CLEVELAND
2018 August 2 - 5
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
National Antique Bottle
Convention & Expo
SOUVENIR PROGRAM
You wouldn’t want to hear John and the AGG group sing or play the drums, but man o’ man can they talk early bottles and glass!
Currently accepting quality consignments for our 2018-19 auction schedule. American Glass Gallery • P.O. Box 227, New Hudson, MI 48165 • 248.486.0530 • jpastor@americanglassgallery.com
Are you receiving America’s premier bottle and glass collecting magazine? Get 12 colorful and informative monthly issues of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
FOR ONLY $35.00 postpaid!! For a sample issue or more information, visit antiquebottlemagazine.com or call 248.486.0530 2
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
National Antique Bottle
Convention & Expo
WELCOME to Cleveland OHIO! and the biggest antique bottle and glass event of 2018! Brought to you by the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors and the Ohio Bottle Club
August 2-5 2018 1
F OHB C
Thursday, 02 August 2018 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Reception Please join the FOHBC Board of Directors and Convention Chairs at the official kick-off reception event for the FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo.
IMPORTANT: The event is for registered dealers, assistants, displayer's, early admission, seminar givers and approved volunteers. Badges required. Visit FOHBC.org for more information.
The VIP Reception will be held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday afternoon, 02 August 2018 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Join us and your antique bottle friends for light appetizers and a cash bar in the reception hall and patio overlooking Lake Erie; and then enjoy a complimentary self-guided tour of the museum to see infamous pieces of music history from Elvis to Michael Jackson to Taylor Swift to Bruno Mars. And for those thrill seekers, the new 4D concert experience theater promises to be an electrifying encounter!
Trolley available from 12:45 - 5:30 pm to and from the Rock & Roll Museum Reception from Marriott FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo 2
TABLE O F C O N TENT S Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Look into Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
National Antique Bottle
Convention & Expo
Cleveland Top 15 Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOHBC President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Show Chair Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battle of the Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Electric Auction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Room Hopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Membership Meeting Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Federation Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raffles & Prize Drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ribbon Cutting Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seminar Schedule, Topics & Presenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seminar Topics & Presenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hon. Stephen Buhrer - Self Made in Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOHBC Merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2018 Hall of Fame Honorees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOHBC Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOHBC National Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Souvenir Program Design & Layout: Ferdinand Meyer V
FOHBC Honor Roll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Downtown Cleveland Walking Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exhibit Hall Floor Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Event Location Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dealers & Assistants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dealer Service Dock Access Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Brief History of Marbles in Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Kovel to speak at FOHBC Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prized Midwestern Flasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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A Look into Cleveland By Elizabeth Lacy
CLEVELAND, OHIO -- For many, the location of Cleveland, Ohio, has no lasting emotion. Sure, all have heard of Cleveland; most can find it on the map; and many have seen it with their own eyes. But, how many people can say that they know Cleveland? Have you experienced the diverse history, the strength that comes from overcoming hardships, or the youth and culture filling Cleveland’s streets today? These points, plus many more, are the reason to experience all Cleveland has to offer at this year’s FOHBC National Antique Bottle Convention and Expo. The city of Cleveland began as a land survey of the Connecticut Western Reserve in 1796. It was led by General Moses Cleaveland (left), who settled the 220-plot city on the shores of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. The city grew at a snail’s pace, as the threat of wilderness, American Indian retaliation and bitter winters were less than appealing hardships for settlers. It wasn’t until after the War of 1812 and the completion of the Erie Canal in the 1820s that the metropolitan area of Cleveland began to grow. Slowly, commerce from the Ohio River Valley, including farmer’s agricultural crops, iron ore from mines and merchandise such as glass from Ravenna, Mantua and Kent made its way into the port. This led to more trade and more settlers into the city, causing a growth of 4 times its population within a few decades. After the American Civil War, Cleveland became a city of production and industry. John D Rockefeller made Cleveland his home and established the Standard Oil Company in 1870. Steel production by Samuel Mather led to a boom of factories along the river. Water and railroad transportation made the trade of goods easy among the Great Lakes out to the East Coast via the Erie Canal and out West via the Railroad. Companies such as the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Company and U.S. Steel Corp. were formed out of the need to make iron, tools and machines from the natural and imported resources in the city. In addition to the utilization of natural resources, chemical, electrical and automotive companies also rose up during this Industrial Age; thus, leading to the formation of com4
panies such as Sherwin Williams, Lincoln Electric and the White Company. Cleveland prospered during the Industrial Revolution based on its natural resources, vast agricultural and mercantile goods, and accessible transportation to other established cities within the United States. Population and society also blossomed after the turn of the 20th century, with the installation of many entertainments and associations. The Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square and the Cleveland Museum of Art established themselves before 1920 with growing popularity. The pride of Cleveland athletics started in 1901 with the formation of a baseball team named the Cleveland Blues, who would later join the National Baseball League as the Cleveland Indians. In Cleveland’s surrounding areas, Euclid Beach Park (Euclid, Ohio) and Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio), gave urban retreat with amusement fun starting in the 1890s. Entertainment was not the only form of societal growth, as Cleveland hosted two Republican National Conventions during the early 20th century, and was a campaign stop for many Presidential hopefuls during those years. In the decades leading to World War II, Cleveland established itself amongst the top cities of the United States with industry and culture. Throughout the years, Cleveland as a city has undoubtedly had its share of hardships. The Great Depression saw a recession as a third of the city’s established workforce was unemployed with the great steel and oil companies suffering. Following World War II, a steady decline in population is noted from peak censuses. Financial and cultural disasters lead to unpleasant perceptions of the city nationwide. But, in true Midwest form, the metropolitan area of Cleveland has pulled itself up by her bootstraps by rejuvenating and re-establishing in recent years with the promise of pleasantly offering residents and visitors more than what they expected. Today, when visiting the city of Cleveland, past and present collide. Restaurants are hosted in age-old warehouses; boutique shops are found selling households make out of vintage industrial tools in 20th century arcades; an 1880s FirstEnergy powerhouse homes the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. At every turn, Cleveland’s rise as a port town to an industrial trading city to an up-and-coming destination is married in attractive Midwest hospitality.
Since the 1990s, officials and associations have cultivated the city into a prosperous port town once again. Highlights include: shopping at Tower City (a former railroad terminal), 5th Street Arcade and The Arcade Cleveland; catching a game at Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians), First Energy Stadium (Cleveland Browns), and the Quicken Loans 5
Arena (Cleveland Cavaliers); or visiting historic landmarks like Playhouse Square (1922), the Public Library (1869), and the Westside Market (1912). All the above highlights are located downtown and within walking distance of the Key Marriott hotel! Many parks and museums with world-class exhibits are a short drive from the Huntington Convention Center. Highly recommended by the National Show Chairs are the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Western Reserve Historical Society. And don’t forget the infamous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including these 2018 inductees: Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Cleveland is bound to offer something for everyone’s enjoyment, in a local and affordable range. What better location than Cleveland, Ohio, to host this year’s National Antique Bottle Convention and Expo? From history within the city and surrounding areas of industry, trade and glass to the present-day comforts of dining and entertainment, collectors can settle in and catch up with friends, surrounded by the beauty of Lake Erie and Cleveland’s commemorated past.
