How to Identify Marbles on the Web

Identifying marbles can be a challenging task.

With a vast array of colors, sizes and patterns, marbles can be difficult to identify and at times impossible. Just becoming familiar with the various kinds of marbles available as well as the different marble manufacturers can be a daunting task. Whether manufactured by machine or by hand, specific types of marbles have recognizable colors and patterns. Some collectors realize a good deal of success when they identify marbles on the web, as fellow collectors have created websites complete with numerous photos and manufacturer information to aid in marble identification.

Things You'll Need

• Marble identification website and book
• Calipers
• Marble circle templates

Instructions

1. Educate yourself on the many types of marbles available, marble manufacturers and the history of marbles. Websites such as BuyMarbles.com have a lot of valuable information to help you get started. There also are books available, such as Bo Karlsson's The Marble Book: A Book About Marbles Around the World that offer examples of correctly identified marbles to use as a point of reference.

2. Examine the construction characteristics of the marbles: size (measured with calipers), material used (glass, plastic, steel or clay); seams on the marble and veneering (covering with a thin layer of more costly material). These are factors that may aid in identification. Marble manufacturers use different machines and methods to create a wide range of marble designs.

3. Determine whether the marbles are hand- or machine-made. Hand-made marbles are not rounded perfectly smooth and will have cut-off marks on either or both poles (ends) of each marble. Many hand-made marbles are made of clay or some type of stone and are hand ground. Clay or stone marbles come glazed; some are unglazed.

4. Use calipers or a marble circle template to measure the size of the marbles. A marble circle template comes with various size circles cut out of a piece of plastic with the size of each circle clearly marked on the plastic. The template can be used to measure the size of machine-made marbles but will not work for hand-made marbles since they are not perfectly smooth.

5. Identify the colors and patterns of the marbles as individual marble companies are known for particular color and pattern designs of their marbles. An example of this would be the popular "cat eye" marbles or the clay "Benningtons" with their blue or brown-spotted glaze finish.

6. Compare the characteristics of your marbles with the marbles featured on websites such as Joemarbles.com. Scan through the photos and manufacturer information on the sites to help you identify your marbles.

References

• Angel Fire: Identifying Marbles
• Land of Marbles: Marble Circle Templates

Resources

• Joemarbles: Marble Identification
• Buy Marbles: Marble Identification