Ben: Like something more crazy? Theyre engineered to duplicate how color comes off of butterfly wings or insects. Before this story, I never thought glitter was a thing worth thinking about.
A little SECRECY from the automotive paint industry. Ben: To find someone who does, David made a pretty pointed suggestion. People are recognizing that the glitter falls onto the ground and could end up in an ocean. John: Wow, I have never never been called an oracle or even like an oracle. And we started calling people, trying to knock a few of the crazy theories out. Ben: Fair.
We're here to be rejected. Just trying it out. Our email to Jeet. Amory: You know what we want before we do! Ben: Dumping glitter into resort beach sand to make your Instagram posts sparkle? And well done, Caity, because there's this one intriguing moment in her piece that launched this whole discussion on Reddit with thousands and thousands of comments. It's something bizarre," you know. Amory: Strip clubs (also mentioned by glitter conspiracy theorists)? Alex: We do have one machine that has a name. One of my favorite subreddits is the Unresolved Mysteries subreddit. Can you pass the milk and cookies? Greeting cards. It raised a lot of questions, especially who this mystery buyer was. Privacy Policy And compared to other uses of glitter or greeting cards and Christmas ornaments and the cosmetic industry, the volume is way more that goes into a boat. Ben: Richard says that glitter would reflect light, which is not a great way of cloaking yourself. Voicemail recording: This call may be recorded or monitored for quality assurance purposes. And we buy from their distributors.
Ben: Lightning round on industries that use glitter but are not the top customer of Glitterex. Ben: OK. Effect pigments are basically highly engineered glitter in powder or flake form that add depth and complexity to whatever paint theyre in. Ben: Were talking to Joe Coburn, who used to work at his familys glitter company. You can find more of their work on Reddit orInstagram. Why am I listening to you? -The r/UnresolvedMysteries post about the glitter mystery-Joe Coburn's glitter manufacturer AMA, -"What Is Glitter," by Caity Weaver in The New York Times Magazine (12/21/18). He said it was a single customer product and he just couldnt say. Ben: Oooh mysterious! John: Its a great flake. Is it cutting souls? Richard: It's been over 30 years of that. Ben: Glitterex is in this little office park in the middle of a high density but sleepy feeling suburb. Hes covered Whitey Bulgers gangster reign of terror. And he is a Redditor. Ben: Jeet seems like a nice guy. The next day, we continued to search through the thread of comments on Reddit for clues. And if you call from jail I can put you on to any number of criminal defense attorneys who are my friends. But, previously, there was a family glitter business that my father started in Germany. Food stuff? It's a one-word answer, "yes." Go that way. And you would never guess it. Amory: Were doing a story about the glitter industry. Amory: Ho ho! Intellectual Property Protection Amory: Joes dad sells one inscrutable glitter cutting machine for a hefty sum. Ben: So if you're a Reddit fan, you should listen to the show anyway. John Thomas: Were pretty big. So were talking about lots and lots of weight and lots and lots of money! He's on the phone with someone. And a mystery that popped up that hasnt been solved. And he is very confident about which industry is Glitterexs biggest client. But the biggest question that pops up: who buys it? Ben: This was around 1999. Glitter stays around.
Still a mystery.
