are marbles still made

Today, marbles are still produced in record numbers, but most are made in Third World factories. One such operation, Vacor de Mexico, located in Guadalajara

, produces about 12 million marbles a day, which are then shipped to 35 different countries. Raw Materials

Full Answer

Are any marbles still made in the USA?

There are currently two U.S. manufacturers of machine made playing marbles still operating. They are JABO-Vitro of Reno OH and Marble King of Paden City WV.

Are glass marbles worth anything?

There are a variety of different kinds of marbles, but the ones that bring top dollar are handmade and machine made glass marbles. Handmade are more sought after, simply because they're so rare and reflect more deliberate craftsmanship. But particularly beautiful machine made examples can still command a respectable price.

When were marbles first made?

No one knows exactly when the first marbles were invented, but they date back to the times of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks , and Romans who played with marbles made of stone, clay, or polished nuts. Affordable glass marbles were first made in the 19th century when a special pair of scissors...

What is a marbles?

Marbles are small, round, spherical objects made from glass or stone and most commonly used in children's games. They are usually less than an inch (2.54 cm) in diameter and often brightly colored or otherwise decorated.

Do people still make marbles?

Today, there are only two American-based toy marble manufacturers: Jabo Vitro in Reno, Ohio, and Marble King, in Paden City, West Virginia.

Are marbles worth any money?

There are thousands of marbles of each design produced. Marbles of yesteryear, though, are more unique. Collector marbles that are very rare will fetch a larger amount of money. Many of these marbles can be worth hundreds of dollars, with the rarest ones worth thousands.

What are marbles made of today?

Summary. This video from How It's Made shows the marble-making process. Sand, soda lime, and crushed glass are fed into a large tank where the mixture is heated to 2200°F for 16 hours until completely melted. Next, molten colored glass is added.

When did they stop making marbles by hand?

The glass ones, most everyone's idea of a marble today, were originally hand-made. Machine-made glass marbles took off in Ohio around 1901 and quickly dominated the world market by the 1920s before the whole industry started trailing off in the late 1930s.

What is the rarest color of marbles?

Onion Lutz marbles are some of the rarest marbles because of their metallic copper flakes called Lutz. Onionskins Lutz is also called “End of day” because of the unique way the colors swirl inside of the core. Most of the End of Day onionskins have transparent base glass.

What color marble is the most expensive?

The White Statuario marble of Carrara is one of the most precious marbles in the world. Few materials, in fact, can compete with its transparent sheen and its incredibly compact structure.

How can you tell if marbles are old?

How to identify antique marblesThe Pontil. The pontil marks are small rough patches opposite each other on the marble. ... Appearance. Antique marbles have more vibrant and attractive colors than their modern counterparts. ... Centre Design. ... Quality of the Glass. ... Presence of Flaws.

What are the big marbles called?

Any marble larger than the majority may be termed a boulder, bonker, masher, plumper, popper, shooter, thumper, smasher, taw, bumbo, crock, bumboozer, bowler, tonk, tronk, godfather, tom bowler, fourer, giant, dobber, dobbert, or Biggie. A marble smaller than the majority is a peawee/peewee or mini.

Why do marbles exist?

Marble History Historians believe that marbles started with cave people playing with small rounded pebbles or balls of natural clay. Clay balls have been found in the tombs of Egypt, in Native American burial grounds and in the ancient Aztec pyramids.

What are flat marbles called?

Glass Gems Glass gem marblesGlass gem marbles have a variety of names: glass globs, flat marbles, craft marbles, accent marbles, mosaic marbles or glass gems. All of these terms refer to a glass gem that is flat on the back side for gluing to surfaces. The shape of the gem is like an enlarged bead of water.

What were marbles originally made of?

Stone or clay formed the earliest marbles, but the alabaster “alley taws” made better shooters than the cheaper, clay “commoneys.” In the mid-19th century, a German glassblower invented a pair of special scissors to cut the molten glass, making glass marbles affordable for the first time.

What are small marbles called?

Peewee: A marble that is smaller than average, generally 1/2-inch in diameter or less. May have been named after famed Brooklyn Dodger Pee Wee Reese. Playing for fair: Marbles go back to their owners after the game.

