Marble Collecting:

Here are my recommendations for beginning a marble collection:

FIRST, get informed by researching the Internet, talking with experts, and reading quality books and guides. To see my list of recommended books and guides CLICK HERE.

SECOND, attend marbles shows, which are great places to discuss, see and hold marbles. CLICK HERE for a list of shows by date and location.

THIRD, become a member of a marble association. To see a list of marble organizations, CLICK HERE.

FOURTH, when you actually begin collecting, collect what you like. In other words, you will be the owner of the collection, so make sure its one you'll like in the future.

Marble Makers:

Machine Made Vintage / Antique - CLICK HERE

Handmade Contemporary - CLICK HERE

Handmade German Sulphide circa late 1800s

Here's a chicken in 2" purple glass.

Handmade Antique Onionskin Marble circa Late 1800s

Here's a 2 3/8 inch onionskin marble, handmade in Germany circa late 1800s. Interestingly, this marble has 32 lobes.

Mica Marbles circa late 1800s

Mica marbles are clear glass marbles with silvery metal flakes inside. As you can see from the photo they come in a variety of colors, with red being especially rare.

Lutz Marbles - Germany circa Late 1800s

Any marble with goldstone [copper] in it is a lutz marble. Lutz marbles can be swirls or onionskins. Here are a few from the late 1800s.

Clambroth Marbles - Germany circa late 1800s

Clambroth marbles are milkglass marbles with exterior swirls. Here are a few from the late 1800s. Rare clambroths include black and blue base glass.

Bennington Marbles circa late 1800s

Benningtons are glazed and fired clay marbles made in Germany in the late 1800s.

Old Agate Marbles

Here's a group of hand cut German agates circa late 1800s.

Rating Marbles

Here is a guide to judging the condition of marbles . . .

Size
Measure the marble using 1/8th of an inch graduations. Use a caliper or template of circles.

Akro Agate Sizing

Diameter Size Rating
1/2 inch 000
9/16 inch 00
5/8 inch 0
11/16 inch 1
3/4 inch 2
13/16 inch 3
7/8 inch 4
15/16 inch 5
1 inch 6
1 1/16inch 7
1 1/8 inch 8

Conditions: From The Marble Collectors Society of America

Mint: Unmarred and in original condition. The best possible condition with clear surfaced marble

Good: The second highest classification. Refers to clear surface with only a few minor dings or slightly cloudy surface. Other terms used to discribe this condition are very good or almost mint.

Collectible: May have some small chips, dings and cloudiness: however, the core of the marble must be easily seen.

Poor: Many deep chips, dings and badly clouded surface. May also have internal fractures.

Polished: Marbles that have been polished to get out the dings and chips. If done right the marble can look like mint condition again. However, to most collectors these are not as valuable as original condition, and probably rate no better than good condition.

Marble Makers - Machine Made

Hereafter is an alphabetical list of the widely known makers of machine made marbles.

Maker: Akro Agate Company
Location: Akron, OH (1911-1914) then moved to Clarksburg, WV (1914-1951)
Prime Dates: 1930s-1940s
Types: corkscrews, slags, Popeyes, oxbloods, ades & carnelians
Note 1: Akro sold box sets from five to more than a hundred per box. It also produced metal box sets and sacks of marbles.
Note 2: During the Great Depression Akro had three fourths of U.S. marble sales.
Note 3: Akro Agate was established in Akron, Ohio in 1911 for the purpose of making glass marbles and marble games. It's name was coined from the town Akron, and it became the trademark for all of their glass items. The company logo was a crow flying through the letter "A" clutching marbles in its mouth and each claw. Around the picture was the motto "Shoot straight as Akro flies."

Maker: Alley Agate Co.
Location: Pennsboro, WV and St. Mary's, WV
Dates: 1929-1947
Type: Moss Agates, Opaque swirls, Translucent swirls, Transparent Patch, Transparent swirl, opaques.

Maker: Champion Agate Co
Location: Pennsboro, WV
Dates: 1938 to present
Type: furnace, metallic, pistachios, and corals

Maker: Christensen Agate Company
Location:Cambridge Ohio(1925-1933)
Dates: 1930s and 40s
Types: Guineas, slags, stripes & flames

Maker: Jabo, Inc.
Location: Reno, Ohio
Dates: 1987 to present
Types: Classics, floaters

Maker: Marble King, Inc.
Location: Paden City, WV
Dates: 1949 to present
Types: cat eyes, marine crystals, Chinese checker marbles and glass marbles.
Note: marbles for toys, oil filters and fish hatchery spawning pools.

Maker: Master Glass Company
Location: Bridgeport WV
Dates: 1941-1974
Type: cat eyes, sunbursts, translucents

Maker: Master Marble Company
Location: Clarksburg, WV
Dates: 1930-1941
Type: transparents, translucents, moss agates, opaque swirls

Maker: Peltier Glass Company
Location: Ottawa, IL
Dates: 1940s
Types: rainbos, slags, picture marbles & peerless patches

Maker: Ravenswood Glass and Novelty Company
Ravenswood Novelty Works
Location: Ravenswood WV 1928-1930
Ravenswood WV 1931-1944, 1947-1955
Types: opaque swirls, clearies


Maker: Vacor De Mexico
Location:Mexico
Dates: 1930s to present
Type:galaxy, meteor

Maker: Vitro Agate Company/Gladding-Vitro Agate Company
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Dates: 1932-1993
Type: parrot, patches, V patches, cateyes, Fisher Jewel Trays

Types of Marbles:

NOTE: THIS POST IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PLEASE EXCUSE MY WORK IN PROGRESS.


Agate - Aggies are marbles that are . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "aggies."



Bennington - Bennington marbles are . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "Benningtons."