Neighborhoods of interest: East 4th Street: Experience the Beale Street of Cleveland. A Pedestrian-only street full of restaurants, lounges and bars with outdoor seating and charming character. Westside Market: Encounter freshness at the indoor/outdoor market featuring specialty and exotic food goods from over 100 vendors. The Flats: Explore the redeveloped historic industrial area of Cleveland on the banks of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. Home of popular local restaurants, music venues and entertainment. Wade Circle: Enlighten yourself at one of the museums located around Wade Circle, catch a festival, or simply play in the park. The Cleveland Art Museum, Natural History Museum, Western Reserve Historical Society and Botanical Gardens are all found here. Public Square: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city without leaving downtown at the newly renovated Public Square. Nearby sights include: JACK casino, Tower City, and the Arcade Cleveland. 6
Little Italy: Food, faith, and the famous Feast of the Assumption Festival go hand-inhand to define this beloved Cleveland neighborhood. First settled in the 19th century by Italian stonemasons and artisans, Little Italy today feels like a quaint European village, with its narrow streets, majestic churches, cozy Italian eateries and bakeries full of heavenly smells.
Cleveland Top 15 Attractions Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 50 exhibits tracking Rock and Roll history; concert hall (1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard; 216.781.7625; .5mi from Huntington Convention Center) Sun thru Tues 10a-5:30p; Wed thru Sat 10a-9p, Admission $26 Great Lakes Science Center - Hands-on science exhibits and 6-story Omnimax theater (601 Erieside Ave; 216-694-2000; .8mi from Huntington Convention Center) Mon thru Sat 10a-5p; Sun 12p-5pAdmission starting at $16.95 JACK Casino - 1700 slot machines and 125 table games spread over 3 floors (100 Public Square; 216-297-4777; .5mi from Huntington Convention Center), Open 24 hours Greater Cleveland Aquarium - 5,000 creatures housed in 19th century Powerhouse, (2000 Sycamore St; 216-862-8803; 1.7mi from Huntington Convention Center), Mon thru Sun 10a-5p, Admission starting at $19.95 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - Over 3,000 animals over 183 picturesque acres (3900 Wildlife Way; 216-661-6500; 8.2mi from Huntington Convention Center) Mon thru Sun 10a-5p, Admission starting at 14.95 Cleveland Museum of Art - recently renovated containing 45,000 artifacts and art pieces (11150 East Boulevard; 216-421-7350; 7.5mi from Huntington Convention Center) Tues thru Sun 10a-5p (open until 9p Wed, Fri), Free Museum of Natural History - Outdoor animal sanctuary, dinosaurs, gems and Balto (1 Wade Oval Drive; 800-317-9155; 7.2mi from Huntington Convention Center) Thurs thru Tues 10a-5p, Wed 10a-10p, Admission $15 Western Reserve History Society - extensive collections tracking Cleveland’s history (10825 East Boulevard; 216-721-5722; 7.2mi from Huntington Convention Center) Tues thru Sat 10a-5p, Sun 12p-5p, Admission $10 Cleveland Botanical Gardens - 10 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens (11030 East Boulevard; 216-721-1600; 7.3mi from Huntington Convention Center) Tues thru Sat 10a-5p (open until 9p on Wed); Sun 12p-5p, Admission $12 Christmas Story House - film set turned museum of classic Holiday movie (3159 W 11th St; 216-298-4919; 6mi from Huntington Convention Center) Sun thru Sat 10a-5p, Admission $11 Edgewater Park - 147-acre park with Lake Erie shore access (6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway; 3mi from Huntington Convention Center) Open Dawn to Dusk, Free USS Cod Submarine Memorial - Tour decommissioned WWII submarine (1089 E 9th St; 216-566-8770; .6mi from Huntington Convention Center) Sun thru Sat 10a-4:30p, Admission $12 Steamship William G. Mather - Retired Great Lakes Bulk freighter turned museum (601 Erieside Ave; 216-694-2000; .6mi from Huntington Convention Center) Tues thru Sat 11a-5p, Sun 12p-5p, Admission $8.95 Westside Market - 100 yr old market with 100 vendors selling cheese, meat and veggies (1979 West 25th St; 216-664-3387; 1.9mi from Huntington Convention Center) Mon, Wed 7a-4p; Fri, Sat 7a-6p; Sun 10a-4p, Free Tower City Center - Downtown shopping and dining center in historical Union Terminal (230 W Huron Rd; 216-623-4750; .7mi from Huntington Convention Center), Mon thru Sat 10a-7p, Sun 12p-5p
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Ferdinand Meyer V FOHBC President
101 Crawford Street Studio 1A Houston, Texas 77002 fmeyer@fohbc.org
It gives me great pleasure to welcome our Federation members and guests to the FOHBC Midwest Regions 2018 National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo in the great city of Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum which is our theme this year. I would like to thank the band members from Team Cleveland and the Ohio Bottle Club who have worked so hard to make this concert happen and wanted to start off with show co-chairs Louis Fifer and Matt Lacy. These guys have really taken the fiddle by the strings. Louis Fifer is also our Conventions Director, so he is playing two gigs. Right with them is Lindsey Fifer and Elizabeth Lacy. These dynamic ladies have really done a super job taking on a myriad of tasks. I am super impressed with this group! L-R: Alan DeMaison, Ferdinand Meyer V, John Fifer, Lindsey Fifer, Louis Fifer, Matt Lacy, Elizabeth Lacy, Phyllis Koch, Adam Koch
I also wanted to thank Alan DeMaison for being the band manager and heading up the finances and displays. You can always count on Alan when he takes on an assignment. John Fifer has also been with us since day one of this endeavor and plays solid backup. We also thank our advertisers and sponsors as we sold a record number of advertisements in our souvenir program thanks to our team led by Phyllis and Adam Koch. The program has grown into an important piece for information, news and should be treated as a golden record in its own right. For the fourth time, we will be having our FOHBC General Membership Meeting Breakfast. We encourage all members to attend. This year’s banquet is also very much anticipated as Terry Kovel will speak and we will have the induction of Richard Allen “Dick” Roller and Richard T. Siri into the Hall of Fame. We will also be unveiling the long awaited Virtual Museum at the banquet. Thank you to our FOHBC Board Members for your support and decision making and the great group of volunteers that staff the registration, membership, merchandise and other FOHBC tables. Have fun at the FOHBC National. Buy some bottles and spend some quality time with your bottle friends. Let’s all rock together and roll next year to Augusta! 10
CONVENTION SCHEDULE TIM E
E VENT
LO C ATIO N
Thur s da y - 02 Aug us t 2 018 8:00 am - Noon 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm* 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm**
FOHBC Board Meeting Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Reception Dealer Registration Battle of the Bottles Check-In Battle of the Bottles Competition
Ontario Board Rm, 2nd Flr Marriott Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum Global Center Jr Ballroom A Global Center Jr Ballroom A
Fr ida y - 03 Au g us t 2 018 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 7:00 am - 8:30 am 7:00 am - Noon 9:00 am - Noon Noon - 1:00 pm 12:50 pm 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm 5:00 pm 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm**
