John Frier: American Inventor

[jeff_duntemann]

I have a very popular Web page devoted to Hi-Flier kites, and it generates more mail than anything else on my site except Contra. A few weeks ago, I got an email from Nancy Frier, introducing herself as the granddaughter of John Frier, founder of Alox Manufacturing Co. of St. Louis. Alox

Comments

Alox Manufacturing.

[anonymous]

Jeff, thanks for the Alox marble related information. I am a marble collector and Alox has been some what mysterious.. I also have this mesh bag, which has examples that are unique. And several other "alox" which are more like, Champion marbles, Vito glass, Master made and later Master glass, and Alley agate marbles found in Alox Tic-tac-toe, and later plastic bags.

The only evidence remaining or known with alox labels are the mess bags with transparent color and thick white "shoe lace ribbon" meandering within the matrix of the marble.

Anything illustrating evidence of other marbles unique to Alox, color style etc. would be most special, if you were to run across this.

I also own one special "Alox" said to be made for factory workers and Representatives, or business relations. However, it's just a story, verses any proof. Other than it is unique, and supposed to have been given in special box, which I've never seen. 'Story'

As far as I know, you've stumbled on a marble mystery, where you've shown some relative providence to marbles unique to Alox. little is know or remains of factories that made marbles. Thanks!

BTW, yup i remember the Alox kites, as a kid, jacks etc. from the 50's-60's now that you've pictured and or mentioned them.

Re: Alox Manufacturing.

[jeff_duntemann]

Nancy Frier is an amazing woman. She has been working behind the scenes trying to get the Alox marble-making machine back from the Dollywood junkyard to the City Museum of St. Louis, where there are people who think they can restore it to presentable condition, or even make it work again. I have to check in with her to see how she's doing on that. I hope to write a short book with her on Alox as time allows, though it's been a difficult couple of months for me.

Re: Alox Manufacturing.

[anonymous]

Anything you would like to know about the Alox marbles , you can email me at aloxmfgco@att.net. I would be happy to share all of our old stock on Marbles.
The Special Box was the 30 box TiT TaT Toe and was sold for 5 cents. Several boxes where sent out to our customers as samples they included sales sheet, order sheet and envelope, no tit tat toe instructions were included in this special box.
Thank you for your interest.
nancy l frier