Clambroth - Clambroth marbles . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "clambroth" marbles.


Early Machine Made Marbles - Early machine made marbles are marbles that . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "early machine made marbles."



Lutz - Lutz marbles are marbles that . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "Lutz" marbles.



Mica - Micas are clear glass marbles with metal flakes inside. Micas come in a variety of sizes and colors. CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "micas."




Onionskin - Onionskin marbles that . . . CLICK HERE to see all my articles about "onionskins."

Marble Show Schedule [by date]:

Hereafter is a continually updated list of regularly scheduled marble shows. The dates might be approximate, so if you plan to attend then please confirm the time and location via the info provided below. Happy marble hunting, everyone!!!

If you would like to add your show to this list then please contact me with all relevant info at marbleforum@gmail.com


MARBLE SHOWS





WEST VIRGINIA MARBLE FESTIVAL
Date: May 10, 2014
City: Mineral Wells. WV
Location: Comfort Suites  304-489-9600
Contact: Ruby Sellers  304-684-1337
              Howard Powell  304-428-4234



MAINE MARBLE MEET
Date: May 16, 2015
City: South Portland Maine
Location: Governor' Restaurant  800-528-1234
Contact: Gary Stetson  207-657-4165
Email: duncin@maine.rr.com


DES MOINES MARBLE SHOW
Date: June 6,  2015
City: Des Moines, IA
Location: Airport Holiday Inn  515-287-2400
Contact: Chad Cline  515-205-3569


TUSCALOOSA  MARBLE SHOW
Date: June 28,2014
City: Vance, AL
Location: Greystone Inn and Suites  205-556-3606
Contact: Bob  812-498-5410
Email: marblesnfs@hotmail.com

Nutmeg Marble Club Show
Date: July 11,2015
City: Meriden CT
Location: Four Points Hotel  203-238-2380
Contact: Alphy Bard  860-546-3139
   

AKRO AGATE SHOW AND AUCTION
Date: July 9-11, 2015
City: Bridgeport, WV
Location: Days Inn  304-842-7371
Contact: Roger and Claudia Hardy
              304-624-4523 or 304-624-7600



SEATTLE MARBLE SHOW
Date: July 18, 2015
City:Tukwila, WA
Location: Ramada Inn - Tukwila  800-544-9863
Contact: Lee Linne  253-815-6928
Email: zaboo222@comcast.net
Website: www.iamc.us

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS SHOW
Date: Saturday, August 3, 2013
City: Pocahontas, AR
Location: Days Inn & Suites  870-892-9500
Contact: Gary Gregory  870-647-1034 or 870-378-6304

BUCKEYE MARBLE COLLECTORS MEET
Date: Feb. 8, 2014
City: Canton, OH
Location: Holiday Inn  330-494-2770
Contact: Steve Smith  330-308-5281
              Brian Estepp  614-863-5350
                                    614-975-1203

CROSSROADS OF AMERICA MARBLE MEET
Date: September 6, 2014
City: Kokomo, IN
Location: Hampton Inn and Suites  765-455-2900
Contact: Beth or Greg Morris  765-457-2477
                                                 765-438-2318




SISTERVILLE MARBLE FESTIVAL
Date: September, 26-28, 2014
Location: Downtown Sisterville, WV
Contact: Jim King  304-652-4030



NORTHEAST MARBLE MEET
Date: October 10-11, 2015
City: Cromwell, CT
Location: Crowne Plaza  860-635-2000
Contact:  Bob Block  203-209-7076

BADGER MARBLE CLUB SHOW
Date: Sunday October 19, 2014
City: Madison, WI
Location: Howard Johnson's Plaza Hotel  608-244-2481
Contact: Bill Bass  608-723-6138

SMOKEY HILL MARBLE MEET
Date: October 25-26, 2014
City: Salinas, KS
Location: Quality Inn & Suites  785-825-2111
Contact: Larry Sawyer  785-472-3256

PRIDE OF THE PRAIRIE SHOW
Date: November 8-10, 2013
City: Dacatur, IL
Location: Country Inn and Suites  217-872-2402
Contact: Chuck Garrett  217-422-8454
Email: charlesm_garrett_985@comcast.net 

VEGAS MARBLE SHOW
Date: October 31, 2015
City: Las Vegas NV
Location: Fortune Hotel and Suites  $69 a Night
               325 East Flamingo Rd
               702-732-9100
Contact: Lee Linne  253-815-6928
Website: www.iamc.us

INDIANAPOLIS MARBLE SHOW
Date: January 11, 2014
City: Indianapolis, IN
Location: Comfort Inn & Suites at the Pyramids  317-875-7676
Contact: Beth MOrris  765-438-2318

Buckeye Winter Marble Show
Date: February 3-7, 2015
City: Canton, OH
Location: Holiday Inn  330-494-2770
Contact: Steve Smith  330-308-5281
              Brian Estepp  614-863-5350 or 614-975-1203


FLORIDA SPRING BREAK MARBLE SHOW
Date: Saturday March 9, 2013
City: Wildwood, FL
Location: All New Sleep Inn  RT 301   352-748-0507
Info: 352-897-6126
Email: olhalfmiler@gmail.com



KANSAS CITY "MARBLE CRAZY" MARBLE SHOW
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2015
City: Overland Park, KS
Location: Holiday Inn  913-888-8440
Contact: 816-436-3929
Email: Marblecollector1957@yahoo.com
           greatmascot@aol.com (Scott McBride)

MARBLE CRAZY AT THE MOON
          March 7-8, 2014
 Moon Marble Company
 www.moonmarble.com




SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARBLE SHOW
Date: March 19, 2016
City: Fullerton, CA
Location: Howard Johnson Hotel  714-992-1700
Contact: Christine Cody  503-888-4292














MARBLE AUCTION