Marble King’s operations would be considered small by some, but for three-quarters of a century the company has been producing one product, marbles. A simple sphere of glass that began as a kid’s game. Why was it so popular in its heyday? A game was always possible. In most kid’s pockets were a dozen of his most prized marbles. And the playing field was any place with a level surface. Draw a circle in the dirt, and shoot your best marble into the ring and knock your opponent’s marble out of the circle. If you are part of the baby boomer generation, you most likely played the game.

It is not likely that you ever considered the origin of the marbles in your pocket. Clearies, Cateyes, solids and any number of names given to your favorite marble. Today the game of marbles has pretty much gone the way of the wall phone. However the popularity and fascination with the round pieces of glass are in some circles considered fine art, and have become very collectable.

The story of Marble King began in December of 1949 in St. Mary’s West Virginia. Nine years later in 1958, a terrible fire destroyed the plant. The owners at the time decided to move the operations to Paden City on a temporary basis until the original site could be reconstructed. But after beginning operations in Paden City, they decided it was a good place to make Marble King home. Seventy-six years later the glass manufacturing plant is still producing marbles.

In 1983, Beri Fox’s father purchased the plant and it has been operating with the guidance of the Fox family ever since.

In 2003, Beri Fox began managing the operations of the site. The operation takes 20 to 30 employees to produce the millions of marbles they make and ship around the world each year.

The manufacturing operations typically run around the clock, seven days a week to meet customers orders. Periodically the equipment is shut down for maintenance.

The manufacturing of marbles can be said to be the first large recycling operation in the area. The plant does not create the glass used to make marbles; it recycles glass scraps from area glass operations. At one time they received their raw materials from Paden City Glass, Fenton and Viking. Today the only area manufacturing site that supplies glass to be recycled is the Paul Wissmach Glass Factory just three blocks North of Marble King. They also received materials from Davis Lynch in Morgantown and Blenko Glass in Milton. Some glass cannot be combined with others. The difference in materials require constant quality control to maintain the marbles first class reputation.

Paden City Marble King was the original manufacturer of the marble known worldwide as, “Cats Eye”. Clear glass with a twist of color inside that gives the appearances of a cat’s eye. The popular marble is still a much sought after style of marble today.

The Ohio Valley was once home to a number of glass manufacturing operations. The abundance of raw materials, such as quality sand and natural gas brought manufacturing to the area. Marble King in full production has the ability to produce one-million marbles a day. Depending upon where the customers are located around the world, shipping can be done by various methods to best fill customer needs.

Paden City Marble King is the largest supplier in both Canada, and South Africa. The customers use the marbles in a variety of products they produce. In 1949 Marble King produced marbles for kids’ toys and games. Today they have diversified to supply marbles to include industrial manufacturing, architectural design, filtrations systems and decorative markets around the world. Ms. Fox, emphasized, it is essential in today’s world, to constantly seek out new customers.

Marble King Owner and CEO Beri Fox

The Marble King operations has maintained its presence in the marble manufacturing world due to its diversification over the years and the dedication of its employees. Many have been with the company for ten years, and some as many as 30. This fact, along with the dedication of the Fox family to preserve the long-time presence in the world of marbles, stands as testament to a family dedicated to maintaining a business in Paden City. With this in their background, Marble King plans on being in their home for many more years. Marble King operates a gift shop which will open in May.

Marbles from the plant have traveled into space with missions on NASA spacecraft. You may have seen their marbles in movies including Goonies, Home Alone, Hook, and King of the Hill. John Ratenbergers, from the Discovery Channel’s, “How it’s Made” programs has visited the operations.

In America today small manufacturing operations must compete on a world market. Increasing cost of materials and wages is always a factor in the production of items in America. But with the dedication of Beri Fox’s management team, and the many long-time employees, the Marble King brand is truly what makes Paden City the Best Place to do marble business in the World.