Marbles.

I have been in Ohio this week aiding with an installation of some equipment. The hardest part of the job has been the cold. The building is barely a building. Sheet metal walls with large gaping bays for product movement do little to protect from the elements. Earlier in the week we were looking at single digit temperatures. Not fun.

I’m staying at a holiday inn where there happens to be a major marble conevention going on. Marbles. Like the small colorful glass balls.

Marbles.
Marbles.

This is an atypical convention because the collectors are all spread out across the hotel in various rooms. Each room door is open and signs are put out in the hall advertising Bill’s Marbles! Cape Cod Marbles! Vintage Marbles! and people are encouraged to go between the various rooms to buy, sell, or trade.

Thousands upon thousands of marbles. Most of which are carefully organized, labeled, and tagged.

Marbles organized across sheets of foam
Marbles organized across sheets of foam

I talked to a few of the vendors and learned a lot about the different processes for making marbles. Firstly, many of these marbles are old – form the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The marbles came from any of 20-something american producers, or producers overseas.

I learned about the cheap, plentiful Japanese cat-eye marbles – and the more ornate glass marbles that encase porcelain figurines. Some marbles are made in batch processes while others are individually made.

Marble 1

I realized that it’s not the easiest thing in the world to take pictures of marbles. If any of you photo people have recommendations I’m open to hear them!

Marble 2

Marble 3

The marbles I saw ranged in price from a few bucks a pop to $2,400. Just as in any world of collectibles, the rare, flawless, unique marbles fetch the highest prices. The vendors are armed with magnifying glasses and small flashlights to justify their prices and share the beauty of their treasures. For the most part visitors are encouraged to pick up and examine any piece of glass – I chose instead to keep my hands in my pockets. I didn’t want to be part of anyone losing their marbles.

7 thoughts on “Marbles.

  • 2/8/2013 at 10:36 am
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    This is really interesting! I love that there are marbles conventions! Stay warm!

    Reply
  • 2/8/2013 at 4:12 pm
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    That blue marble on the left in the last photo is beautiful! How fun!

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  • 2/11/2013 at 12:00 am
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    “OOOHHHH Jelly Beans! GULP!”

    Reply
  • 2/15/2013 at 8:05 pm
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    Pretty! Were you using your flash? Are you still just using the lens that came with your camera, maybe time for an upgrade to a lens that would take lower light photos.

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    • 2/19/2013 at 1:54 pm
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      Actually, no flash here. The overexposed pictures were taken while the marble owner shined a flashlight onto the marble’s surface – which in real life exposed quite beautiful intricate designs within their cores.

      Unfortunately, in the pictures they just show up white-washed.

      And yes, perhaps a new lens is indeed in order.

      Reply
  • 2/19/2013 at 11:26 am
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    Wow. That closing line authorizes the use of a descriptor I often have trouble deploying:

    “Groan-worthy”

    Yet the post would be incomplete without it. So I guess you technically had no choice….

    Reply
    • 2/19/2013 at 1:55 pm
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      I had the exact same internal conflict with this post. It makes me feel better that you came to the same conclusion.

      Reply

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