Dealer Registration & Ticket Sales General Membership Meeting Breakfast Dealer Unloading & Display Setup Seminars Showroom Closed Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Dealer and Early Admission Showroom Closed for the Day Cocktail Reception The FOHBC Banquet
Huntington Convention Center Marriott 2nd Floor Saloons F-H Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Rms 3 - 6 Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Marriott 2nd Floor East Foyer Marriott 2nd Floor Saloons E-H
Sat ur da y - 04 Augus t 2018 7:00 am - 5:00 pm 7:00 am - 9:00 am 9:00 am - 11:00 am 11:00 am - Noon Noon - 1:00 pm 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm**
Ticket Sales & Packet Pick-Up Electric Auction Preview Electric Live Auction Auction Check-out Dealer and Early Buyer Admittance Show General Admission Hotel Room Hopping
Huntington Convention Center Global Center Jr Ballroom A Global Center Jr Ballroom A Global Center Jr Ballroom A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Marriott Key Center Downtown
Su nd a y - 05 Au gus t 2 018 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Noon 1:00 pm
Dealers Show General Admission Display Awards Announced Convention End
Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A Huntington Conv Ctr Exhibit Hall A
*Shuttle available from 12:45 - 5:30 pm to and from the Rock & Roll Museum Reception from Marriott **Estimated completion time. 11
Cleveland National Co-Chairs Welcome Welcome to Cleveland! Thank you to all dealers, displayers, volunteers and attendees for making this event possible. We have worked diligently to provide an amazing venue full of action-packed activities to make your experience memorable. It is the FOHBC community and bottle connoisseurs from far and wide that make a show successful. We have a great weekend planned for you and our only hope is that everyone has FUN! Team Cleveland has gone above and beyond this year by offering a world-class reception for our participants at the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We have also procured the Huntington Convention Center and Key Marriott hotel in the heart of Cleveland to allow easy access to the many attractions Cleveland has to offer. Please take advantage of your time here, and experience the wonderful culture of Cleveland. Please take a moment to reflect on the great shows that the FOHBC has had over the years. If you are new to this great hobby, we welcome you to join in many years of amazing memories starting this weekend. The mission of the FOHBC is as follows: “The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) is a non-profit organization supporting collectors of historical bottles, flasks, jars, and related items. The goal of the FOHBC is to promote the collection, study, preservation and display of historical bottles and related artifacts and to share this information with other collectors and individuals.� In other words, we want to see the hobby continue to grow and prosper. This can only be done through our membership and individuals that are motivated and passionate about collecting glass! We are all the future of the hobby. In closing, ENJOY your time here! Success to us is measured only by the memories and friendships that this great hobby allows us. See you next year in Augusta! Matt Lacy & Louis Fifer 12
Thursday, o2 August 2018 7:00 - 10:00 pm Registration 6:00 pm Huntington Convention Center, Global Center Jr Ballroom A
BATTLE OF THE BOTTLES Open Competition - Public Welcome
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
National Antique Bottle
Convention & Expo
Leading the competition that night will be Ohio’s own John Fifer and Rick Ciralli in from New England who will emcee. The three categories are Ohio Sodas, Midwestern Flasks, and Free Blown/Pattern Molded Midwest Tableware. As with all FOHBC National events, security will be provided.
Visit FOHBC.org for more information.
FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo 13
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
NATIONAL ANTIQUE BOTTLE CONVENTION & EXPO
ELECTRIC AUCTION BOTTLE
Saturday Morning, August 4th 2018 Huntington Convention Center - Global Center Ballroom A - 9:00 am
Live & Internet Bidding Contact Matt Lacy info@antiquebottlesales.com or Jesse Sailer, jsailer73@gmail.com for more information or go to FOHBC.org
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This unforgettable event will electrify you for the upcoming bottle show weekend. Starting the Auction preview at 7:00 am, with a full window wall of natural daylight flooding the preview tables for optimal viewing, this spacious and elegant ballroom has the capacity to make this an auction for the record books. Opening gavel is at 9:00 am.
Cleveland National 7:30 to 9:30* pm *or later
Room Hopping Saturday, August 4th 2018 For those who would like an old fashioned treat, this year at the Cleveland National, we are bringing back a rendition of an old favorite. We’re going to have some old fashioned “Room Hopping” at the Marriott Key Center Hotel just like we did before cell phones and late night auctions. Make your plans now to have a rabbit den of bottles to show off or hop from room to room in the hotel.
For more information see Convention Info Packet or visit FOHBC.org
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND 15
CLEVELAND
FOHBC General Membership Meeting Breakfast FOHBC Officers [2016 - 2018] President: Ferdinand Meyer V Houston, Texas
First Vice President: Sheldon Baugh Russellville, Kentucky
Second Vice President: Position Vacant Secretary: James Berry St. Johnsville, New York
Treasurer: Gary Beatty North Port, Florida Historian: Jim Bender Sprakers, New York
Editor: Martin Van Zant Danville, Indiana
Merchandising Director: Val Berry St. Johnsville, New York Membership Director: Linda Sheppard Sprakers, New York
Friday, August 3, 2018 Marriott 2nd Flr Salons F-H 7:30 am to 8:30 am Early Birds can arrive at 7:00 am for Buffet Conventions Director: Louis Fifer Brunswick, Ohio
Business Manager: Elizabeth Meyer Houston, Texas Director-at-Large: Ron Hands Wilson, North Carolina
Director-at-Large: Steve Ketcham Edina, Minnesota Director-at-Large: John Pastor New Hudson, Michigan Midwest Director: Matt Lacy Austinburg, Ohio
Northeast Director: Bob Strickhart Pennington, New Jersey Southern Director: Brad Seigler Justin, Texas
Western Director: Eric McGuire Petaluma, California
Public Relations Director: Alicia Booth Houston, Texas
Note: The 2018 - 2020 slate of FOHBC officers will take effect after the completion of the 2018 Cleveland National 16
Youth CORNER Childrens Bottle Grab Bags Saturday & Sunday, Aug 4th & 5th The FOHBC will provide fifty (50) bottle grab bags for children ten and under during the General Admission hours of the show on Saturday and Sunday. Each bag will have an antique bottle that was hand blown, in good condition and embossed. There will also be a ‘special’ grab bag with a better bottle each of the two days so bring your child to the front FOHBC registration desk area of the Huntington Convention Center and ask for a bottle grab bag. Limit one bottle bag grab per child. The FOHBC photographer, in some cases, if available, will take a photograph of the child opening the bag with permission from the parent or guardian. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Let’s support the next generation of bottle collectors!
