 1 7 8 Marble JOHN Gilvey Yellow Orange Fish US $225.00 |
 Fish Sulphide Marble Jim Davis US $24.99 |
 ANTIQUE SULFIDE MARBLE WITH FISH INSIDE US $16.50 |
 RARE ANTIQUE GERMAN SULPHIDE MARBLE w CRANE EATING FISH US $9.99 |
 1 7 8 Marble Gilvey School of Multi Color Fish US $9.99 |
 2 3 8 Marble Mark Matthews Geometric Fish Scales US $775.00 |
 2 1 4 Marble Cathy Richardson Yellow Orange Fish US $150.00 |
 2 1 4 Marble Richardson 2 School of Fish Blue Turq US $125.00 |
 3 1 2 marble Cathy Richardson Schools of Angel fish US $300.00 |
 3 1 2 Marble Richarson 2 Schools of Fish Fuschia Coral US $325.00 |
 3 3 4 Marble Cathy Richardson Coral Fish STINGRAY US $400.00 |
 Decorative Fish Tank Vase Bamboo Plant GREEN Marble US $1.50 |
 2 3 4 Marble David Salazar Big Beautiful Angel Fish US $225.00 |
 2 1 8 Marble Cathy Richardson Yellow Orange Fish US $125.00 |
The Christensen Agate Company was started in 1925 in Payne, Ohio...
What really set The Christensen Agate Company apart from any other marble company that ever existed was the use of exotic glass colors.
Keep a Close Eye on Guinea Marbles.
 Vintage Marbles Christensen Agate Swirl Marble Mint US $9.99 |
 Vintage Marble Christensen Multi Swirl US $7.00 |
 Marble book Christensen Akro Agate Peltier Master MORE US $14.41 |
 Marbles 3 Christensen Red Green Blu Yellow Swirl Marble US $9.99 |
 Marbles 775 MINT MF Christensen Oxblood Brick Marble US $20.50 |
 Old Vintage Marble Christensen Jumbo Akro Agate LQQK US $4.99 |
 JER Marbles Handmade Christensen Swirl Marble 15 16 US $1.28 |
 VINTAGE MF CHRISTENSEN OXBLOOD 9 BRICK MARBLE 3 4 US $75.00 |
 Marbles Christensen Striped Opaque Marble US $24.99 |
 VINTAGE CHRISTENSEN AGATE SWIRL MARBLE 11 16NRMT US $7.50 |
 Vintage Christensen Swirl Marble US $9.99 |
 Large 2462mm Black Yellow Marble Christensen US $4.99 |
 BIG VINTAGE MF CHRISTENSEN 9 AMBER SLAG MARBLE 1 US $9.99 |
 Vintage Glass Marble Christensen Agate Swirl 15 16 US $4.99 |
 ANTIQUE MARBLE CHRISTENSEN AMBER AGGIE SHOOTER LK US $8.99 |
 Large 2518 mm Black Yellow Marble Christensen US $4.99 |
 Vintage Glass Marble Christensen Agate Guinea US $1.99 |
 Large 2541mm Black Pinkish Marble Christensen US $5.99 |
 125 Vintage Glass Marbles Akro Marble King Christensen US $39.99 |
 Rare Vint White Orange Brown Swirl Marble Christensen US $3.74 |
 Mans Marble Ring Christensen Guinea Cobalt Core US $395.00 |
 VINTAGE AMBER SLAG MARBLE 9 PATTERN MF CHRISTENSEN US $10.00 |
 AWESOME VINTAGE SLAG MARBLE MF CHRISTENSEN CAC PELTIER US $10.00 |
 VINTAGE SLAG MARBLE HORIZONTAL 9 PATTERN CHRISTENSEN US $10.00 |
Marbles have always been popular toys. However, what some may not know is that glass marbles weren’t always the norm. Early marbles, which are highly sought after by antique toy collectors, were actually made from clay and were often referred to as Bennington marbles.
Bennington marbles are those that were glazed and made of crockery or stoneware.
