On!!

[wvrons]

 The last original Alox machine was transported to Jabo by myself and the owner Nancy Frier. Nancy's father and grandfather founded and operated Alox Company. Which made many different items, shoestrings, kites, jack sets, Chinese Checker board and marbles. many children's toys, and marbles. They produced marbles of their own and bought marbles from a few other companies. Nancy wanted to make marbles once again on this last Alox machine. She also wanted all the families which had ties to this machine and her grandfather making marbles, to be present when it was run again. Alley had ties with that it may have been one of his early machines ? Alley sold marbles to Alox. The original workers to run the first machines at Alox came from WV. and went there to make marbles. Probably recommended by Alley and Ravenswood people. Ravenswood had ties that it may have been a early Ravenswood machine ?  Ravenswood also sold marbles to Alox. So Alley and Ravenswood owners had a big part in Alox coming into the marble business. Nancy invited members from these three families to be present one more time when this machine made marbles. The only place to get this done was at Jabo at Reno Ohio. Thanks to the help of Dave McCullough. The machine needed a lot of work. Most of it was rusted and locked up. It was disassembled and new bearings etc. installed. I had the rolls blasted with walnut hulls. The shear was not useable, another shear was installed. A new drive motor was installed and more. It was finally ready to run. Present at Jabo for that run were the third generation members from those three families.  Alley - was by Frank Sellers and his wife. Frank is the grandson of L.E. Alley.  Ravenswood - was by Charles Cox and his sister Rae Weekly. Charles father owned Ravenswood Novelty.  Alox - was Nancy Frier, her father and grandfather owned Alox.  Dave McCulough, myself and a couple Jabo employees.  We ran the machine and put hot glass across it once again. It was exciting and emotional for some there. Lots of video and pictures were taken for the next few hours. It was a special time for all of those people, who some traveled a long distance to attend a event that their past family had ties with in making toy marbles. With all the effort, changes, adjustments, etc. by Dave and all involved. The machine was just to old, worn, rusted and tired to make smooth round mint marbles once again. It has sat outside unprotected in the weather for many long years before this. But it did produce marbles one more time for the Third Generation of three marble families. We ran it three different times,  three runs, trying to make mint marbles. But is just would not do it. The rolls had been repaired many places, holes filled, where they had wore through. The roll groves flights were wore away. Like most things with age, it was wore out after a long life and rough outside retirement. But everyone there considered the effort a success. I later hauled the last Alox machine back to St. Louis with a stop on the way at the Decatur IL marble show for a visit.  Then it went on to a museum in St.Louis. where it is today. But it may be moved again by Nancy Frier in late March or early April. 

A very short version of the story that goes with the Third Generation Alox marbles made in 2010. 

[schmoozer]

38 minutes ago, wvrons said:

 The last original Alox machine was transported to Jabo by myself and the owner Nancy Frier. Nancy's father and grandfather founded and operated Alox Company. Which made many different items, shoestrings, kites, jack sets, Chinese Checker board and marbles. many children's toys, and marbles. They produced marbles of their own and bought marbles from a few other companies. Nancy wanted to make marbles once again on this last Alox machine. She also wanted all the families which had ties to this machine and her grandfather making marbles, to be present when it was run again. Alley had ties with that it may have been one of his early machines ? Alley sold marbles to Alox. The original workers to run the first machines at Alox came from WV. and went there to make marbles. Probably recommended by Alley and Ravenswood people. Ravenswood had ties that it may have been a early Ravenswood machine ?  Ravenswood also sold marbles to Alox. So Alley and Ravenswood owners had a big part in Alox coming into the marble business. Nancy invited members from these three families to be present one more time when this machine made marbles. The only place to get this done was at Jabo at Reno Ohio. Thanks to the help of Dave McCullough. The machine needed a lot of work. Most of it was rusted and locked up. It was disassembled and new bearings etc. installed. I had the rolls blasted with walnut hulls. The shear was not useable, another shear was installed. A new drive motor was installed and more. It was finally ready to run. Present at Jabo for that run were the third generation members from those three families.  Alley - was by Frank Sellers and his wife. Frank is the grandson of L.E. Alley.  Ravenswood - was by Charles Cox and his sister Rae Weekly. Charles father owned Ravenswood Novelty.  Alox - was Nancy Frier, her father and grandfather owned Alox.  Dave McCulough, myself and a couple Jabo employees.  We ran the machine and put hot glass across it once again. It was exciting and emotional for some there. Lots of video and pictures were taken for the next few hours. It was a special time for all of those people, who some traveled a long distance to attend a event that their past family had ties with in making toy marbles. With all the effort, changes, adjustments, etc. by Dave and all involved. The machine was just to old, worn, rusted and tired to make smooth round mint marbles once again. It has sat outside unprotected in the weather for many long years before this. But it did produce marbles one more time for the Third Generation of three marble families. We ran it three different times,  three runs, trying to make mint marbles. But is just would not do it. The rolls had been repaired many places, holes filled, where they had wore through. The roll groves flights were wore away. Like most things with age, it was wore out after a long life and rough outside retirement. But everyone there considered the effort a success. I later hauled the last Alox machine back to St. Louis with a stop on the way at the Decatur IL marble show for a visit.  Then it went on to a museum in St.Louis. where it is today. But it may be moved again by Nancy Frier in late March or early April. 

A very short version of the story that goes with the Third Generation Alox marbles made in 2010. 

Thank you Ron! I will print this out and keep it with the marbles.

[akroorka]

1 hour ago, wvrons said:

A very short version of the story that goes with the Third Generation Alox marbles made in 2010. 

I knew it Ron--Good job!--mushy or not!!

Marble--On!!