Junior Scavenger Hunt Saturday & Sunday, Aug 4th & 5th The FOHBC will encourage children from ages 8 on up to participate in an organized scavenger hunt at the Huntington Convention Cente antique bottle showroom floor. The FOHBC scavenger hunt organizers will prepare a list defining specific questions, which the participants will seek to gather or complete all items on the list, typically without purchasing them. Participants may work in small teams, although the rules will encourage individuals to participate. The goal is to complete all or most of the items on the list. Awards will be presented on Saturday between 4:30 and 5:00 pm for the Saturday Hunt and Sunday, August 5th between 12:30 and 1:00 pm for the Sunday hunt. Please register at the front FOHBC front table area. 17
2019 FOHBC 50th
Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention Marriott Augusta at the Convention Center
Augusta Georgia Greetings from... Info: FOHBC.org 18
1-4August 2019
Raffles: The FOHBC will be raffling off a 2018 Cleveland National commemorative stoneware jug [see page 131]. Tickets will be $2 each or three for $5. Raffle tickets will be numbered and show the jug image on the tickets. Play to win! Drawings: A $1,000 donation has been given to the FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Convention by the FOHBC to support a series of drawings during the public portion of the show on Saturday and Sunday. Vouchers will be given to the lucky winners to be spent at the show. Drawing Times: Saturday & Sunday: Every hour during show hours. The prize will be a coupon to give a dealer towards the purchase of a bottle. The dealer will then turn the coupon in to the front FOHBC desks for redemption for cash. There will also be a $100 prize (show gift certificate) announced at the banquet. FOHBC officers, show chairpersons, and their spouses/partners or children are not eligible for the drawings. Any consultants to the FOHBC are also not eligible. Only one win per person.
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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | Huntington Convention Center, Friday, August 3rd, 12:50 pm Watch the ribbon cutting for the FOHBC 2018 Cleveland National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo with Louis Fifer and Matt Lacy (Co-Chairs) and other Team Cleveland members marking the official start of bottle show. The event will start promptly 10 minutes before the doors open for dealers and early admission attendees.
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2018 CLEVELAND NATIONAL D IS P LA Y S Duane Rader, “Milk Bottles” Roger Hardesty, “Cleveland Advertising Stoneware” Alan DeMaison, “War Slogan Milk Bottles” Phyllis Pahlmann, “Jelly Glasses” Berny Baldwin, “Glasshouse Whimsey Turtles” Jim Berry, “Inks” Jim Hall, “Ohio Sodas from 1840 to 1860” Dennis and Nathan Huey, “Cleveland Ohio Sodas and Ales”
Please VOTE for your favorite display! Best in Show and Most Educational ribbons and plaques will be given. Announcement of the winners will occur on Sunday, August 5th between noon and 1:00 pm.
Tom Sproat, “Glass Jars Made or Patented in Ohio before 1880” Jim Bender, “FOHBC History” Alan DeMaison, “FOHBC Virtual Museum” Brian Gray, “Barber Bottles and their Molds” James Hagenbuch, “A Selection of Midwest Pattern Molded Glass” Ted Krist, “Bitters” Tim Kearns, “Knowles, Taylor, KnowlesChina Whiskey Jugs”
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SANDOR P. FUSS
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COLLECTOR OF FINE AMERICAN HISTORICAL GLASS
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SpecializingIn
BUYING, SELLING AND APPRAISING
Bottles * Tokens * Saloon Collectibles Western Americana * Native Americana Numismatica (Coins, Ingots, Currency, Scrip) Western Art and Antiquities * Firearms * Railroadiana Historical Documents * Mining Goods * and More!
PREMIER AUCTIONS
Strong Prices
ALWAYS SEEKING QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS
FHWAC.com
775-851-1859 or 844-492-2766 24
3555 Airway Dr #308, Reno NV 89511
Cleaveland 2018 National Bottle Expo AD.indd 1
*
info@fhwac.com 4/20/2018 11:19:19 AM
WANTED: PIKE’S PEAK FLASKS Buying molds and colors. A number of aqua molds I still need. Interested in all Pike’s Peaks available!
Louis Fifer 330-635-1964 fiferlouis@yahoo.com
Immediate Cash Payment
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VIRTUAL MUSEUM of
HISTORICAL BOTTLES AND GLASS Please visit the FOHBC Virtual Museum table for the latest news, observe photography sessions or watch the marketing video that has been developed. We need your help! Please stop by the Virtual Museum table and get a Virtual Museum button for supporting the cause!
Phase 1 Goal: $30,000
30k
25k
20k
15k
10k
5k
Please help us fill the bottle! Development Gifts as of July 2018: $25,859 Goal: $30,000 For more info please visit FOHBC.org Send gift to Alan DeMaison (Director), FOHBC Virtual Museum, 1605 Clipper Cove Painesville, OH 44077 26
Please join the FOHBC and keep your membership up to date! FOHBC.org Contact: Linda Sheppard FOHBC Membership Director 518.673.8833 jim1@frontiernet.net Renew or join online.
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Seminar Schedule, Topics & Presenters
We are truly fortunate to be able to present a variety of fascinating educational seminars at the 2018 Cleveland National Bottle Convention and Expo. We have a distinguished group of seminar presenters organized by seminar coordinator Louis Fifer. The seminars will take place on Friday, August 3rd, 2018 from 9:00 am to Noon at the Huntington Convention Center, Meeting Rooms 3 thru 6. Listed below are the seminar topics, the presenters and the location where these educational seminars will take place. Any questions concerning the FOHBC Educational Seminars can be directed to Cleveland Co-Chairs Louis Fifer or Matt Lacy. Seminar Title | Topic
Presenter
Time
Room
Zanesville Glass
William Barrett
9:00 am
Meeting Rm 3
The Evolution of Hemingray Jars
Tom Sproat
9:00 am
Meeting Rm 4
Privy Digging in Ohio
Dennis & Nathan Huey
10:00 am Meeting Rm 5
Reproduction Bottles in the Bottle Hobby
Jim Bender
10:00 am Meeting Rm 6
Erie Canal
Bob Koren
11:00 am Meeting Rm 3
A ‘Bitters’ Journey
Ted Krist
11:00 am Meeting Rm 4
Huntington Conv Center
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Privy Digging in Ohio - Dennis and Nathan Huey Dennis Huey, an Ohio native, lives with his wife Sharon in the little town of Kingsville, Ohio. He has been a real estate appraisal professional since 1976 and served as a Township Trustee for 16 years. His interest in bottles and early glass began in 1968 at the age of 12. His interest spans all early American glass, but because of his roots he has a special passion for midwestern glass. He has 50 years of experience in excavating early dumps and privies. At age 62, he still throws dirt with his son Nathan Huey and friends Chad Hurst and Alan Bartko. He is a member of the Ohio Bottle Club. This seminar will offer a brief history of the outhouse and why it became important to the bottle collecting hobby. We will discuss tools and equipment options for digging privies, how to locate and safely excavate them. In addition, we will cover other topics including how to get permission to dig, how to estimate the age of a privy, and how to leave a property in good shape. Lastly, we will cover other sources of bottles on home sites including wells, cisterns, and trash pits.
