Newton Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 I think these marbles are Alley but I could be dead wrong 😑.  I’m wondering about the differences how some of the glass looks thicker? gloopy? (the butterscotch color), and some look thinner (the red). Does that have to do with the glass quality or the temperature when made? Does the rate of cooling affect how it looks? On the green one is the dull finish from being buried for a time? Are they all Alley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcap Laughs Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 Are the red and butterscotch possibly furnace swirls? I’m a newbie but have some similar… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvrons Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 Alley never made any so called furnace marbles. Furnace marbles, furnace scraping marbles is all from Champion Agate. Your three are all Alley Agate from the Pennsboro location and 1932-1936. I am not sure how glass looks thicker ? Unless it is the opaque ones. The transparent and translucent colors may look thinner because light passes through. Lots of transparent glass cullet was used for striping colors, like the red above. The green one has a dull finish from wear. When the wear is even and all over it, many collectors call it pocket wear. It has rolled around and rubbed all over with other marbles or change or another object over time. Maybe in someone's pocket or a marble bag, rubbing over lots of time with other marbles. The number one thing with value of any marble old or newer is condition. A mint $500.00 marble drops to $300.00-$200.00 at near mint, and the bottom drops out as collectable $50.00 if that. A mint $25.00 drops to $15.00-$10.00 at near mint, and collectable is $1.00 if that. there are different grading methods and scales. MarbleAlan had a good grading system and scale. You should be able to find it on the internet or maybe here. Learn what a chip is, what a hit or moon is, what a pinprick is. A fracture kills the value of any marble. Fractures are more forgiven with the Champion furnace marbles. Because 80-90% were fractured when made. Because the two or three types of glass used was not compatible with each other.  1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 Your information regarding the transparent glass is what I was looking for. The glass isn’t actually thicker on the butterscotch, it just appears 3D-ish when compared to the red one.  The green marble is one of my favorites because of how it looks. I hadn’t heard the term pocket marble yet so thanks for that!  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvrons Posted February 7, 2023 Report Share Posted February 7, 2023 A very good long time friend wrote this for me several years ago.   1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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