Heard it through the Grapevine

What a Blast! Bottle Collectors Hit a Grand Slam

New Jersey’s Robert Strickhart reports:

Here’s what happened. Marianne and I had often talked about going back to Cleveland as we had such a nice time there back in 2018 for the FOHBC show.

We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when we were there and had a great time. That night back in ’18, we went to an Indians game, where we were treated to fireworks after the game. Most of you know I have a passion for bottles, but baseball and fireworks were always way near the top of the list for me. (It’s been said that if I get cut, I’d probably bleed baseballs.)

Anyway, I’ve seen fireworks displays all over the map that were very, very good, but when we were in Cleveland, the display was outrageous! It left a mark.

Once I saw fireworks choreographed to the 1812 Overture… very cool. But in Cleveland, they hooked up with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had fireworks to Led Zeplin, Hendrix and the Beatles. It was spectacular.

So when the Baltimore show was cancelled for the weekend of Sept. 25, 2021, it was a no-brainer. We checked the Indians schedule, had the dog sitter lined up and we figured everyone else had the weekend pencilled in so, I figured we’d contact Ralph and Janet Finch as well as Adam and Phyllis Koch to see if they wanted to take in a game in Cleveland. Everybody was on board.

Then we said, let’s see if Matt, Liz and Owen Lacy wanted to go. Yup. How about Louis and Lindsay Fifer? Yup. The Lacys’ cousin, Troy, his wife, April, and son Rowen? Yup. All in. How about Rick and Bernie Baldwin (aka Mrs. Tribe fan)? Sure? Ted and Hazel Krist? Sure. Sue O’Keefe? Absolutely! I got in touch with a nice young man in the Cleveland box office named Bobby (if you’re out there, Bobby, thanks again), and he hooked me up with a deal. It included $99 for a ticket in the luxury box, all-you-can-eat buffet (not just hot dogs but a full salad bar, barbecue, mac and cheese, pulled pork, pasta, pizza, beverages, ice cream, you name it!), fireworks and great seats over first base.

The list grew slowly and we just kept adding tickets as people decided to go. It was really no hassle putting this together. I got a total number, had the box office print the tickets and we all met in Cleveland.

Top it off, it was fan appreciation night. Along with the fireworks, everyone got a free towel and a very nice Cleveland ball cap. NICE!

The game was great. A young pitcher named Eli Morgan pitched a one-hit gem into the sixth and the bullpen took care of the rest. Jose Ramirez hit a couple of home runs offensively and the Tribe shut out the White Sox 6-0. Yes, the Sox had already clinched the American league Central division, but it was a really good game. The fireworks were not linked to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this time, but they did a nice job showing seasons’ highlights while the sky lit up. The Tribe will no longer be called the Indians after this season, they’ll be the Guardians, so it was sort of a historical game to boot.

What a group! From many states, collectors of many interests, and all brought together by one thing: A great hobby. Photo courtesy of Janet Finch

It wasn’t a bottle show, but it was the best and most important part of the bottle hobby, the people. Spending time at a ballgame with this group of 19 was well worth the 7-hour drive and Marianne and I had a great time. If I missed anyone, my apologies. I think I’m going to do it again, perhaps in Baltimore next time. Or just randomly or if a show gets cancelled again. So if you want in, I’ll get you a ticket.

Heard it through the Grapevine

Finch Follows the F-word

A not-so-serious collector Finds Fun, Friends and a big pile of Foolishness. And, Finally, this question: Are you interested in pottery? By Ralph Finch

OK, we have serious items on our shelves, great bottles, interesting bottles, and … stuff. Things that we find interesting, things that make us smile.

Right now, we are waiting for the mail to deliver a late-1700s bottle with a painted scene of ships amid battle. But while we wait for the smoke to clear and “our battle” to arrive, we fiddle our fingers (more F words).

First, Janet is the most tolerant wife in the world. For example: I handed her a printout of an item being offered last Aug. 28 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Mass., and asked, “Would you please bid on it?” (She is in charge of details, money, or anything technical.)

Now, some spouses would look at my request and reply: “ARE YOU NUTS?” Janet simply said: “OK.”

The auction house described the item as “Lot 0019, The Puritas Washdown Closet Salesman Sample Toilet, 20th century, marked ‘Darrahs Patent / The Puritas Washdown Closet / 167021, 11 by 8 1/2 by 10 inches,’” closing Aug. 28. It was estimated at $300-$500.

This wouldn’t be our first salesman sample toilet; we have one in the guest bathroom filled with sexy little soaps. This one I plan (hope) to put on my desk, and whenever I have a crappy idea I’d put in on a piece of paper and file it in the “washdown closet.”

But even before the auction began, I wondered: “Just how many Salesman Sample Toilet collectors are out there?” and I started doing my, um, grunt work. Just who (or what) was Puritas or Daarrah?

Found on the internet was an offering for a full-size toilet described as a “very rare opportunity to purchase a high quality blue and white transfer printed high level toilet. Stamped ‘The Puritas Washdown Closet, Rd No. 167021’ dating it to 1891. The “Darrah’s Patent” refers to the seat fixing holes where a wooden seat would have been permanently situated. This isn’t very practical, or hygienic and it would be better suited to a throne type seat with either floor, or wall brackets and rubber bungs placed into the pan holes.”

OK, Aug. 28 is here! And Janet signs on to liveauctioneeer, waits until lot 0019 comes up, taps a few items and the computer warns, “You are outbid.” Another click or two and, “You are outbid.” How many toilet collectors are out there?

Too many, it seems. Janet clicks again and, finally, her computer burst into celebratory balloons and says, “You are the winning bidder.” The next day, the Fontaine’s gallery people sent an invoice for $1,545 (including the buyer’s premium) plus shipping of $174.22, and phew, if you pardon the expression of relief, I now own another neat item (in my judgement, not Janet’s) for my toiletpaper-related collection. And it turns out that liveauctioneers has witnessed the passing of the sale of THREE salesman sample toilets.

Wait, I can hear it now: $1,719 for a sample toilet? ARE YOU NUTS?

And have you ever purchased something crazy? Let me know, and we’ll share it with readers. Write rfinch@twmi.rr.com

FYI1: On YouTube, you can watch a video of a full-size Puritas Washdown Closet being installed. The plumber says: “Wow, yet another Victorian toilet to add to my collection! Just got this today from Gloucester, purchased off eBay. It’s a truly beautiful Puritas washdown closet.”

FYI2: A “washdown” is a type of toilet. There are two types of toilet, siphonic and washdown.

FYI3: I found the internet unrolling with hundreds of toilet paper jokes, but — to your relief — will punish you with only one: What was Cinderella looking for when she went to the women’s room? Her Prince Charmin.

Pull the handle; I’m finished.

Hey, the curious are invited to visit. Cotact us at rfinch@twmi.rr.com

Our new Puritas. I was not relieved to acquire it for a unreasonable(?) price. Another example of this “sample” was found on the internet, but in brighter flower colors.

D