Bennington Marbles - The Antiques Bible
Bennington marbles are a type of glazed clay marble. They are not very dense. The marbles are fired clay with a salt glaze on them. Benningtons are readily identifiable by both their coloring and the little 'eyes' that they have on them. These are spots where the marbles were touching each other while they were being fired, resulting in those spots being uncolored and unglazed. The term 'bennington' is actually a misnomer. There is no evidence that they were ever made in Bennington, Vermont, or that they have any lineage to the Bennington pottery that they resemble and from which they get their name. It appears that all Bennington marbles were imported from Germany.
 VINTAGE MARBLES ANTIQUE TOY OLD BENNINGTON CLAY LOT US $19.99 |
 BENNINGTON MARBLE US $.99 |
 Vintage 3 4 Blue Bennington Assorted Marbles US $7.00 |
 Vintage 5 8 Blue Bennington 4 Assorted Marbles US $5.00 |
 Vintage 3 4 Brown Bennington 4 Assorted Marbles US $5.00 |
 3 8 Brn Bennington 2 clay 108 Lickitung 6 others US $9.00 |
 Vintage 5 8 Brown Bennington 5 other Marbles US $6.00 |
 BEAUTIFUL LOT OF 25 VINTAGE BENNINGTON MARBLES US $16.49 |
 12 HAND MADE GLAZED BENNINGTON MARBLES CIRCA 1870 US $.99 |
 Over 90 Bennington Clay Marbles from 3 8 to 125 US $20.52 |
 Marbles 1 9 32 Rare Green Bennington Mint US $9.99 |
 Set of three glazed Bennington marbles Antique Marbles US $.99 |
 LOT of 1250 Vintage MARBLES Bennington AKRO Peltier US $117.50 |
 LOT of 32 Vintage MARBLES Bennington AKRO Peltier US $6.19 |
 1 Mint Huge Old Fancy Bennington Shooter Marble US $9.99 |
 Bennington Marbles 3 Blue 1 Brown US $12.99 |
 OLD Ten Antique German Marbles Bennington Clay Marble US $6.00 |
 19 OLD VICTORIAN MARBLES CLAY BENNINGTON NR US $9.99 |
 Large Antique Bennington Marble form Luanshya Germany US $9.95 |
 Marbles 1 1 4 Unusual Bennington China Hole in Bottom US $9.99 |
 Lot of 5 Bennington Blue Marbles Shooter Peewee US $9.99 |
 Lot of 5 Bennington brown Marbles Shooter Peewee US $9.99 |
 Early Clay Bennington ¾ Marble Pontil Mark US $14.99 |
 Marble Mix of 46 Clays CHINA CROCKERY BENNINGTON etc US $8.99 |
We are not talking about marbles made in China. China marbles are made of glazed or unglazed porcelain with various patterns similar to alley and agate marbles. Marbles of china that have blue marbling are called Croton alley or Jasper marbles.
 UNGLAZED 3 CHINA MARBLE OR GAME BALL OF SORTS COME SEE US $.99 |
 CHINA GLAZED LARGE COIL AND 5 LEAVES HUGE 1 AND 1 16 US $25.00 |
 Marbles 1 7 32 Unglazed China with Intersecting Lines US $9.99 |
 Marbles China Handmade Contemporary Guinea 072210 3 US $4.99 |
 Set of three China marbles Antique Marbles US $.99 |
 29 Antique China Porcelain Marbles US $4.99 |
 Old Geometric China Clay Marbles US $5.00 |
Marbles 1 1 4 Unusual Bennington China Hole in Bottom US $9.99 |
 Beautiful China Marble with lines Green Red Old US $5.00 |
 Vintage China Marble Brown with lines US $5.00 |
 Beautiful China or German Marble with lines Pee Wee US $5.00 |
 1 1 8 HANDMADE CHINA CONTEMPORARY MARBLE US $19.99 |
 Antique MARBLE MOSAICS GAME140 Handmade China or Clay US $24.99 |
Marble Mix of 46 Clays CHINA CROCKERY BENNINGTON etc US $8.99 |
 Marbles China Handmade Contemporary Guinea 050109 16 US $5.99 |
 Old Stone Clay Marble Large Dark Stripes May be China US $5.00 |
 NG Old German Hand Made China Marble Nice condition US $10.00 |
 Marbles 1 5 16 GLAZED PINWHEEL CHINA US $9.99 |
 Marbles China Handmade Contemporary Guinea 080408 28 US $5.99 |
 Marbles China Handmade Contemporary Guinea 080408 26 US $5.99 |
 RARE ANTIQUE HAND PAINTED CLAY CHINA MARBLE w ROSES US $26.00 |
 RARE ANTIQUE HAND PAINTED CLAY CHINA MARBLE w LEAVES US $1.29 |
 China Marble 3 4 with Brown Striping US $34.99 |
 Marbles China Handmade Contemporary 080408 30 US $5.99 |
Collecting is great!
