Hopf's wirepulls and more... Looking for Information!

[LevvyPoole]

1 hour ago, shiroaiko said:

This morning I decided to open the mesh bag for taking pictures. 

According to cvdv (Cees), this type of bags is from around 1965, but we don't know from when to when these bags were in use for Hopf packaging. 

The paper header was stapled through 3 parts. I think I did a good job removing staple pins. The mesh felt brittle. I dealt with a care. 

"Hello, marbles! At last I see your faces clearly!😃" 

The diameters range from 18.5 to 21 mm. Most of them are spherical, but a few exceptions. 

Below are close-ups. 

Because of the white background, the white in the ribbons becomes hard to see.

The light also comes thru the ribbons. 

Because of these factors, the marbles might look a little different from how they actually appear. 🙏

We see some tiny fractures along the yellow ribbon. 

Below are Hopf wirepulls on a darker background. 

I see small bubbles along the ribbon only on the blue one. 

This group photo shows more of what my eyes actually see than close-ups. 🫧

This is really useful. I'd say it disproves the tip of looking for the big bubble to distinguish Veiligglas, as we can clearly see it present in these. I tried sorting according to the presence of a big bubble yesterday but found it wasn't helpful for dividing the 2 potential types because of other more significant seeming variables.

[shiroaiko]

Hi @LevvyPoole If you found the pictures helpful, I’m happy! Big bubbles are caused when the glass stream is cooler. If the glass is soft enough, it simply accumulates in a metal cup without leaving gaps between the layers. But when the glass is cooler and harder, it tends to trap gaps. These hollow spaces then become big bubbles inside the marble. I guess lowering of temperature can happen with any maker.

 

[Nantucketdink]

So now we are certain there were 3 different makers of wirepulls Japanese, Germany, and Dutch?  Would love to see more definitive proof of Hopf ones

[shiroaiko]

Hi Nantucketdink,
I’ve thought about your comment for a day, and I’d like to share the basis for what I’ve been saying.
Here are the points I’ve gathered so far:

① Renée Holler told me that the marbles featured on the cover of her German marble book Murmeln are from the Hopf factory. The cover photo includes wirepulls.

② Shackman poly-netted bags contain the same kind of wirepulls and have a “Made in West Germany” sticker.

③ Renée visited the Hopf factory in 1986 and witnessed marble production. This confirms that the factory was still operating at least until that time, which helps explain the “Made in West Germany” labels on Shackman bags. If Hopf was still active then, we no longer need alternative explanations—like old Veiligglas stock being repackaged in West Germany long after the company had closed. That kind of explanation now feels forced and unnecessary.

④ In 2006, cvdv visited the German Marble Museum and learned that a mesh bag containing wirepulls was dated to around 1965. This information came from the museum.

⑤ cvdv also learned from the German Marble Museum that Hopf & Hopf produced wirepulls from around 1950 to 1980.

⑥ I own one of these mesh bags. The wirepulls inside resemble the marbles shown on the Murmeln cover.

Of course, what you think and believe is entirely up to you.
I’ve explained everything I can in this thread, and I really don’t have anything more definitive to add.
If you’re still looking for a more definitive answer, maybe the only option left is to hold a séance and ask the people who were actually there!

[shiroaiko]

Completely changing the subject—but just to let you know, I might not be able to visit the forum much until sometime in next week.

On Saturday, May 3rd, I’ll be giving a marble talk at the Yamagata Prefectural Industrial Science Museum. The event is for ten families with children, elementary school age and up. I won’t be speaking for that long, but I’m busy with preparations, so I may be mostly offline until then.

It’s currently Golden Week in Japan, a string of national holidays, and we’re right in the middle of it now. The holiday continues through Tuesday, and I plan to spend some time with my family. I’ll be back to work on Wednesday—and that day is also already fully booked until late in the evening. 😃✨

Yamagata Prefectural Industrial Science Museum: https://y-sunka.org

Edited Wednesday at 03:41 PM by shiroaiko
URL is added.

[akroorka]

6 hours ago, shiroaiko said:

On Saturday, May 3rd, I’ll be giving a marble talk at the Yamagata Prefectural Industrial Science Museum. The event is for ten families with children, elementary school age and up. I won’t be speaking for that long, but I’m busy with preparations, so I may be mostly offline until then.

Shrioaiko ,

You have stood up quite with the doubters with grace.

I do not know if you are man or women and I could care less.

Just keep it coming.

I, for one, appreciate what you are giving us here.

Marble--On!!

[Nantucketdink]

I am being respectful and appreciate everybody who researches marbles.  Looking for more definitive proof isn’t a bad thing in the least.  Heck, maybe Veiligglas didn’t even make any marbles at all.  Anything is possible in marbles.  I always believe what the marbles themselves say.  

[akroorka]

7 hours ago, Nantucketdink said:

I always believe what the marbles themselves say.  

Said with great grace my friend---the se'ance thing is out of line imho.

 

On 4/30/2025 at 10:04 AM, shiroaiko said:

If you’re still looking for a more definitive answer, maybe the only option left is to hold a séance and ask the people who were actually there!

We all research marbles shiroaiko.

We all have to keep our wits about us when we are challenged.

I try to keep this place clean and accept arguments as well-----the se'ance thing, I do not like to see it posted here at "TheMarbleConnection".

You will be challenged with what you consider as fact and many consider as---well-- out there a bit from what we are used to.

Patience is the key with any collectable--Marble collecting reqiures a bit more than most.

I appreciate what you are posting to the maximum as well as any here.

Please do not get Pissed when you are challenged.

Lashing out is not good for this board--or any disccusion as far as that goes.

I just ask you to keep ---- the "ego" in check---- and of course---

Marble On!!

[I'llhavethat1]

Anyhow, I dug mine out for a photo op if it helps the discussion.

Examples of interest:

-a tinted blue base with yellow ribbons

-what appears to be a green+blue+white combo

Hard to get to the glass detail thru the rough texture of the mesh, any pointers? (Other than opening)