Marvelous Mibs Marbles Collectors Zone

Doogle · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 200 Location: Bishop, California

Okay, one of these, the upper right, has already been posted, and it was suggested it was an Imperial. All of these are Akro. I think the lower right hand one is a true Imperial. The reddish colors, and the creamy colored base seems to come closer to the pictures I have seen of only 1 box full of actual Imperials as they were supposedly meant to be sold. History shows that salesmen used these orangy similar colored Akros to fill in their empty sales boxes, and that is why there is the acceptance of the more orangish/opalish ones being Imperials also. Is that about right? Let me know what you think of this idea. Also, it seems that the original box of Imperials had a lot of oxblood in them. My marble on the bottom right does not have any. But the others that are accepted as Imperials don't have oxblood. Go figure.
It is just confusing for me, and the best way for me to handle it is to just take a stance and hold it until someone knocks it down with a better idea or proof.

top right: 5/8
bottom left:9/16
bottom right: 19/32"

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lstmmrbls · Site Admin Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 696

I would not call any of those Imperials. Here is the contents of an original Imperial Box. Akro used the name for later marbles but I am not sure exactly which kind some folks now call Imperials. (Hardy description) And I would put this baox at about the time of the earliest corkscrew production. 30-31??Peace,Galen

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Peace,Galen

Doogle · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 200 Location: Bishop, California

Wozzer! Oh my gorsh! Hot diggity dog! Galen, that box is.....well, I can't even come up with a humble enough description. Those are just magnificent!

I did take my Imperial decision from the Hardy description. So, that one in the upper right will remain as such in my notebook. But the other two....I guess the left lower marble would be a Special with orange, red and white. The lower right side..hmmm I'm tempted to say Special, but I think there is a lot of blending going on, and I really cannot see with my wimpy magno lens if there is any black mixed in with all that swirled red. I do like the cream colored base glass. I don't have any other Akro Corks with that particular shade of opaque white. I think it is lovely.
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1DanS · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 89

This is just a hunch, and with my bad eyes, I can't tell for sure, but the bottom left one may not be an Akro at all, but rather what some would call a "transitional" marble. Could we see some larger pics? In particular the poles, like in the last pic you show.
thanks.

David Chamberlain · Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 214

Nomenclature aside I'd still hang in with the top one being an Imperial as a significant segment of the collecting public has been calling it as such for a long time, right or wrong. David

lstmmrbls · Site Admin Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 696

Here you go. http://www.joemarbles.com/3Marble%20Articles/George%20Sourlis/0010%2010th%20Article%20What's%20An%20Akro%20Imperial.htm
I wish those were mine! Call that type Imperials if you want. When at shows ect. it is usually the marble itself that make its value. Not the name it is going by. Names do a lot to help sales on ebay and to lend value to more common types. Lots of folks like the name game. More power to them. I am just not one of them. That type is an Imperial to lots of folks. The sad part is no one calls the true Imperials, Imperials. Or the original Moss Agates, Moss Agates. Akros habit of reusing packaging and names has created a bit of a gaff.
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Peace,Galen

David Chamberlain · Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 214

I should state emphatically that pretty much from the get-go I have been death on the marble rabble that hype a marble in whatever way to artificially enhance its value. I think the marbles can pretty much stand or fall on their own. My own limited naming has purely been out of a respect for a particular marble and brought about due to being somewhat inspired. David

Doogle · Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 200 Location: Bishop, California

I agree with both you, Galen and David. The name game has no bearing to a seasoned collector of anything. It may be useful to those just starting out, but in most all cases, the name rarely adds any value to any collectible object. There are of course exceptions. Bottles are perfect examples: A mint specimen of a certain whiskey in amber will be valued well below the same type bottle in a rare color or with crudity. I am already well versed in this part of the hobby. However, when just starting out, names do help me to mentally trip the wires to recognize what I am looking at. According to a couple of the original boxes of Imperials I have seen, my Moss Agate with oxblood/eggyolk, and my vaseline w/oxblood could have come from one of these mixed lots of Imperials. Where the heck are all the original Imperials? Are they that rare of a marble? They seem to be readily identifiable. Anyone out there have any? I'd love to see some examples.

Dan, I will get more photos of that marble with the odd looking "pontil". I noticed that also, but thought it was just a manufacturing error. It would be interesting to see if this example is a transitional. I have seen some photos recently of trans. that look like corks.
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marblemover · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 114 Location: Vancouver USA

i had to drop down before finishing reading about Imperials to say that i agree with Dan--that marble lower left is a so-called transitional/handmade. it could be an Akro American Agate...more pics!

[edit: NOT AKRO; make that "a Christensen American Agate"]
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David Chamberlain · Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 214

I'd definitely go American Agate too. I've had a number of the red ones in exquisite condition and swirl movement.. Might still have one or two. They are a stand-up marble! David