How can you tell if marbles are antique?

How to identify antique marblesThe Pontil. The pontil marks are small rough patches opposite each other on the marble. ... Appearance. Antique marbles have more vibrant and attractive colors than their modern counterparts. ... Centre Design. ... Quality of the Glass. ... Presence of Flaws.

What can you do with old marbles?

It's a great way to actually carry your DIY with you so everyone can admire your work.Flat marble magnets. VIEW IN GALLERY. ... Marble and CD candle holder. VIEW IN GALLERY. ... Glass marble garden ball. VIEW IN GALLERY. ... Painting with marbles. ... Marbled monogram. ... Sealed marble tabletop. ... Marbled tree branches. ... Flat marble sun catchers.More items...

Are old marbles collectible?

Marbles have been valued by collectors for nearly 100 years. Collectors must quickly identify a vintage marble, recognize its manufacturer, spot any flaws and have an in-depth knowledge of the market. Value is only assigned by what another collector pays for a particular piece.

What is a ghost marble?

The Ghost Marble (not to be confused with Ghost Plasma) is a frosted glass marble that started as the countdown marble in Marble Rally. In Sand Marble Rally 2018 they broke out of the countdown area and raced down the course.

What made marbles cheaper?

Mass production made marbles much cheaper to make, allowing the price to drop from about one penny each to a bag of 30 marbles for the same price. Other businessmen jumped on the bandwagon and Akron soon became the marble capital of late-19th century America. In 1915, mass production of glass marbles began, thanks to a machine invented by Akron's ...

Where did marbles come from?

Believe it or not, but no one really knows where marbles originated. They've been found in the ashes of Pompeii and in the tombs of ancient Egyptians , and they were played with by Native American tribes, so it's impossible to pin down a precise country of origin.

How much does a marble duck cost?

Of course you'll also need your wallet, because good condition marbles do not come cheap. Your average vintage duck can run anywhere from $10 to a few hundred dollars. Shooters usually start in the $50 range and only go up from there, often selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For example, earlier this month at Morphy's Auction House in Denver, PA, one of the top marbles auctioneers in the country, they sold a single peacock Lutz onionskin for $13,200 (at left). It was sold as part of the collection of Paul Baumann, the man who literally wrote the book on marble collecting back in 1969. Other notable sales in the collection included an amber glass Latticino Swirl for $10,800, a sulphide with a painted lion figure inside for $7,800, and a beautiful, black-and-white clambroth for $5,700. However, one of the biggest – if not the biggest – amount ever paid for a single marble was a whopping $27,730 for a big 3" shooter (below) in 2010. Not a bad return on what was probably an investment of a few pennies.

What is a marble?

To the layman, a marble is just a marble. But if you're an experienced player, you probably have a half-dozen slang terms to describe the sphere in front of you. Marbles usually earn their nickname based upon what they look like, what they're used for, or the material used to make them. For example, "aggies" are marbles that are made from agate, a type of stone. An "alley" can be a marble made of alabaster, but it can also be another term for a "shooter" or "taw," the large marble used to knock around the smaller ones, which are sometimes called "mibs" or "ducks." "Bumblebees" are yellow and black striped. "Jaspers" are common, blue marbles made from glazed or unglazed china. "Onionskins" are glass marbles with swirls of layered colors that extend over the length of the marble. "Sulphides" are semi-opaque glass marbles that usually contain a small figured in the middle. Sometimes the figurine is an animal, a character (like Santa Claus), or even a real person (like Teddy Roosevelt, at left). And if you can spot any of these marbles on sight, you're probably a "mibster," a term for someone who plays marbles.

What does it mean when you knock out marbles?

If you're about to take an easy shot with your taw, you can say the marble you're aiming for is a "dead duck.". Playing "for keeps" means that any competitor's marbles you knock out are added to your personal collection. Oddly enough, the origin of the phrase, "losing your marbles" can't definitively be traced back to the game of marbles.

What do marble collectors look for in a marble table?

Size, manufacturer, and condition are important, but the main thing a marble collector looks for is the beauty of the design. There are, of course, many different styles that are popular with collectors, with about a dozen different terms used to describe them. Some of the more popular styles are onionskins, corkscrews, lutz, micas, clearies, Indians, Joseph's Coat, oxbloods, and sulphides. The more colors and the more delicate the artistry, the more you'll pay for a marble, regardless of the condition.