Reproduction Bottles in the Bottle Hobby - Jim Bender Jim will talk about the history of reproduction bottles. Jim first started collecting bottles around the age of 13 and was taught many things by his science teacher in school, Ed Bartos. As a kid being raised by a single mom, money was tight so he started collecting reproduction bottles which were very cheap. Many could be had for a dollar or less. As time passed, Jim of course moved on to old glass. Jim has had collections of bitters, inks, mineral waters and Union Clasping Hands flasks. Today Jim is a general collector who has groupings of flasks, bitters, common pickle bottles, inks, war slogan milks and Binninger bottles, which he wrote a book about. Jim never lost interest in reproduction glass. He has many color runs in Clevenger glass as well as many other made bottles from ever category. His reproduction collection is a 30
few hundred bottles. Jim believes the best way to collect is to share what you know with fellow collectors. He himself continues to learn at every bottle event he attends. He loves the bottle hobby and has served as the president of the Mohawk Valley Bottle Collecting Club, Membership Director of the FOHBC, Historian of the FOHBC, Northeast Region Director of the FOHBC, Show Co-Chairman of the 2017 FOHBC Springfield National and Vice President of the Saratoga Bottle Collector Society. Jim has written many articles for the FOHBC as well as local events in his area. Over the years, he has met and has made friends with hundreds of fellow collectors and looks forward to seeing everyone in Cleveland.
Zanesville Glass - Bill Barrett A History of the Companies Which Have Manufactured And the People Who Have Contributed to Its Artistry, Elegance and Endurance For Nearly Two Hundred Years. J. William (Bill) Barrett II was born and raised in his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio. He was employed by the local glass manufacturing factory in 1969, working in the forming department responsible for the upkeep of the bottle forming machines. Bill spent the final few years as the trainer for forming department employees, retiring in 2007 after 38 years. He has always had a keen interest in local history, the glass industry being of special interest after his employment. He began collecting glass actively about 1980. Of course, Zanesville-produced glass became his specialty. He has written extensively on a number of topics for the local historical society and newspaper. He has authored several books with Zanesville connections, of importance here is: Zanesville, Ohio and the Glass Industry - An Enduring Romance, privately published, 1997, a work he called a “rush to judgment” that appeared during Zanesville’s bicentennial celebration. After much more extensive research, in 2011 he published: Zanesville Glass - A History of the Companies Which Have Manufactured And the People Who Have Contributed to Its Artistry, Elegance and Endurance For Nearly Two Hundred Years. Happy to be here to talk about Zanesville Glass
The Evolution of Hemingray Fruit Jars - Tom Sproat Hemingray Glass Company was one of the earliest glass companies in Ohio. Beginning in Cincinnati in 1848, they manufactured products ranging from bottles and jars to insulators and table wares. When the company moved to Muncie, Indiana, most of their earliest production notes were lost or destroyed. So, collectors and historians have to use the glass items themselves to try to understand the process that led to new products being developed. This talk will present an overview of the glass jars attributed to Hemingray and attempt to lay out the process which influenced the company to abandon certain jar 31
designs in favor of other styles. We will explore the changes in technology and patent competitions that led to new fruit jar designs. This presentation will include information from collectors, archaeologists, reports and artifacts from the 1986 dig at the Hemingray factory in Covington, Kentucky, and (of course) the jars themselves. Piecing this information together presents a possible timeline of events that influenced Hemingray to change as society and the glass industry changed. This talk is not considered a comprehensive or final report on Hemingray jar production, but rather an introduction to some new ideas on the topic. There is no telling what new glass items or information other collectors have that may shed more light on the history of Hemingray Glass in Ohio.
Erie Canal – Bob Koren
and silver coins were still plentiful.
Bob Koren is a 60-year resident of Macedonia, Ohio, a small community between Cleveland and Akron. According to Bob, the collecting bug struck at an early age. Growing up during the 1960s, everybody collected coins, stamps, and baseball cards. My father was a tool and die maker at Fisher Body in Euclid, Ohio, his hometown. I would get to look through his pocket change and if he had a date I didn’t have it was mine to put in my coin book. It was the 1960s
Baseball card collecting and playing baseball were early hobbies. I still have my complete set of Topps 1965. Unfortunately, I tossed all my other cards because I didn’t have the complete sets. Playing baseball is also a lifelong passion from Little League, high school, and college. I started playing again at age 52 after a 30-year layoff. From 20122017, a diagnosis of severe osteoarthritis required both knees and hips be replaced but I’m currently playing fast pitch hardball again in the 45 year old division of the Akron Roy Hobbs National Baseball League and it’s a blast to be playing at 62. In 1970, I got a White metal detector for Christmas. Metal detecting on old farms and exploring the old sandstone foundations where a house once stood started turning up coins, 32
cans, bicycle/carriage lamps, silverware and then one day bottles. When I found out people collected old bottles and they were worth money, that was it, I was hooked. Friends started telling me about old farm dumps in the area. My mom, a school teacher, would drop me and my dog Blue off at a favorite farm dump and come back and pick me up after four hours of digging bottles. My treasured bottles would end up soaking in the family bath tub. Mom put an end to the use of the bath tub after pollywogs started hatching. When I turned 16 in 1972, I got my drivers license, and expanded my search area. It led me to the Cuyahoga Valley and the site of the old Ohio & Erie Canal. The Ohio & Erie Canal ran from Cleveland to Akron and the down south to Marietta on the Ohio River. Back in the day, we would take the family car and drive on the old towpath. Today it’s all National Park and the towpath is for joggers and bikers. Fast forward 40 years and the bottle collecting has evolved with an emphasis on mid-western glass from Kent, Mantua, New Geneva, Pittsburgh, and Zanesville. The fascination of the Ohio Canal drew me to New York’s Erie Canal because it was the first and there was much more pomp and circumstance involved with its opening. Because of this, I discovered that there was a treasure trove of artifacts that could be acquired. Thus a new collection evolved on The Erie Canal.
A ‘Bitters’ Journey – Ted Krist Ted Krist was born and raised in Rochester, New York, and currently resides in northeast Ohio with his wife Hazel. Ted developed a love of old bottles, with an affinity toward bitters, during his formative years in the mid 1960s after finding a warranted flask in Lake Otsego, in central New York. After being bitten by the “bottle bug”, he began scouring local dumps, antique shops, and flea markets for old bottles, and attended the first two Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors shows, which for him were mind-blowing experiences. After a seven-year sabbatical for college, work and marriage, his interest in old bottles was rekindled in 1977. For Ted, bitters rose to the forefront and he has actively collected them for forty years, participating in and attending shows, expos and auctions. He and his wife co-chaired and chaired a number of Ohio Bottle Club Shows in the 1980s, as well as helping Adam Koch with the Federation of Historic Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) Toledo Expo in 1992, hosted by the Ohio Bottle Club. The Krists have been members of the Ohio Bottle Club since 1978 and the FOHBC since 1987. In the past, Ted has written stories and articles for the Ohio Bottle Club’s newsletter, and has given presentations at the club’s monthly meetings. During this seminar, Ted will talk about his journey in bitters collecting, present some items of interest for both the novice and advanced collector, and tell a story or two.
