Cairo Novelty Marbles Identifications With David Tamulevich

This video breaks down and identifes the dug collection of Cairo Novelty marbles from the David Tamulevich vault. Cairo was one of the more short-lived West Virginia Swirl marble companies that was in operation at Cairo, W.V. from 1946 to 1952. It has been suggested by many that Cairo wasn’t fully functional in producing marbles after a devistating flood had crippled the factory in 1950.
We identify approximately 30 nicknamed marbles that are generally thought to have been produced at Cairo Novelty in this video, with short descriptions and clear photos. Most of these nicknames were given by David Tamulevich who dug over a dozen times at the site in the mid to late 1990’s.
There are general identification tips and discussions for Cairo marbles in this video, with an emphasis on the more collectable marbles, and a few comparisons to Heaton Agate , Christensen Agate and Vacor De Mexico marbles.
🔴You may contact David via email at : [e-mail]
Visit David’s original music KZbin Cannel at : @ / @davidtamulevich8587
The list of Cairo Novelty nick-names In this video Is:
Glow Worms
Ivory Family:
Ivory , Ivory with Clear
Ivory Orange, Red, Green, Blue and Purple
Crocus
Cairo Christmas
Spring Peepers
Starlights
Purple Twilights
Neon
Mossie
Cricket
Lightning Family :
Purple, Green, Yellow, Red and Scarlet Knight
Pussy Willow
Hurricane Swirl
Mountaineer
Pumpkin Pie
Copperhead
Titanium Blue
Cloudy Day
Ensign
Crow
Ice Swirl
Please watch the “Introduction to Cairo Novelty Marbles With David Tamulevich” In the Vintage Machine-made marbles playlist for more Cairo information.
Special thank you to
Kathy Huggins, Daniel Thomas, Ron Shepherd, Madeline Bahr, Karen Kelsi and Maryanne Worden for their input in this video’ content’s research and production assistance.
Thank you for watching Vintage Machine -Made Marbles ! 🔵

[@straightshooter3643]

Mr. Bahr, you've done it again! What a great display! And to hear you describe them as if they were a fine wine, perfect! Every video you make, I learn more and I use it as an excuse to pull out my collection and sort through them some more! Thanks again, and stay dry! 🤣

[@dalerobingoodman5854]

Gorgeous marbles! I thought the Purple Lightnings were my fave but then I saw the Cloudy Days. Goodness...so wonderful to look at. I could spend all day just looking at these! How fun! Thanks for sharing these.

[@stevenjohann5435]

Awesome....have been collecting Alox Mfg. marbles for the last few years, and Cairo is always thrown in the confusion with Jackson, CAC, and a few other small companies for ID similarities....this helped considerably knowing they were dug marbles with specific colors...Thank You again for your efforts and valuable contributions to the hobby thru the years.....many love, much props

[@stevenjohann5435]

@@stephenbahrmarbles Form what ive read,, there was purchase of marble-making machines from a West Virginia marble factory early in Alox's history.....was always curious if this was a reason for similarities between marbles design...

[@nanciegreen8168]

I love the Alox, all more vintage short runs.

[@adrymoctezuma3106]

Those marbels are soooooo beautiful!!!

[@AScottB]

What a bunch of cool marbles and other items from a lesser known manufacturer. Really great stuff, guys!! Thanks!

[@Spenta]

Great share Stephen, I love them! The green one is of course my favorite one.

[@respectanimals2]

Excellent video , such beautiful marbles

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank you Respect Animals ! 🐦

[@donaldmiller9648]

I looked at my case of marbles I dug on site many years ago ( around 2 hours or so only ) and was surprised how many were flourescent (about 20%). Sure after this video I will identify more scattered in collection. Remember cullet all over site...tons of chunks of coke bottke cullet...took a large chunk of it and a blue one along with cluster of purple marbles home...a friend cut and polished three 1& 1\2 inch marbles for me from the cullet...good memories of that visit. The ivory blue with purple is outstanding item in my collection. Thanks for knowledge sharing David and Stephen.

[@donaldmiller9648]

Aldo in that short dig found a good number of small ones...interesting.

[@sillyworm]

Anyone willing to part/ sell a few examples of the dugs?