What kind of marbles are used in eBay auctions?

There are a variety of different kinds of marbles, but the ones that bring top dollar are handmade and machine made glass marbles. Handmade are more sought after, simply because they're so rare and reflect more deliberate craftsmanship.

Why are marbles not called marbles?

History of Marbles. The earliest marbles weren’t called marbles, of course, because marble wasn’t the source material just yet. The earliest marbles were actually round stones, nuts, fruit pits or fired pieces of clay and pottery.

Who made the swirl marble?

The German glass company Elias Greiner Vetters Shon, the same company that holds the patent on the marble scissors, made swirl-design marbles up by hand until the 1920’s, which were exported to American and English markets. The orb began at the end of a rod of semi-molten glass, and after a blob was formed, those special scissors sliced it off. Since the rod contained strands of different colors, the little glass results would as well. Today, collectors clamor for the Greiner company’s brightly-colored creations, because as names like Core Swirl, Mika, and Latticino indicate, these were little works of art. They’re still known to turn up in attics and historical dig sites.

What is marble play?

Marble play involves rolling, throwing, dropping, or knuckling (marble balanced on forefinger, thumb shooting marble outward) your little round guys against an opponent’s marbles or another prescribed target. There is taw, ringtaw, ringer, lagging, tic-tac-toe, hit-and-span, assorted pot games, bridgeboard, Chinese marbles, boxies and keepsies (probably the most heartbreaking of all, because if your opponent wins, he gets to keep all of your marbles). There are tournaments for the people who play, and conventions for the people who collect. If we had pyramids today, we’d stick marbles in them too. There’s just something about them that’s inexplicably, well, nifty.

When were marbles made?

Mass production of marbles started only in 1800’s . Vintage marbles are only limited in number, which is why they are more expensive. If you want to start making them part of your collection, you should know how to identify vintage marbles.

Why were marbles so high quality?

The quality of glass used when making marbles in the old days was high. This is because they were used for playing so they shouldn’t easily break.

Why are vintage marbles more attractive than modern marbles?

Check Their Appearance. Vintage marbles are typically more attractive and brighter than modern ones because they were individually made, compared to the new ones that were made in high quantities.

How to tell if a marble is vintage?

Here are some ways to determine if a marble is vintage or not: 1. Look for the Pontil. Most vintage marbles were made by hand through the process called glassblowing. During this procedure, a stick is used where the marble is attached. Once done, the stick is broken on its end. This leaves a tiny rough patch on the marble, ...

What are marbles used for?

Image courtesy: flickr.com. Marbles have been around since early times. Various civilizations used them for recreation, like they are used in modern times. The Egyptians believed that those that were made with animal bones could serve as spiritual mediums. Although not as many people play marble games as before, ...

Why do you join marble collectors?

You may also join marble collector organizations in order to connect and learn with people of the same interest who could impart their knowledge and experience to you.

Can marbles be made without pontil?

Although most new marbles are made by machine therefore leaving them without pontil, there are still those that are handmade.

When were marbles invented?from liveabout.com

Updated May 24, 2019. Marbles are simply little spherical balls used by children and adults to play a range of games. No one knows exactly when the first marbles were invented, but they date back to the times of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks , and Romans who played with marbles made of stone, clay, or polished nuts.

When was Marbles auctioned?from liveabout.com

Marbles are part of a wide variety (865 Lots) of toys, trains, die-cast vehicles and figures that was auctioned Live on eBay October 26, 2003. This is from a sampling of items that were auctioned by Apple Tree Auction Center. Prices shown are the completed auctions, along with the price estimates from the auction house.

What are marbles used for?from liveabout.com

She has contributed to Antique Trader, Today’s Vintage, and more. Marbles are simply little spherical balls used by children and adults to play a range of games.

Can you sell marbles as antiques?from liveabout.com

Note that unscrupulous dealers have been known to reproduce marbles and sell them as old or antique. Judith Miller in ​ Buy, Keep or Sell? suggests looking for solitaire boards, avoiding marbles such as Cat's Eyes that were mass-produced after the 1960s, and look for the original packaging.