No one had been able to find any answers until the ET team took the case and dropped a glitter bomb on the whole mystery. I'm not calling glitter pink slime, but remember when pink slime happened? Not good for anybody. Or maybe someone was dumping it into beach sand to make their resort beach sparkle more. David: Amory. That's that's a voice thats becoming very recognizable. Its going to feel good. The answer of what is it, which we will also discuss further is, briefly, very thin plastic coated in very thin metal. Ben: Almost sight unseen. Ben: Maybe there was another clue in the economics of glitter. But we did solve it right? Joe: So my name is Joe Coburn. I am unavailable to take your call. Glitter Machine Wholesale Customized Size Laser Cutting Glitter Sheet Making Machine For Chunky Glitter Sheet, Glitter Machine Horizontal Multifunctional Automatic Pillow Vegetable Corn Frooti Glitter Packing Machine, Machine Glitter Automatic Filling Machine 50g 100g 500g Glitter Powder Packing Machine, Machine Glitter Ultrasonic Vibrating Vibrator Screen Filtering Machine For Fine Talcum Glitter Powder, Glitter Machine Automatic Glitter Mirchi Baking Powder Packaging Machine Package Machine, commercial glitter powder cusher cutting machine glitter powder cutter maker machine, 1-100g Semi Automatic Capsules Bottle Bag Powder Filler Tea Seeds Grains Powder Glitter Weighing Powder Filling Machine, Glitter cutting Machine For Making Glitter, Fashionable Packing machine glitter machine for plastic making, sparkling glitter powder making machine Glitter powder cutting Machine for sale, 2019 New Design Glitter Powder Making Machine On Sale, Glitter Machine Glitter powder making cutting machine, PFL-890S Glitter ribbon cutting machine manufacturer, Popular Glitter Flower Bow Machine Plastic Ribbon Bow Making Machine, 200g High speed filling machine filler weighing and packaging machine with big hopper for power metal tea beans cereal, Best quality automatic glitter powder sachet packing machine made in Foshan, Only $99 CE Tested 2016 Hot Sales glitter heat transfer vinyl printing machine for heat press, Profession sparkling glitter powder making machine | Glitter powder cutting Machine for sale, Hot selling paper cutting machine kraft paper packaging adhesive tape automatic cutting machine glitter paper cutting machine, semi automatic Glitter powder packing machine 100g, 2021New Version China Factory Price 500g Partical Powder Glitter Digital Controal Weigh Filling Machine, Sparkling Glitter Powder Making Machine Glitter Powder Cutting Machine On Sale, Small Semi-automatic Loose Powder Filling Machine, YTK Factory Price Glitter Powder Filling Machine Particle Powder Weighing Filling Machine, Manual screw measuring spices glitter powder filling machine washing powder packing machine, Factory Integrated Metallic PP Ribbon Slitting Machine Glitter Ribbon Splitting Machine, Automatic sachet glitter powder packing machinery DS-200C, acrylic powder filling machine nail glitter powder filling and capping machine, Automatic Bagger Glitter Powder Packing Machine, liquid filling machine glitter glue filling semi manual filling machinery, Champion TCJ-FJ Glitter gift wrap rewinding machine (factory), 10-200g candy powder sugar straw filling machine chilli powder packing machine, High speed automatic multi lane glitter powder packing machine chilli powder and packing machine powder milk packing machine, glitter foil printing machine fabric film vinyl heat press machine, glitter organza ribbon cutting machine BJ-A02, Alibaba.com Site: International - Espaol - Portugus - Deutsch - Franais - Italiano - - P - - - - - Trk - Nederlands - ting Vit - Indonesian - , AliExpress We checked. Lazada, Browse Alphabetically: In New Jersey. But the real mystery moment comes when the company rep wont tell Caity what industry is the biggest customer of Glitterex. It's that building. David: Yeah.
Ben: I don't know.
Ben: Oh my God! Brannon: Glitterex. Amory: This was an Ask Me Anything thread. So that's interesting! Glitter? Ben: Of the handful of companies making glitter, Joe describes his own family's business as the black sheep of the group. And, in fact, he described glitter as an industry that was insular in part because it was in trouble.
You gotta admit. And customers are not buying one kilogram. Ben: Can you tell me why you cant tell me? We're trying to answer this question for thousands and thousands of Redditors.