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Hon. Stephen Buhrer
Self-Made in Cleveland
Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men!
By Jack Sullivan
Foreword: As in the past when I find a piece on a whiskey man of interest that has been written expertly by someone else, my practice is to print it on my Those Pre-Pro Whiskey Men! blog, giving credit to the author. In this case it is my friend and president of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC), Ferdinand (“Ferd”) Meyer. As a bitters collector, Ferd concentrated on his subject’s bitters products. At the same time, however, Buhrer was making and selling whiskey and other liquor. His story is interesting and Ferd tells it well.
Stephen Buhrer was born on Christmas day, December 25th, 1825 on the Zoar farm in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to Johann Casper Buhrer who was from a province of Baden, Germany and Anna Maria Miller from Stockach, Germany. Johann and Anna Maria arrived in Philadelphia, with many other Germans, in 1817, and settled in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. They were married in short order and had one daughter, Catherine. Knowing of many other Germans and Anna Maria having friends in Ohio, the Buhrers moved to the rich farmlands of Zoar, Ohio.
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Zoar Farming - Ohio Historical Society
Zoar was formed by a group of German Separatists who left southeastern Germany to escape persecution for their religious beliefs. The Separatists thought that the church should be simple and bereft of all ceremony and they emphasized a mystical and direct relationship with God. Zoar was one of the most notable experiments in communal living in our nation’s history.
Unfortunately, Buhrer’s father died in 1829 and Buhrer was entrusted to this strict German society of separatists. At a very early age, and without a wage, Buhrer was put to work on the communal farm and at the age of nine was given the task to manage the sheep in the vast pasture ranges of Zoar where he labored for three years. When he was twelve years old, he was placed in a cooper shop in the society. A cooper was someone who made wooden staved vessels, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads. Buhrer did not attend traditional school and was educated mainly in Sunday school and by any education he could pick up after a long days work. Buhrer not only learned the trade of coopering, but at different times did almost any kind of work including brewing and slaughtering. He also was a hostler at the Zoar Tavern and drove horses on the Ohio canal. Buhrer finally left the society and farm life and traveled to Cleveland in 1842 and continued work as a cooper. He accepted a position as a traveling salesman in 1846 with his territory at first covering Ohio and later Indiana and Michigan. With ill health and the prevailing malarial fevers of this era, he cut short his work as a traveling salesman and returned by rail to Detroit. With his funds exhausted, he sold much of his valuables including clothes and purchased deck passage on a steamboat bound for Cleveland, which he regarded his new home. Continued ill health then sent him almost to the poorhouse until a friend revived his spirits and supported him financially until he recovered. With a renewed vigor, Buhrer then returned to coopering and briefly worked at a shipyard in 1847. In 1848, Buhrer married Eva Maria Schneider and had three children: John, Mary Jane, and Lois Catherine. Eva died in 1889 and after her death, Buhrer married Marguerite Paterson. With a family and responsibilities, Buhrer put his strong work ethic to task and went into the coopering business for three years. He then sold his interest to his partner in 1853, at which time he turned his attention to the business of rectifying and purifying spirits. During this period, he was associated with the Masons and Cleveland City Lodge No. 15. He was also First Junior Deacon of Bigelow Lodge No. 243. B 252.5: Extremely rare and unlisted dark amber Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters - Frank Wicker Collection
Buhrer eventually became a well-known wholesale distributor of alcoholic beverages and ran Eagle Distilleries. He had only been a resident of Cleveland for eleven years, and was only 29 years old when he was elected a member of the City Council in 1855. He also ran and served on the City Council in 1863 and 1865. He served on the council during the Civil War, as he could not be drafted because of his health, and was a stalwart champion 35
Above: S. Buhrer receipt for Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters, Bitters Bottles Supplement Left: Eagle Distillery, S. Buhrer lists Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters -1865 Cleveland City Directory Right: B 252: Example of an orange amber Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters, Meyer Collection Below: B 251: “S. BUHRER. PROPRIETOR – BUHRER’S. GENTIAN. BITTERS”, (B-251), Ohio, ca. 1865 – 1875, golden yellow amber, 8 3/8”h, “C&I” on smooth base, applied tapered collar mouth. Ex Carlyn Ring Collection. – Glass Works Auctions
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of the Union and federal government. After his three-terms with the city council, Buhrer was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1867. He served as the Democratic Mayor until 1870. Buhrer’s Gentian Bitters first appeared around 1865 and remained one of his strongest brands well into the 1880s. Along with foreign and domestic liquors, he also sold and bottled mineral and other natural table waters. Buhrer was one of the prominent business men of his day and as mayor, brought forth the project of building a viaduct to connect the east and west sides of Cleveland. The Cleveland House of Correction & Workhouse was also built under his term. After serving two terms, he returned to serve another term on the city council before he died in Cleveland on December 8, 1907. To me, it is truly amazing that this self-made man, with no father or older brothers, no money to borrow from relatives, became so successful in America at such a young age. He truly must have had some type of divine intervention as his trade card below depicts. Note: Many of the illustrations shown here are from Ferd Meyer’s Peachridge Glass website, well worth a look for any bottle aficionado.
Advertising Trade Card from the John Kemler collection.
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FOHBC MERCHANDISE
Shop at the show or online at FOHBC.org
CLEVELAND 2018
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SAVE THE DATE
2020
FOHBC National Antique Bottle Convention Thursday, July 30 - Sunday, August 2, 2020 Grand Sierra Resort & Casino Reno, Nevada For information: Richard Siri rtsiri@sbcglobal.net
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EARLY AMERICAN BOTTLES, STONEWARE & ADVERTISING Especially seeking pre-Prohibition Minnesota and Wisconsin brewery advertising, early saloon photos, and Red Wing stoneware advertising liquor and bitters jugs.
