FAQ
What kind of marbles are there?
Marbles can be categorized into three basic types: Handmade glass, Non-glass and Machine Made.
Handmade glass marbles were produced predominately in Germany in the period 1860-1914. There are now some marbles handmade by American glassworkers and craftsmen.
Non-glass marbles include all of the clay and pottery types (including bennington and china), agates, steelies, wood, stone and paper mache.
Machine made marbles were produced exclusively in the United States from about 1910 to just after World War II. After World War II, the predominate marble was the catseye, which was produced in both the Far East and the U.S. Most marbles that are found in toy and hobby stores now, are produced in either Mexico or the Far East.
The marbles sought after by collectors are handmade marbles, some select non-glass marbles (mainly chinas) and American machine mades produced before 1960. The number of people collecting handmade contemporary marbles has been increasing during the past 5 years.
Are marbles still being made?
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.
The largest maker of machine made marbles in the world is Vacor de Mexico, which has an office in Kansas City MO. It is said to produce over 90% of the world’s marbles.
Catseyes are still being produced by several plants in the Far East.
On the handmade side, there are currently over 100 craftsmen in the U.S. producing marbles utilizing the cane or rod method of glass making. In addition, there are numerous lamp workers who are making small marbles, utilizing bead making techniques.
Where can I find marbles?
Almost every child had marbles, so marbles can be found just about anywhere, from tag sales to antique shops.
If you are lucky and persevere, you can find marbles at tag sales, estate sales, flea markets, antique shows, antique malls and antique shops.
One of the best places to find marbles is at one of the many marble shows held around the country. This site maintains a schedule of marble shows.
Another place is to contact marble dealers. Usually a show is the best place to find marble dealers.
The other place where you can find marbles is through auctions. You can find a large number of marbles on Ebay, although as with most things on Ebay you have to be careful that items are correctly and adequately described. There are also several marble auctioneers around the country. They conduct live auctions that also include online and phone bidding. Visit the Marble Auction page for information on our auctions and our consignment service.
Can damaged marbles be repaired?
Are marbles being reproduced?
Marbles have been reproduced since at least the late 1970’s.
This topic is discussed in detail in the Reproduction section of the on-line marble guide. A listing of recent reproductions can be found on the Reproduction Alert page.
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.
The National Marbles Tournament is held each year on Father’s Day weekend in Wildwood NJ. This tournament has been held each year since 1922. The local tournament, which had been a rite of spring in communities around the country, has begun to make a come-back. The Games and Tournaments page contains some local, national and international tournaments.
How can I learn more about marble collecting?
The best way to learn about marbles is handle them. Get to know them. Visit a marble show, if there is one in your area, or buy an identification book and take out your jars of marbles and start looking at them.
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