I just talked to the guy who has the answers about glitter! Ben: By the way, we offered Glitterex the chance to confirm or deny our findings. Thank you and make it a great day. On the other hand, who knows? I've also read that thread on the Glitterex article. Amory: Were hoping to talk to the woman who was interviewed in that New York Times story or the owner of the company, a guy named Babu. Maybe not the best day for catching people after work at the bar? 100 experts had killed theories and given us 100 more. John: Super interesting, super clean. - Ben: So were not playing it super cool, like muckraker reporters who are playing the long game. I'm a technical director, chemist, for a company called HK Research Corporation who makes polyester gel coats for the marine and fiberglass, cast polymer industries. The idea is that you see nothing but glitter. Because glitter doesnt go away. Greg: I don't want to cast aspersions at the glitter industry, but my guess is that it's not a state secret in terms of what they're doing. Represent employers and employees in labour disputes, We accept appointments from employers to preside as chairpersons at misconduct tribunals, incapacity tribunals, grievance tribunals and retrenchment proceedings, To earn the respect of the general public, colleagues and peers in our our profession as Labour Attorneys, The greatest reward is the positive change we have the power to bring to the people we interact with in our profession as Labour Attorneys, Website Terms and Conditions |Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy|Sitemap |SA Covid 19 Website, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Or his son, Jeet. Since then, Joes gone back to working in the entertainment industry. glitter machine operate via Amory: Maybe, its part of a cloaking paint for vehicles used in the US military. David: But you know, if you turn over enough rocks, you will find the slugs, the worms and the glitter. One thing I did learn, though: glitter is not good! John: Hey, Im always willing to flake out. You're just like, yeah. Ben: Closed industry doesnt sound good and it matches what weve learned about glitter so far. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. My first thought was that, yes this was something that if people found out it was glitter there'd be a little mini freak out and the industry would have to do damage control. Amory Sivertson Twitter Senior Producer, PodcastsAmory Sivertson is a senior producer for podcasts and the co-host of Endless Thread. Brannon Pittman: My name is Brannon Pittman. John: And I manage an automotive OEM, which is original equipment manufacturing, color styling lab in Cleveland, Ohio for PPG industries.
I have a few sources in the paint industry who have gotten as excited about answering this mystery as we have been. music, sound effects, tone) are harder to translate to text. Strike one. These glitter particles are so thin and the desired effect is not to have particles spread out where you see just paint and then just glitter. Amory: Im Amory Sivertson. So Amory, what have we learned? If there is space in between then the effect is not as brilliant. But he wouldnt let them get close enough to understand how the machine worked. Tmall Taobao World (laughter). I currently live in Toledo, Ohio. Passports? I feel that they may be the most secretive [glitter company], only because I rarely hear anything about them. Amory: His grandfather and his father were both in the business of manufacturing various reflective materials but not glitter. Amory: Zach had found this article that a lot of people read in The New York Times Magazine that was all about glitter. Amory: So I sent an email but did not hear back. For todays episode, I will only answer to Glitter Boy. And even with all of our prep from David Boeri, Amory and I kind of make a couple of rookie mistakes right off the bat. | Amory: So much mystery you're creating here, Alex! And youre listening to Endless Thread. But his muck rake was recently traded in for tree trimmers. Amory: We asked Alex why he wouldnt tell us what the devil machine cuts. As a cloaking agent or paint for vehicles. Jeet: I can't give you the answer to that. Where are you guys from? But were talking about an industry where the final product isnt obviously made of glitter. Ben: John, I think they should they should start a new Netflix show called The Great American Flaking Show.
Something we had already been talking about. Ben: What does it look like? Josh: But it's not high volume. And the price has gone down with competition. Jeet wouldnt budge. Brannon: So in the liquid form its a viscous paint about the consistency of a ketchup, if you will.