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Steve Ketcham Box 24114 Edina, MN 55424 952-221-0915
Please visit us at antiquebottledepot.com or reach us at
steve@antiquebottledepot.com
TOM LINES
Collector since 1975 LIFE Member FOHBC Colorful Bottles and Flasks • Schafer & Vater Giveaways 205-410-2191 bluecrab1949@hotmail.com
Indian Springs, Alabama The Guide To Collecting Fruit Jars
Fruit Jar Annual 2019 Updated annually by Jerry McCann 23rd edition
Comprehensive price guide for fruit jars and related packer jars. Cross referenced with the Dick Roller’s Standard Fruit Jar Reference 2011, listing information on availability, closures and history on the glass houses that manufactured or jobbed the jars. Researched articles by Barry Bernas, Bill Lockhart, Terry Schaub, Beau Schriever, Bill Lindsey and Carol Serr. Articles cover Dr. Daniel’s patented fruit jar, Trade Mark Lightning jars, Art Deco era including those of Capstan Glass, the Missouri Glass Co. and Keystone Mason jars. Softcover, spiral bound 388 easy to read pages with photos, drawings and period ads
Fruit Jar Annual 2019 - is $60 per copy plus $7 shipping by USPS. Send your order to: Jerry McCann, 5003 W. Berwyn Ave., Chicago, IL 60630-1501, Ph: 773.777.0443 e-mail: Fjar@aol.com 43
Specializing in Drugstore, Apothecary and Country Store Antiques and Collectibles Conducting 3 catalogued, mail/phone bid Auctions annually and a "Leader in the Field since 1996". Terry McMurray, P.O Box 393, Kirkwood, NY 13795, 607-775-5972, mcmurrayauctions@aol.com
McMurrayauctions.com Fruit Jars, Frank Tea & Spice
Phillip Smith 44
Buy - Sell - Trade
2281 Clarkston Lane
Union, Kentucky 41091 859.912.2450
(Jumbo Peanut Butter)
phil.smith@zoomtown.com
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ĘťCanes and abelĘź Ralph and Janet Finch 34007 Hillside Court Farmington Hills, Michigan 48335 (248) 476-4893 rfinch@twmi.rr.com or janloik@yahoo.com
Serving Chestnuts for the Table
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John & Wanda Joiner
130 Penninsula Circle, Newnan, GA 30263
Collectors of Chestnuts
404-538-6057
propjj@bellsouth.net
Collectors won’t believe numbers of ‘Show Me’ State’s bottles, jugs - By Bill Baab Let’s take a look at Missouri from the viewpoints of antique bottle and pottery collectors: Any guesses as to how many sodas, whiskeys, patent medicines, drug stores and milks are out there? How about jugs and mini jugs? 1,000? 2,500? 3,000? Johnnie Fletcher can tell you. His latest bottle book, “Missouri Bottles, Crock Jugs and Dose Glasses,” lists more than 5,200 items and yet he admits that many more are not in the book. “I’m always hearing from other collectors who say, ‘Johnnie, I have a bottle that’s not in your book.’ So I am planning to produce an updated version in two or three years,” he said. Fletcher, 77, a Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Hall of Famer, is a member of the Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club and longtime (and only) editor of its newsletter, Oklahoma Territory News. He and teams of friends have been privy-digging St. Joseph, Missouri for years and he’s been able to build his own collection of bottles from that city and elsewhere in Missouri. But those bottles and occasional mini jugs are only a drop in the bucket when it comes to figuring what other towns and cities can contribute to statewide listings of those glass and ceramic artifacts. So he’s had lots of help from many other collectors of Missouri bottles and pottery, including super collector Arlin Cargill, whose collection may be No. 1 in quantity and quality in the “Show Me State.” When Fletcher made his first visit to Cargill’s home, he saw a bunch of bottles in the living room and thought it wouldn’t take long to make rubbings of the embossed letterings. Then his host took him into other rooms with bottles, bottles everywhere and Fletcher couldn’t believe his eyes. It was, he said, “kind of like sitting down to eat a meal and finding out the main course is an elephant!” So he has dedicated his latest book to Cargill who was mighty pleased when the author gave him a copy. “He also was able to give me a history of each bottle, describing where it came from and how much he paid,” Fletcher said. “I really enjoyed our sessions.” After rubbing and rubbing and rubbing and photographing sodas, drug store bottles and milk bottles on a half-dozen trips to the Cargill home, his host wasn’t through. “He gave me a list of other Missouri collectors. One man had a huge Missouri milk bottle collection. So my wife, Linda, and good friend Ed Stewart (of Paolo, Kansas) helped me make still more rubbings,” Fletcher said. After perusing the copy of the book I purchased, I asked Fletcher to explain his procedures that resulted in bottles containing the embossed letters and designs pictured in the 475-page book. “I make templates from the bottle photos. It’s like cutting out paper dolls,” he chuckled. “I often use the same template to do multiple bottles. The ones that give me the most trouble are the 1900 (pre-Prohibition) whiskeys with all of their facets and swirls. “When I started, there was no way I could see the end and it took me 3-1/2 years to produce the book. That doesn’t mean I worked steadily every day during that time. I had to take breaks from time to time.” The book also reproduces what Fletcher calls “crock jugs” used by Missouri distillers, as well as the mini jugs sometimes given to clients as souvenirs. Then there are dose glasses used by physicians, druggists and medical supply houses, all in Missouri, of course. The Missouri book sells in its soft cover form for $29.95, while a limited number of hard cover books go for $49.95. Books can be ordered direct from Johnnie Fletcher, 1300 Blue Haven Drive, Mustang, OK 73064. Johnnie can be reached via email at privyguy@aol.com or telephone 405.376.1045. Books are shipped via media mail so $5 will cover the cost of mailing. His 2012 Arkansas bottle book and 2013 Kansas bottle book are still available at $25 each. His out of print 2006 Oklahoma bottle book will be updated in the coming years, he said. 47
Wanted: Meadville Rye Whiskey Alan DeMaison
a.demaison@sbcglobal.net 440-796-7539
Antique Bottles & Advertising Grayslake Illinois Antique & Vintage Market Presents An Accent On:
November 10 & 11, 2018 Sat. 9-4 • Sun. 9-3 / $7 (free parking)
New Vendors Welcome!
LAKE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
1060 E. PETERSON RD., GRAYSLAKE, IL 60030
ZURKO’S MIDWEST PROMOTIONS 115 E. Division St., Shawano, WI 54166 • Phone: (715) 526-9769 www.zurkopromotions.com/antique-bottles-and-advertising/ 48
~ WANTED ~ L ADY’S L EG BITT ER S Also interested in unique colors of figural Cabins, Barrels, Queens, Ear of Corns, Pigs, Cannons and Fish Bitters. One example or an entire collection.
Bill Taylor, 503-857-0292 or Email wtaylor178@aol.com 49
Info: 1stChicagoBottleClub.com or John Vlahovich, jvlahovich@att.net.
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Wanted
Saratoga Type Mineral Waters
All Varieties
Common to Rare
All Springs
Especially fond of Richfield Springs, NY & Sharon Springs, NY
Jeff Ullman P.O. Box 121, Warnerville, NY 12187
518-925-9787
Best of luck in Cleveland!
jullman@nycap.rr.com
Collectors of
Blue Decorated Stoneware Wax Sealers
Adam and Phyllis Koch • 330-644-0274 • phylkoch@yahoo.com 51
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Always Fishing for Good Bitters
Ted Krist
330.467.5279
bitterbaron@aol.com
Southwest Bottle & Jar Spa We restore your bottles, jars & insulators! Check out our website for pricing & shipping!