You still want to have marbles to play with though. Take a break from collecting and play with marbles.
Here are a few you would not worry about protecting and preserving:
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New Generation Marbles Canister Sale Price: $9.98  |
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POUND OF ROUNDS MARBLES by Mega Marbles Sale Price: $4.99 |
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Mega Marbles SET OF 24 ASSORTED 5/8" PLAYER MARBLES Sale Price: $2.99 |
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Past-Tyme Classics Marbles List Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $8.49 |
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77351 Bengal Marbles Sale Price: $2.99 |
Vitro Marbles are the marbles manufactured by Vitro Agate Company.
The name of the company was derived from that of Vitrolite. Vitro comes from the Latin and means “in glass”. The Vitrolite Company made heavyweight architectural glass. Fisher’s initial plan involved using Vitrolite cullet to make the marbles and Vitro’s early marble style names were plays on the Vitrolite name: Clear-Lites, Du-Lites and Tri-Lites.
The Vitro Agate company operated 1932 - 1993. The company made mostly Patches, Cats-Eyes. Parrots are one of the most interesting and colorful marbles it produced.
 2 Vitro 1 inch shooters US $.99 |
 Vitro Cats 16 US $1.99 |
 Marbles Lot 1 of 30 Vitro Agate Favorites NM MINT US $6.19 |
 Marbles Lot 2 of 30 Vitro Agate Favorites NM MINT US $5.99 |
 Marbles Vitro Agate Hybrid Horseshoe Cats Eye Shooter US $1.99 |
 MarblesJABO VITRO 5 8 GHOST HEATONS SCARCE US $9.99 |
 Vintage Marbles 20 Mint Vitro Agate Blackies Marbles US $14.99 |
 Vintage Marbles 6 Count Bag of Vitro Cats Eyes US $2.99 |
 MARBLES11 VINTAGE VITRO AGATE ALL RED MARBLES GWR LK US $2.99 |
 MarblesGladding Vitro Unopened Vintage Bag 9 16 US $15.00 |
 MARBLES11 VINTAGE VITRO AGATE ALL RED MARBLES OWY LK US $2.99 |
 MARBLES11 VINTAGE VITRO AGATE ALL RED MARBLES RWB LK US $2.99 |
 MARBLES9 VINTAGE VITRO AGATE ALL RED MARBLES RWB LK US $2.99 |
 MARBLESVINTAGE 6 VITRO AGATE COLORFUL ALL RED MARBLES US $1.99 |
 MARBLES 5 8 VITRO AGATE TRI LITE ELITE US $.99 |
 MARBLES 5 8 VITRO AGATE TRI LITE ELITE 2 US $.99 |
 MARBLES 5 8 VITRO AGATE TRI LITE ELITE 3 US $.99 |
 MARBLES 5 8 VITRO KETCHUP MUSTARD SWIRL W OXBLOOD US $.99 |
 VINTAGE MARBLES LOT AKRO MASTER MARBLE VITRO AGATE US $.99 |
 Vintage Bag 60 Marbles Gladding Vitro Cat Eyes MIP US $9.95 |
 Marbles18 Vitro Agate Extreme Hybrid Cats Eyes MINT US $6.99 |
 Marbles 15 16th 64 Vitro Shooter Aquamarine Patch US $9.99 |
 Marbles 18 Vitro Agate All Red Blacklines w Shooter M US $7.01 |
 Marbles MINT Vitro Purple Green Red Orange Patch Marble US $5.99 |
Raw Materials
Modern marbles are made from a combination of sand, soda lime, silica, and several other ingredients added for pigment or decoration. These other additives range from aluminum hydrate to zinc oxide. The primary component, sand, is essentially loose, granular particles of disintegrated rock. Soda lime is the chemical term for the mixture of calcium hydroxide and sodium or potassium hydroxide. It is a drying agent and absorbs carbon dioxide. Another compound used in marble manufacturing is silica, a white or colorless crystalline found in agate, flint, quartz, and other rocks. Some marbles are also made from cullet, or scrap glass.
