The M.F. Christensen & Son Co.
1903-1917
The M.F. Christensen & Son Company was started in Akron, Ohio, in 1903. The company was incorporated in 1910. The founder of the company was Martin Frederick Christensen. Mr. Christensen worked most of his life in the metal forging and fabricating business. In the late 1890's, he invented a machine to make ball bearings. Soon after this, he started working on a machine to make spheres out of glass. This idea was so successful, that Mr. Christensen decided to open his own marble manufacturing company. He made marbles for industrial purposes as well as play. This section will be expanded as soon as our new book is published.
Marble makers at the M.F. Christensen & Son Co.
The M.F. Christensen & Son Company only produced a limited number of marble styles. The main product was imitation onyx marbles that were called the National Onyx line. These came in amber, green, and later white and purple were also added to this selling line. Cobalt imitation onyx marbles were marketed as Royal Blue Onyx by the company. The other marbles produced by the company were opaque in composition. These marbles include solid white and black marbles that were marketed as "Ballot Balls", the Oriental Jade, the Imperial Jade, the Persian Turquoise, the American Cornelian, the Moss Agate, and two unnamed opaque marbles in solid lavender and bright yellow. These are the only regular production marbles that were ever made by this company. The marbles can be seen below. These were all found at the factory site in Akron, Ohio.
The artifacts above
were all discovered inside of the existing factory building.
From left to right: 1.Furnace Door Plug 2. Gathering port: through this opening, glass was removed from the furnace to make marbles 3. Detail of the gathering port showing where a punty rod has worn a groove in the corner.
National Onyx amber glass marbles made by the M.F. Christensen & Son Co. Sizes #0 - #10
An assortment of marbles made by the M.F. Christensen & Son Co.