Ben: David, I know that you're a very, very serious investigative journalist. Amory: Foiled again. In many cases, the villages that are nearby, there's more livestock than people. Why am I listening to you? Demetri Martin (from a standup set):The thing about glitter is if you get it on you, be prepared to have it on you forever. Got some on my hands this morning. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Amory: So boat manufacturers are buying this gel coat substance from Brannons company, HK Research, and mixing it with glitter theyve bought directly from glitter companies. Amory: He tries to get out, we pull him back in. Amory: Joes family is rooted in the Northeast with connections to The Garden State or, shall we say, the glitter state. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Inspired by a 2018 New York Times feature about glitter, people obsessed over identifying the mysterious industry buying huge amounts of glitter information which glitter-makers have refused to divulge. We're hoping to talk to one of them. Ben: Okay, I wanna shoutout former Endless Thread Intern Noah Baustin who found this Reddit post and the resulting comment thread. It would attract attention not avoid it. But then there's the more subtle approach of stealing the garbage, of doing dumpster dives and then opening the bag when you get home to find out what you might see in there Ben: Again, all of these ideas are a little dicey. Or a food product. And that's the The Devil. It's one of our oldest machines and it's been repurposed to cut one certain material that I can't say too much about. Ben: The answer to the last question is apparently, everywhere, which we will talk more about. I'll definitely check out the show. Ben: Until, from various industry pressures, it doesnt, which is why Alexs family company is getting into biodegradable glitter to get away from plastics. We make solid colors and we also make clears that they can mix different things into to give different effects, whether it's glitter or an automotive metallic. We want to hear from you!
Ben: Did you catch it? Amory: No, I absolutely know that I cant. Like the muckraking business. Ben: Glitter, glitter, glitter, glitter, glitter. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. Ben: Even worse, Alex told us he was skeptical of the car paint theory. Amory: And then, Ben caught a lucky break. But our buddy David Boeri? Alex: I don't know anyone personally at Glitterex. I mean, boat paint? Josh, well done. But also, thank you, Richard. I mean, you can tap it and it's extremely hard. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. Amory: Are you familiar with the Unresolved Mysteries subreddit? John: No, I don't believe that glitter would be a primary offering from those companies. Amory: I'm sitting across from Josh yesterday. Ben: Hope and friends in low places. Amory: John, I'm wondering though, the pigments and the other types of things that you're talking about, do you source those materials from a glitter company? Amory: Basically, all sorts of car companies, from Audi to Volkswagen, hire paint companies like PPG to make paint for their cars. Were just kind of bumbling in the front door. Ben: Damnit Richard. Do you think youre up for it? Nope. All of which were theories floated in the thread. And the person behind that post? Amory: We go there on a Monday. Ben: Not gonna lie. Lets just leave it at that. For some people, that mysterious "no comment" is whatever. But he knows a lot about the business. Joe: My father compared the margins to cocaine! Boat paint. Our username is. The r/UnresolvedMysteries post about the glitter mystery, "What Is Glitter," by Caity Weaver in The New York Times Magazine (12/21/18), Send us a direct message on Reddit. And when we asked him about the Glitterex mystery, he had an answer. In the industry, these are all effect pigments. Read More. But going to the source of the mystery seemed like the fastest, most direct solution. David: One is you gotta go into the court system and scour the system for cases involving that company or the president of that company Where did he go to graduate school? Are we are we to be rejected? Amory: Boat you're supposed to say paint. Something like that. Amory: Boat paint. Ben: Why does the boat industry care whether or not we know it's the boat industry? I am an independent writer. For the same reason, right? Brannon: I know how much boat manufacturers use, especially the bass boat manufacturers. This article was written by a reporter named Caity Weaver. Getting used to it. Ben: As it turns out, the Coburn family business has a pretty strange and winding story a story thats intertwined with the history of glitter and the history of secrecy surrounding the glitter industry. Ben (in car with Amory): God, this is suburbia. Brannon: Think of it like a paint almost.
So I am on the lookout for unusual mysteries, which I think this glitter one definitely fits in that mold. Amory: We were really screwed. Ben: Greg also made a prediction: that its totally possible the answer to our fundamental question is boring. This is odd. That stuff is called chaff and its reflective. Eeeh. John: Yeah effect pigments, that is definitely what we're talking about here. And he builds a glitter company in Germany with a fleet of new machines.
Wait wait wait this brings up questions. Seems like were headed in the right direction. Ben: Are you gonna tell us that Blue Velvet is gonna be out but Ocean Spray is gonna be in in 2025, or something like that? Amory: Meanwhile,weset out to turn over some rocks. And, in fact, he says this is why some planes have used reflective materials as decoys for evasive maneuvering. Onetouch Joe: Obviously, New Jersey is where the hotbed of glitter is. Voicemail recording: You have reached the voicemail of Nathan Long. A couple of dorks with a lot of hope! Josh: I think the next step is probably just to call up as many boat manufacturers as humanly possible.