[@irishtino1595]

Wonderful video. I have purchased pounds and pounds of marbles at auctions and estate sales over the last 30 years. After watching this video I realized I have perhaps 500 to 1000 Cairos - never knew who the manufacturer was until today.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Wow Irish that is impressive, these are very hard to find swirls, and often difficult to recognize. It sounds like you have a terrific collection!

[@StephRenee812]

What great information you give us, all the time you give us.. thank you.. much love

[@11030]

Thanks for the video. Very informative. I found a single glow worm 6+ years ago and saved it. I found my second one last week! Lol. Also, I can see a lot of those Cairo being confused with Jabo Classics.

[@artifactsandbigracks3999]

The star light marble looks awesome....✌️😎. So many beautiful marbles.

[@AllenCrawford3]

These color palettes are so subtle and beautiful. They remind me of the colors you find in birds. Kingfishers come to mind. Wouldn't be wonderful if someone did a "bird run" of marbles (robins, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, etc)? Only a true master could pull that off, I think.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Yes that would be something! There are a few bird nicknames scattered amongst different companies though.

[@IronChief]

Watching again, forgot to comment on previous view . Hope to see you at a marble show sometime.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank Iron Chief ! I try to make it to the shows in my region (Northeast corridor) would love to bump into you.

[@IronChief]

​@@stephenbahrmarbles May be going back to WV next spring.

[@thearrowheadreapers8668]

Thanks for bringing all this information to us. Enjoyed the video 👍🏹

[@wmaheu]

love this one, GREAT JOB

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank you for watching Summer Rose! David is terrific to work with

[@chadgartner5434]

Gold again Stephen

[@LVWRSHP2]

Thank you for another great video!

[@jedsteelwell2354]

Really cool marbles! I live in wheeling WV and I have a good bit of older marbles from my pappy.

[@jak3589]

Thank you, cool marbles!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thanks JAK ! Cairo had some interesting marbles for sure

[@cindymurphy457]

Thank you 😊

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thanks for watching Cindy !

[@barrywainwright3391]

It's interesting too know about so many small independent marble companies. How did they chose their name and how did they name all the marbles they manufactured. That was all part of the artistic creative process too. How long was Cairo in business and what years? Where was the company located and is there any record of how many mubs they made? Can Cairo mibs be found in old dumps?

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Cairo was only producing from around ‘46 to 1950 when a flood hit, it was named after the town of Cairo. I don’t believe they marketed their marbles with any nicknames that I’m aware of. The nicknames came later from collectors. I think “Snake” and “Cloudy Day” were their first nicknames that stuck. I suppose Cairo marbles can be found in any dump but they didn’t get distributed as well as the bigger companies so they are uncommon.

[@sixfigureskibum]

If I knew you meant upcoming was that soon. Lol. Was gonna message via facebook but I'm not on the book all day everyday anymore

[@sixfigureskibum]

@@stephenbahrmarbles all your edits are very helpful thanks for making them !

[@sixfigureskibum]

unwinding the mysterious WVS , removing the veil of obscurity by opening g the doors of time

[@davidbieloh1382]

Stephen how did he get to dig on the site? I’m curious, as I also am about the Heaton dig. Special permission I assume?

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

David Tamulevich had known the owner of the property at the time. He was researching the Company and got permission to dig there, he may have explained it better in the “Introduction to Cairo Novelty” video. For the Heaton dig , we were invited by the owners who had a few private digs and then shut down the digging. There have been a lot of marbles poachers there lately and the owners / town / police are very vigilant about protecting the property.

[@davidbieloh1382]

@@stephenbahrmarbles thanks Steve. I bet that was a fun day!

[@sillyworm]

Just an opinion.I would prefer an identification video reference NON dug marbles..so that we can identify what we generally will find out in the wild.Sure...I dig( ha..see what I'm doin??!) seeing these exotics...and they hold a special place in the history and eventual collecting situation.So..it's,of course,all good!

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Cairo made loads of peewees and some shooter size off of their 5/8ths machine. Barely any peewees are found whole, most are halves. Most of the shooter sizes are probably mistakes, as they’re swirled together, prob when two marbles melded together.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank you Insert, yes that’s all correct information

[@tabathasteele7547]

I have some of these and never realized what they were lol

[@nanciegreen8168]

I'm so lucky!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Hard to find treasures ☘️ ✔️

[@ghostmantagshome-er6pb]

may you never have an earthquake.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

😂

[@chucho-co1yy]

I have some really nice rare marbles if you or anybody is interested? Great content 👌