It started back in 1911 in Akron, Ohio. Gilbert Marsh and George Rankin noticed that the kids around town, especially the boys, liked to spend their leisure time kneeling in the dirt, launching small colored glass balls into a chalk circle--playing the ancient game of marbles.

Marsh owned a shoe store on Akron's Main Street, and the two men came up with the idea of getting some machinery to make marbles and installing it in the big vacant room over the store. They figured that they could package up the marbles at night and sell them downstairs along with the shoes. It was a good idea. The marbles sold so well that within a few months they moved to a bigger building and applied for the "Akro Agate" trademark.

The name "Akro" is a shortened version of Akron, and the trademark itself is a clever play-on-words. It's a representation of a flying crow and the capitol letter A. "A-Crow." Get it?

The marble business was a great success. (Back then a small box of 25 Akro "glassies" sold for 25¢. Today that box books for $35.00) In 1914 the company moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia where they were listed in the City Directory as "manufacturers of toy marbles, caster balls, and glass balls for lithographers use." By this time the glass making machine technology had improved so much that they were able to feed four different colors of glass into the main tank at one time, and a brand new "duplex" marble machine doubled the capacity. Akro became recognized as the world leader in the field!

The partners decided that there was no reason they couldn't manufacture other things made from their "agate," and they began to experiment. One of the first experiments was a big, heavy square ashtray with swirls of color throughout. Then they made jars for cold cream, and some attractive powder jars for the five-and-dime store trade. A popular one then--and now--had a cute "Scotty" dog perched on its top. Another favorite was a colonial lady with a full skirt. These were big sellers at 29¢ each. Today they book in the $50 - $300 range, depending on color and condition.

Before long Akro was turning out a colorful array of flower pots, planters, lamps, vases and shaving mugs. They made advertising ashtrays too, for hotels and businesses.  Those sell now in the $50 - $100 range.

The second world war came along, and inexpensive toy imports from Japan and Germany were cut off. Akro's childrens dishes suddenly became very popular. They made  little tea sets in a great variety of colors and styles. Some had raised designs and some sets were complete with pitchers and tumblers as well as plates, cups and saucers, teapots and cream pitchers and sugar bowls. There are lovely marbleized sets with swirls of color. More difficult to find are the children's dishes made of transparent glass. These are called "Trans-Optic" and collectors look for Akro Trans-Optic pieces in topaz, jade green and azure blue. A complete 21-piece set of Trans-Optic in its original box might sell in the $100-$300 range. Individual Trans-optic pieces run about $10 - $25 each.

Collectors look for the crow trademark. It's on many, but not all, pieces. Some only have "Made in the U.S.A." on them. Unfortunately, some are not marked at all, but after a while its possible to identify Akro just by the shapes, colors, look and feel.

If you have any questions, you can Email us at antshoppe@aol.com

The Antique Shoppe
"Florida's Best Newspaper for Antiques and Collectibles
PO Box 2175, Keystone Heights, FL 32656-2175
Phone: (352)475-1679 Fax: (352)475-5326