Hi Rich,

They sound interesting. Don't have any idea on their value. But from your descrition and not having personally seem them I would not have paid over $30-40, but that's just me. However, the marblized chips do seem to bring a hefty price on eBay. Try to do a few searches and see if the ones he has look like the marblized ones on eBay.

The best test (for bakelite) I have found is the hot water test. Place the object under the flow of a VERY HOT WATER faucet for 10-15 seconds and then quickly sniff the object. In my experience, the odor will only be present for 2-3 seconds after removing it from the hot water. If it is bakelite, it will have a distinctive odor which many describe as like rubber or an old tire. Plastic, clay, etc will not have this odor. Lacking a source of hot water... some people rub the item very hard and quickly with their thumb and do the sniff test. This doesn't work for me... I just get a blister on my finger!

Good Luck,

Steve Snowden