The Manufacturing
ProcessMeltdown
•Sand, soda lime, and crushed cullet are fed into a large, furnace-driven tank. In the tank, the mixture is heated to 2300°F (1260°C) to melt the raw materials. This can take as long as 28 hours.
Injection•Next, the molten mixture moves out of the tank through an opening into another vat known as the flow tank. There an opening in the tank injects molten colored glass. This hot, pigmented glass gives the marbles their distinct appearance. A green marble has been injected with glass containing iron oxide; cobalt results in a blue marble; and manganese will yield a purple one. The use of uranium oxide gives marbles an eerie, greenish-yellow cast. The speed and force of the injection determines the final design of the marble. A grooved feeder device, patented by the Akro Agate Company, was able to produce multicolored marbles known as corkscrews.
Cutting and cooling•Next, the still-molten glass is released from the flow tank as globs of glass. Automatic cutting devices slice the mixture into equal parts. The globs travel down metal ramps that simultaneously cool them and perfect their spherical shape. Next, they travel down a second metal slide and are sorted by hand. These grooved rollers were the invention of Horace Hill, a former employee of Christensen and Son and later founder of Akro Agate. This device produced marbles much more quickly and reduced the labor necessary by nearly two-thirds. Marbles with flaws are sent back to another area of the factory for re-melting. The marbles cool off in 5-gallon (19 1) containers that house 5,000 marbles at a time.
Are you just starting to learn about Marbles? Well, you can always start with Wikipedia.
A marble is a small spherical toy usually made from glass, clay, or agate. These balls vary in size. Most commonly, they are about ½ inch (1.25 cm) across, but they may range from less than ¼ inch (0.635 cm) to over 3 inches (7.75 cm), while some art glass marbles for display purposes are over 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Marbles can be used for a variety of children's games, and are often collected, both for nostalgia and for their aesthetic colors.
Marble (toy) - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There sure is a wealth of information there but if you want to delve into marbles more, it is time to pick up a book. Here are a few choices:
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Marbles: Identification and Price Guide List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $14.36 Used From: $16.93 Average Rating:  |
Aggies, Steelies, and more...every major category of marble is presented in this new and exciting guide. Included are old handmade marbles of glass, earthenware, minerals, and steel; machine-made marbles and their manufacturers; and contemporary handmade glass marbles by artisans recapturing the old styles and creating exciting new styles all their own. Marble pricing is explained in detail. The author describes the four factors to look for when determining the value of a marble, and presents an accurate guide to today's market.
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Marble Collectors Handbook List Price: $16.95 Sale Price: $10.70 Used From: $18.37 Average Rating: |
Over 580 beautiful color photos display a stunning array of contemporary handmade and design marbles by a variety of talented artists, along with handmade, and machine-made examples. Swirl, Clambroth, Banded Opaque, Indian, Lutz, End of Day, and Single-gather handmade marble designs are featured, along with machine-made examples by M.F. Christensen & Son, Christensen Agate, Akro Agate, Peltier, Master Marble, Marble King, Ravenswood, and Vitro Agate. Also included are original marble packaging, games, and tournament pins. The useful text provides essential information on marble valuation, definitions of marble conditions from mint to collectible, tables with pricing for a wide variety of marbles by size, form, and condition, and current values in the captions. This book is essential for every marble fan!
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Aggies, Immies, Shooters, and Swirls: The Magical World of Marbles List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $42.00 Used From: $10.63 Average Rating: |
Here is a lavishly illustrated introduction to the world of marbles--a nostalgic look back at a favorite childhood game and an indispensable guide for treasure hunters in search of a hot collectible. In words and pictures, this wondrous treasury captures these splendid glass spheres in all their beauty and variety.
