Letters to the Editor

to the Editor

Rochester Show: Down, Not Out!

Hi, John,

Thanks for the opportunity to reach out to the bottle community. We at the Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors Association would like to let everyone know what is happening with the Rochester show.

As many of you know, we were excited to have celebrated our 50th anniversary show in 2019, and we feel we did it in a big way, with incredible vendors, displays and give-aways!

Then came 2020 … ugh! All of our plans to continue the celebration into our 51st show were put on hold, along with the rest of the world. Hopefully, 2021 would be the year.

Unfortunately, the timing of our show this April would not let it be. With the size of our show, 125 dealers, and the location at a college, and our state, New York, there was just too much working against us. So, the board of directors, along with the show committee, considered many options. Ultimately, we decided that we had to pull the plug on 2021.

But, we want to assure everyone that the 50th was far from our last! Our 51st annual(ish) show is still going to happen. As the world opens back up after this scourge has been brought under control, there are certain to be celebrations, and our celebration, which has always been bottle shows, will again be bottle shows. GVBCA will celebrate with a great show, which is being planned for the 24th of April 2022. We look forward to seeing you all in Rochester, where we will raise a bottle in celebration!

Aaron Weber GVBCA show chairman

Thanks for a Great Show

Dear John Pastor,

I attended and set up at the bottle show at Round Rock Texas February 26-27, and was very glad that it was not canceled due to Covid 19 like so many other shows.

We wore our masks and followed the rules. All tables were sold out and it was really nice to see bottles, insulators, Coke bottles, Pepsi, beer advertising items, crocks, and other ‘go-withs.’ After a bad ice and cold storm, the weather was great. We need to thank two fellows, Gary Ingram and John Reed, for hosting a good show under extreme circumstances, plus all other dealers that helped out. It was good to see old bottle friends. As a bottle collector, we are getting back to normal after being locked up and are planning to attend the show next year, the good Lord willing. Chuck Bukin Richardson, Texas

A Call to Action

The National Bottle Museum’s 41st Annual Saratoga Antique Bottle Show will soon be upon us. With this being written in mid-February there are still many uncertainties in front of us, but we look forward to having our show. A few years back, we asked if anyone would donate an outstanding bottle to be raffled by the Museum, and a generous collector responded. For 2021 we are again looking for a bottle to be donated, one that is bottle show quality to be raffled the day of the show. The proceeds will go entirely to the support of the National Bottle Museum. If you would be interested in donating a bottle to be raffled, please contact the National Bottle Museum, 76 Milton Ave Ballston Spa NY, 12020. Ph: 518.885.7589; Email info@nationalbottlemuseum.org Thank you, and we look forward to seeing everyone in June!

Phil Bernhard Adam Stoddard Roy Topka Saratoga Bottle Show Co-Chairmen

Request for Help Answered

Terry Schaub from the St. Louis Antique Bottle Club lends a little help with a reader’s question that was posted on page 2, “Letters to the Editor,” in the March issue of AB&GC. Long-time subscriber Peter McQuade had a question regarding an attractive square green bottle embossed “HAUTHAWAY & SON’S - PEERLESS GLOSS.”

Terry was kind enough to send along the newspaper advertisement (below) from the Wellington Enterprise (Wellington, Ohio), May 5, 1886. The ad states, “The old reliable C.L. Hauthaway & Sons’ Peerless Gloss for Ladies, Misses’ and Children’s fine shoes. ONLY 5 CENTS A BOTTLE. Warranted not to Crack.”

to the Editor

Three Bottle Friends — Write On, Guys!

Dear John,

What a surprise I had when my March 2021 issue of Antique & Bottle Glass Collector arrived. Not only had my latest article been published, but so had articles by two of my dear friends, David Graci and Chuck Bukin.

Through the years, the three of us have done a lot of research pertaining to the pre-Prohibition spirits industry and have assembled impressive collections of these bottles, especially labeled ones. We also have fine collections of other antique bottles. We never thought that our articles would appear in the same issue of AB&GC.

As a “thank you,” here is a group photo of us at a fairly recent New Hampshire antique bottle show. From left to right (above) are: David Graci, Peter B. Samuelson, and Chuck Bukin.

Peter Samuelson Intervale, New Hampshire

David Graci, Peter Samuelson, and Chuck Bukin

The South Carolina Show

Last October the South Carolina bottle club lost the show building they have had for the last twenty years. Show chairmen Marty Vollmer and Eric Warren scrambled about town and lucked up on the Jamil Temple at 206 Jamil Rd., Columbia, S.C.

Our usual February date was put off until April 17, 2021. We are considering the delay a “pandemic positive.” The 240,000 sq. ft. building is three times the size of our old location. This spacious floor plan allows comfortable social distancing as well as for future growth of the show.

The Jamil Temple has plenty of parking and is visible from Interstate 26. Food will be available from the Shriner’s kitchen inside the building. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the Harbison area just two miles away.

We will be welcoming all of our old friends and encouraging some new dealers and shoppers to give the best show in the Southeast a shot.

Marty Vollmer Lexington, South Carolina

Late Delivery of Magazines

Unfortunately, many readers are experiencing late delivery of their magazines. The December and January issues were significantly impacted. Timely delivery of the February issue continues to be problematic, as some areas of the country are experiencing greater delays than others.

We apologize for these delays that many of our readers have experienced.

We pride ourselves on meeting production deadlines and in delivering each month’s issue to the post office in a timely manner. December, January, February, as well as this current March issue, have been printed and delivered to the post office on schedule. Unfortunately, we have no control once they are in the postal system. We encourage you to contact your local postal representative to voice your concerns.

The U.S. Postal Service has the following banner message on their website:

ALERT: USPS IS EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED VOLUME INCREASES AND LIMITED EMPLOYEE AVAILABILITY DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19. WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.

Timely magazine delivery is suffering greatly due to the postal delays. We have been in communication with the post office and are working with them to try and mitigate the delivery issues. In the meantime, we appreciate your patience.

— John Pastor