World’s Largest Akro Marbles Collection!

🔴 Disclaimer:
Please be mindful that you are viewing a privately owned collection and not a public museum. Any questions as to this collection’s location or contact information will not be answered.
Welcome to a tour of the world’s largest Akro marbles and glassware museum, curated by Roger and Claudia Hardy.
In this video you will see priceless examples of Akro’s dishware, glass collectables and exquisite examples of some of their oxblood and spiral type marbles, as well as the related packaging products that were produced.
Between 1910 and 1951, Akro was one of the most successful and popular marbles manufacturers in the world.Their marbles and novelty items are considered historical and extremely sought after by collectors today.
Special thanks to Roger and Claudia, historian Mike Johnson and everyone else who contributed their research Information and photos.
For more Akro Agate marbles content, please watch “The Akro Agate Marbles Collection and Identifications” video In the Vintage Machine-made Marbles playlist.
For more vintage marbles video content, please subscribe to the channel!
I hope you enjoy this outrageous collection, and as always, thank you for watching!

[@artifactsandbigracks3999]

So many awesome things . ✌️😎 WOW !

[@donaldmiller9648]

Remember walking into this room almost 20 years ago....first thing you see is those large mason jars full of Akros and I was amazed to see two full jars of sparklers! Great viewing but you soon realize that this is a one of kind collection. and examples of alnost everything the plant ever made. Thanks Stephen...have some pictures of room but never shared at request of owner...great antique store too. Akro had the greatest color variety of all of the plants.

[@rdovak13]

I am literally drooling right now.

[@Rodogg7787]

I recently got an Akro model t ashtray with Oxblood! Plus it's florescent! Wowzer

[@neftaliguajardo8447]

Wow! What an epic collection of eye candy. Thank you for bringing this video and collection to light. I wonder if the curator mentioned what he would plan to do with this collection. I wouldn't mind purchasing a large part of it.

[@neftaliguajardo8447]

@@stephenbahrmarbles I don't blame him. I have a huge collection myself. I find it hard to think of parting with it but my wife reminds me I can't take it all with me. Keep up the great work, I love all antique marbles but find it hard to find others that share my same passion. Your videos are refreshing.

[@VolcanoTimeLapse]

love how you've taken marble collecting to the next level!

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Rogers collections needs to be preserved in its entirety. The city of Clarksburg needs to buy his whole collection and make a museum of it. From what I understand his heirs are always arguing about it and it’s worth and they would prob sell it and part it out if they had the chance (don’t blame them). But this most epic of marble collections needs to be put in a museum and well displayed for all to see. I’d love to buy his collection and preserve it for all to see but I don’t have millions.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Right! Hopefully whatever happens, it doesn’t get split up too much.

[@Rodogg7787]

OMG, look at all the Akro stuff! Wow

[@wacoblaze]

Why am I suddenly obsessed 2ith marbles at 43 yrs old.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

I like the sound of that, just roll with it 🔴

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Been there many times; it’s incredible.

[@karma_approved]

This is so mind boggling 😳😍❤️

[@salishseaquest7952]

Stephen, thank you for taking us with you to appreciate all the Akro marbles. Roger was very kind to let you film his collection.

[@shaneapplegate1975]

Just awesome 💯

[@pitviper7924]

My daughter and I were where in a quest looking for the Akro Marble factory site. We accidently found this museum. They were kind enough to show us their museum and did give us the location of the site. They asked us to only look for items that are on the surface. That was so exciting for my daughter and me to be able to get samples of the historic marble factory. That memory will always be with us.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Oh cool Pit Viper , this room took my breath away !

[@larrytaylor7170]

I grew up on the hillside overlooking the old Akro plant. We used to ride our bikes there and dig. Roger kindly showed my wife and I his collection the last time we were in town. It certainly is breathtaking and overwhelming.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Awesome Larry ! I bet you’ve got a serious Akro stash ! 💥🔵 🦅

[@darlenefrancis2030]

Those are the most beautiful marbles I've ever seen in my life.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank you Darlene , I’m glad you enjoyed it !

[@jasperscott5426]

Amazing, some of these marbles passed through my hands!

[@spanishly007]

Thank you again great video

[@Rodogg7787]

That would be awesome, set up a few black lights in there and watch them react!