When was Marbles auctioned?

Marbles are part of a wide variety (865 Lots) of toys, trains, die-cast vehicles and figures that was auctioned Live on eBay October 26, 2003. This is from a sampling of items that were auctioned by Apple Tree Auction Center. Prices shown are the completed auctions, along with the price estimates from the auction house.

What is a marble ball?

Marbles are simply little spherical balls used by children and adults to play a range of games. No one knows exactly when the first marbles were invented, but they date back to the times of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks , and Romans who played with marbles made of stone, clay, or polished nuts.

Can you sell marbles as antiques?

Note that unscrupulous dealers have been known to reproduce marbles and sell them as old or antique. Judith Miller in ​ Buy, Keep or Sell? suggests looking for solitaire boards, avoiding marbles such as Cat's Eyes that were mass-produced after the 1960s, and look for the original packaging.

What kind of marbles are there?

Marbles can be categorized into three basic types: Handmade glass, Non-glass and Machine Made.

Where are marbles found?

They have been found in Egyptian pyramids and in North American indian mounds. An annual marble tournament has been played in Tinsley Green, England on Good Friday for at least the past 300 years.

Can damaged marbles be repaired?

Damage to a marble usually occurs when it is hit by another marble. After all, they were meant to be played with, right? The damage you usually find is chips (glass missing), flakes (shallow chips), moons (partial glass missing), subsurface moons (no glass missing), roughness and haziness.

What games are played with marbles?

There are numerous games that are played with marbles. These fall into two categories: Board games played with marbles as game pieces and "Street or Playground Games" where the marbles are the main piece and the object of play. Visit the Games and Tournament page of this site for a history of marble playing and for a comprehensive library of all marble games.

How can I learn more about marble collecting?

You've made the right first step, by visiting the Marble Collectors Corner.

What was the golden age of marble?

By the mid-1920's, the Germans were effectively out of the marble-making business. Almost all marbles were made by machine in the United States. The following two decades saw what is described as "The Golden Age of Machine Mades". The large marble makers of the time began to compete with each other to produce more unique designs and more colorful marbles each season. This period of time saw the introduction of Akro Agate corkscrews and Popeyes, Peltier National Line Rainbos, swirls and Peerless Patches, and the rise and fall of The Christensen Agate Company. By the Great Depression, Akro Agate Company and Peltier Glass Company had become the largest producers of marbles. With the advent of the Great Depression, marble manufacturers became more cost conscious and brightly colored marbles began to disappear from the scene.

How are glass globs made?

A glob of glass is built in successive layers on the end of a punty. The glob is rounded to produce the finished marble and then cut off the end of the punty. Earthenware marbles are made by rounding bits of clay in device and then firing them in a kiln or oven.

How many marbles were made in the Davis factory?

It is estimated that approximately 14 million marbles were produced, the majority of which were sold to a toy company in Puerto Rico. Most of the information we have about Davis marbles comes from digs in the area of the factory site. Davis produced mostly transparent swirls, some with distinctive shades.

What marbles have transparent swirls?

Ravenswood made transparent and opaque swirls. Typically, marbles with an opaque base will be swirled with translucent or transparent, and those with transparent base will be swirled with opaque swirls. Many transparent swirls contain one color, in addition to wispy white swirls.

What marbles did Playrite make?

Playrite produced swirl type marbles. When the company closed, they needed bags for the leftover marbles. They acquired a number of unused Jackson Marble Company mesh bags with the Jackson header labels and filled those with Playrite marbles.

Who made Alox marbles?

It was founded by John Frier. They distributed the marbles of other companies until the early 1930s, at which point Alox began producing their own marbles. Production ceased during World War II, then began again for a few years. They distributed marbles until the early1960s.

Where is Playrite Marble located?

Playrite Marble and Novelty Company operated from late 1945 until late 1947. It was located in Lamberton (now Ellenboro), West Virginia, in a lot that was later used by Mid-Atlantic for their marble factory outlet. The owners were Jesse Krupp, Andy Long, and Lawrence Jones. In early 1946, C.A. Wilson and Joseph Wilson purchased the stock of the company.