It's called "Glitter." Joes dad let perspective buyers view the machines in an old barn, through a window. Ben: And that seems to be as far as anyone has gotten on this story. Theories. Terms of Use Theres just not enough complicated societal sexual feelings in the world to make it rain for glitter! Then theres very very very expensive flakes. Ben: The show featuring stories found in the vast ecosystem of online communities called Reddit. And it was titled, Im a glitter manufacturer. But it's the loudest machine and maybe the most complex machine we have. Alex Coburn: Mohlsdorf-Teichwolframsdorf. Can you offer us any advice on how to solve the mystery without your help? Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Ben: You're a man after my own heart. You know, one of the great answers to one of the questions I once asked was, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I think I know someone who does.". Unless they really hate their jobs? But there they were in this part of Germany, which is, out in the boondocks. They use something called effect pigments..
Joe: My father quickly discovered that when he inquired about how much he could sell these machines for, people were offering large sums of money mainly to break the machine down and clone it. So I used to work for a bass boat manufacturer back in the 90s and we bought it in 30-gallon drums, probably 10 of those drums a week. This is how it plays out in the piece: Ben: Can you tell me which industry serves as Glitterexs biggest market? Amory: Is there a term for a strategy like this? David: I'd start in the basic gumshoe arena. Is that just how business works? Amory: Currency?
An older one. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Please leave your name, your number, and a brief message. Amory: In this front office by the way is a big glass case proudly displaying all of the products that Glitterexs glitter is in. This is how secretive people are about glitter machines. Ben: I will accept this new moniker as a compliment. I dont know of us ever using Glitterex. | Country Search Theres a Star Wars toy, makeup, some other things. The other one is Meadowbrook Inventions. Maybe Gregs coming around to our conspiracy theorist point of view. And that could just be for one boat company. | Showroom Its none of these wacky things. Amory: We really tried. Lets go find some boat, some boat people. Jers suburbs. But back to out mystery: did Alex know anyone at Glitterex? A lot of it ends up in the ocean accidentally. I live in Queens, New York. One is called Glitterex. He says he just wasnt into spending time in the boondocks of Germany. I don't know who it is. Ben: Very shiny. Brannon: There's two main manufacturers of glitter in the United States. Josh Swartz: They had very good news, Ben. Because a lot of times employees go out to drink on their way home. Amory: But this New York Times story? Because its a secretive industry and selling those secrets pisses people off. For glitter paint? But because they are a Glitterex client, this source had a colleague who went to Glitterex for a normal supplier meeting and they poked into it on our behalf. You can imagine that fishing boats, jet skis, all that type of stuff, are very shiny. Amory: Other than the growing competition, we asked Alex about his industrys greatest challenge. Voicemail recording: Your call has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system. It gets more satisfying of an answer the more you say it. And Polycryl gets its product from Gliterex. I'm a senior lecturer at the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. Works in Washington at the Teal Group doing aviation technology analysis. Amory: Even Brannons company buys glitter for some of its gel coat products. We got someone on the inside! They declined to comment. But even chaff is not really glitter. The one thing I know is it's a very closed industry. Ben: The more you say it the weirder it gets! There are a few ways to reach us: This content was originally created for audio. If you didnt know, now you know. Ben: First question: whats up with the secretive nature of the glitter industry? Amory: Were coming to you from WBUR, Bostons NPR station. Because, even though most people might not think a lot about glitter, its a widely used product. I will return your call as soon as possible. Ben: You also noticed that comedian Demetri Martin has something on this same topic. We think its paint but results from our paint experts are fundamentally inconclusive. | Ben: The comments on Zachs Reddit post started rolling in with tons of theories. Amory: This particular factory, Glitterex, is located in Cranford, New Jersey. 