[@rockkhound943]

That's amazing.. to think that is a small portion of his collection is mind blowing. I did not realize they made so many other things and i have seen some of that stuff in antique stores around me so I'm going yo have to retrace my steps lol . Thank you Stephen

[@charlesadkins7067]

awesome collection

[@thearrowheadreapers8668]

Thank you for the tour. absolutely enjoyed it.🏹

[@adrymoctezuma3106]

This is incredible!!!! Not only the marbles, all the stuff!!!! Thanks,awesome video!!!

[@briankesterson4365]

Amazing!!!! Loved the video!

[@judycarney3472]

Absolutely fantastic.

[@CoinandRelicOntario]

A truly amazing collection, thanks for sharing Stephen. Andrew..

[@ericrickard4453]

Great video, I can find Akro marbles online n of course on Akro auction sites but I have only found a few in jars,yes they r HTF n I live in Wv,,Thanks for the video!

[@massriverpickers]

Wow!😛 What a collection! Thanks for the great close-ups! I could spend weeks just looking at one wall in the place! Thanks for taking us along! 😃👍🔵❤️

[@randyburks7482]

jaw dropping...speechless...envious...amazing!! This is a museum!!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

💯!!

[@DirtCleanerVideos]

W0W! thanks for making the video and also to the Hardy's for allowing it. Do they sell their book on-line or mail order? (Not looking for their address.)

[@AScottB]

Absolutely stellar!! Holy cow!! Thx for the vid and thanks Roger for caring about Akro so that we can all experience this!! (Sent you an important FB PM about this. FYI)

[@southernvtgrown]

Wow so jealous, im a long time vintage collector/hoarder 😅, just scored my first couple jars of marbles collected by this old farmer through out his career as a home builder in the backwoods of upstate NY. Over the past 25 years collecting ive never made a marble purchase because i felt i didnt have enough knowledge. Marbles are so beautiful to look at. Hoping to make it to the Oct 7th marble show in CT to get help with defining what I might have. Ty for the great videos ✌🏼💚✌🏼💚

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thanks for your story SouthernVT, I hope to see you at the Connecticut show. Please stop and say hi and bring some cool marbles to show or ID !

[@massriverpickers]

And I LOVE your idea about setting up a GLOW light in there!! 😃 We will be doing that on a very small scale, here at home. (Starting with just a glow shelf).

[@sajidmunir864]

Excellence in craftsmanship is

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Yessir 🟢

[@davebuc4823]

simply amazing! nuff said!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thanks Dave ! 🔴

[@johnwright3306]

Amazing

[@powerlinekid4296]

Amazing tour, unfortunately it's kinda of depressing. Thanks for bringing it to us.

[@randallwhitehurst1389]

Wow Wow Wow !!!! I love the colors ! Thank you for allowing this video to capture the beauty of this marble maker !

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thank you Randall , the displays were overwhelming!

[@vancewright]

R😢😮😂🎉

[@junttivision7743]

Crazy🤯

[@nicholaslindenmeyer6472]

He needs to share some of those toys with the rest of us kids.

[@mattmatty4670]

Cool thanks mate. N yes wow

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Thanks Matt ! 🔴

[@chicitybeachgal]

Wow Stephen, Bravo, I think this is my favorite video you have done yet! Just incredible, what an experience to view this marvelous collection. Just WOW!

[@chicitybeachgal]

@@stephenbahrmarbles let's do something in the new year!

[@lukedukeoutdoors5110]

Holy Toledo!!!! That's Amazing!! The 8th Wonder O The World!! Howdy can I locate one of the Akron books that you showed in the video? Thanks for sharing!!👍🇺🇲✌️

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Hi Luke ! Sometimes they are available on eBay, and at marble shows-and they are sold in his shop in Clarksburg. Otherwise they are very difficult to find.🟢

[@terripetrel112]

It’s always been fun going into Rogers antique store. He can tell you about everything that’s in there to a T! And he always has something new. Amazing marble collection!!

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Oh yea the actual shop is a rotating museum! I could spend hours in there !

[@terripetrel112]

@@stephenbahrmarbles I have a small collection of marbles that my dad collected. I’m going to take them to Roger and see what he thinks about them. Is there anyway I can send you a picture of them?

[@terripetrel112]

My dad lived in Clarksburg growing up there until he moved to Florida in the 1980’s. That’s when I inherited his collection. He has a large variety of 3/4” shooters, peewee’s and of course the normal sized ones. I’ve watched LOTS of yours and Rocks Cousteau’s adventure videos, but y’all are so full of info I still can’t get the difference.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Awesome story Terri ! You could email me at : [e-mail] , it sounds like you’ve inherited some nice old marbles . Roger would surely know exactly what you have!

[@Rodogg7787]

I like the cullet too

[@dozerrrrr]

surreal

[@iamgabriel5823]

Is there a contact where we can buy Roger and Claudia's book? Yet another great video.

[@stardust949]

HOLY KRO!!!

[@greeneyedmimibostian3013]

I lived there for a year. Why didnt I know of this establishment?

[@shaneapplegate1975]

My father knows a guy who's brother's wife on his sister sides first cousin had some kinfolk down yonder over the hillside. Them folks had a whole barnful of the acro glass spinners gear shift knobs and cigarette holders you had ever seen. All the sudden the lights went off black lights came on I thought I was in outer space😮 there's magic and mystery and then hills folks. They're grassroots ran back to running moonshine and bootlegging of course. Family connections and traditions😎

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

That is historically 💯 correct ,thank you Shane !

[@shaneapplegate1975]

I have original box of 25 cardinal red akro agates. I did not see any of these pictured in his collection. I have never in my entire life seen another box of these marbles anywhere do you know anything about them?. You did show a real similar box however the box color was different and the marbles look to be Carmel instead of red.

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Yes Shane , they appear on pg.21 in the “American Machine-Made Marbles” book (the Bible) . 25 #O marbles in a square red box which appear to have both Carnelians and a solid or opalescent reddish colored marble types. I don’t remember seeing them in Roger’s display but I didn’t have a lot of time to browse.

[@shaneapplegate1975]

@@stephenbahrmarbles thanks. I'll check out that book 👍

[@realtimestrategy227]

looks like he has dug every single marble in Clarksburg!

[@barrywainwright3391]

I agree. I doubt there is much left. It's amazing how much the factory threw away. And I'm sure Rocks Cousteau found the rest.

[@apismellifera1000]

shoot straight as A Kro flies get it

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Yessir! 🦅

[@oldscoolcooldiecast1879]

Love to get one of those books worth more then ten bucks to me I’d pay twenty five if it’s a good one for reference

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Right? I bought one from him, had him sign it …and then I left it in a hotel room in WV. Gone forever! I’m an idiot

[@oldscoolcooldiecast1879]

@@stephenbahrmarbles bin there done that before not thinking. Can’t imagine the knowledge that book contained thou 😂 Appreciate ya buddy

[@cookdislander4372]

Is your camera trash or is my internet connection trash?

[@eldritchpumpkinghost2968]

Definitely your internet

[@shaneapplegate1975]

To all of the rest of you collectors out there who wonder why you can't find any marbles any more😂 just curious as to do you folks need any more grandchildren? Got any extra bedrooms in that house?

[@barrywainwright3391]

Is that a collection from just one man? Where did he get so much? Is he a very wealthy millionaire? Obviously he has been buying stuff for a long time. And how did he dig stuff? If he is a dump digger he should have a massive collection of bottles too. I dig old dumps and I find marbles but only dug about 500 marbles so far. That is the best most impressive massive marble collection ever.

[@originalsupermommy]

He dug at the old factory in Clarksburg.

[@barrywainwright3391]

Why would a factory throw away so many marbles and other akro items? Is that area in Clarksburg still there?

[@ramah123]

Very nice but this man Roger does not seem at all in a good mood. is he always like that orwhat ?

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

He probably has good and bad days like anyone. He was kind enough to allow me to film, and field some questions so I’m grateful for that.

[@judgewapner1744]

Top salesman Ralph Heatherringtonerington's salesman sample display case. Very few of these known to exist except for the 124 Ralph Heatherringtonerington signed and gave to this dude. I really think Roger is Ralph Heatherringstoneerington . . . How else could you explain this collection?

[@stephenbahrmarbles]

Roger wasn’t born yet when that case was being used.