• Bottle, Jar and Insulator Polishing
• Tanning Bed (Purpling Box) • Cactus Joe’s Stuff online store www.swbottleandjarspa.com Facebook @wepolishglass 505.948.0993 cactusjoe@cactusjoesstuff.com
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Jerry & Helen Forbes Big Sur, California
Always Looking for Extraordinary Bottles
WANTED
Eureka Springs Arkansas Bottles
James “Larry� Childers Collector of Arkansas Bottles & Whiskey Jugs 801 North 18th Street Ozark, Arkansas 72949 479-264-4601 jamesl.childers@yahoo.com 54
49th Annual COLUMBUS BOTTLE SHOW
Sponsored by the CENTRAL OHIO BOTTLE CLUB
American Poison Bottles Joan C. Cabaniss jjcab@b2xonline.com 540.297.4498, 312 Summer Lane Huddleston, Virginia 24104
Congratulations to the Ohio Bottle Club on an excellent 2018 National Show 49th Annual Columbus Bottle Show Sunday, February 10, 2019 , 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
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G LAS S INTE RNATI O N AL L L C RECORD PRICES IN EARLY AMERICAN GLASS! Please visit our website at historicalglass.glass
Redford Glass Works, Lily pad, type II sugar bowl, with decorated lid, c.1838-45, $55,000 auction record.
The only matched pair of Redford gadrooned vases known, c.1835-42, $42,000 auction record.
Matt Johnson, Harrisburg, New York, Lily pad, type 2 decanter; presently in the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, $24,000 auction record.
Probably one of the rarest discoveries in A GI-25 Bridgeton New Jersey historical Iconic Colonial American pitcher, possibly American Glass, a Wistar Lilypad tankard flask in topaz with amber striations, such made in Glassboro NJ, c.1783-85, $55,000 direct sale. with cover having a bird finial, $80,000 a beauty! $32,000 direct sale. direct sale. 56
Since 1999, we have been specializing in early American Tableware, Hollow-ware, Free-blown, pattern-mold, mold-blown and bottles and flasks. Over the years, we have set many auction records that still stand today. Auction 40 is scheduled for November 2018, consignments are being accepted! If you have any questions, or wish to sell or consign, please email us at historicalglass.glass@gmail.com.
Zanesville Ohio, rich amber, 24- rib, pattern molded creamer, c.1824-30, probably Shepards Glass Factory, Zanesville, one of the finest $33,000
Stoddard Lilypad type 3 pitcher, amber, Matt Johnson, c.1860-64. Highest priced Johnson Stoddard lily pad sold at auction. $55,000 auction record.
Wistar Family vase, property of Sarah Wistar in 1790, Wistarburgh, Alloway, NJ, c.1738-1780; $ $78,000 auction record.
Wistar "Franklin" mug, yellow olive, c.1750, Wiatarburgh, Alloway, NJ., full body horizontal threading, applied "arc" handle, $55,000 auction record.
Keene or Stoddard type 3 Lilypad pitcher, Important Ohio "popcorn" amber pitkin, half post, 30 ribs broken swirl; one in 24 made by Matt Johnson, ex. Norm Heckler, ex. O'Hare. $40,000 private ribs in American Glass without half post; $8,500 private sale. sale. 57
2019 National Insulator
Convention and Show Orlando, Florida For additional information: Jacqueline Linscott-Barnes bluebellwt@aol.com June 14-16 321-480-1800 2019 Welcome Collectors: The DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at Sea World is delighted to be selected as your host hotel for the 50th National Insulator Association's Convention and Show on June 14-16, 2019.
2019 Celebrating 50 Years of Meets & Shows 58
2 018 H O N O R E E S
2018
RICHARD ALLEN ROLLER Paris, Illinois
Fruit jar enthusiast Richard Allen “Dick” Roller’s legacy continues to stay alive and well 20 years after his untimely death at age 67 in 1998. Historical material on fruit jars and their makers that Roller netted by years of tough research before the Internet Age is still being used by collectors and writers such as FOHBC Hall of Famer Tom Caniff, who continues to give Roller credit for facts outlined in Caniff’s monthly Fruit Jar Rambles in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine. Like many others in the hobby, Dick was glad to share his newfound information, most of which corrected and/or eliminated erroneous stories that had been around for years. “When Dick started collecting and studying fruit jars, he was appalled by the conjecture, hearsay and inaccurate material in the fruit jar books that had been published,” said the late Vivian “Granny” Kath. “He decided then and there to do some serious research into the history of glasshouses and the jars they made.” Roller’s contributions are still to be found in the Fruit Jar Newsletter, Fruit Jar Clearing House and New Fruit Jar Newsletter, but collectors really benefitted from The Standard Fruit Jar Reference he published in 1983. Its information remains valid today.
Bill Baab
August 3, 2018
2018
R I C H A R D T. S I R I Santa Rosa, California
For someone whose brother lit the fuse that sparked an interest in collecting historical bottles, Richard Siri has come a long way. The first chapter in his story notes that his brother, Ted, was working on a road construction project in Willits, California in the mid 1960s and an 1890-1900 dump containing a pile of early Western whiskey bottles was uncovered. Fast forward to the present day, supported by his wife, Beverley, Richard, 77, is known for his extensive Western bottle collections having amassed one of the most complete Western bitters bottle collections, as well as extensive collections of whiskeys, Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters and USA Hospital bottles, among other things. He is always willing to share his knowledge on his favorite subjects and that knowledge has found a public place inside many books, articles and exhibitions about antique bottles. He has held several offices within the federation, most notably that as president in 2008. Richard co-chaired the FOHBC 2012 Reno National Antique Bottle Expo and the most recent, FOHBC 2016 Sacramento National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo. He is also a major supporter and an active member of the Northwestern Bottle Collectors Association. In 2009, Richard Siri first brought forth the concept of developing the FOHBC Virtual Museum. He now serves on the museum Board of Directors and he, along with his wife Beverley, is a major financial contributor to the museum.
Bill Ham
August 3, 2018
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In 1980, the Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs, in conjunction with its subsidiary, the National Bottle Museum, created the bottle collector’s Hall of Fame. Nomination and induction into the Hall of Fame is based on major contributions to the bottle collecting hobby, which had significant impact and enduring quality. Descriptions of activities and achievements are gathered by the nominator(s). Distinguished services to the hobby are noted and documented. Successful candidates are then officially inducted into the Hall of Fame. All documentation is bound and appropriately filed in the FOHBC’s archives. The following pages summarize the accomplishments of these honored collectors. 1981 - Helen McKearin
In recognition for her outstanding literary achievements in the field if research and writing, resulting in the publication of comprehensive reference books and periodicals on the subject of American glass and bottles. She co-authored American Glass with her father, George S. McKearin. 1983 - Charles Gardner
Known as the “Father of Modern Day Bottle Collecting,” he was the link between past greats in the hobby such as Stephen Van Rensselaer and George and Helen McKearin. He was a master collector for 45 years, stimulating the hobby’s growth to what it has become today - a vibrant collecting field filled with camaraderie and adventures. 1985 - Edmund R. & Jayne Blaske
Dedicated collectors and researchers in the field of historical flasks. Teachers of many young and new collectors, the Blaskes were popular banquet speakers, as well as active supporters of many local clubs, the Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs (now Collectors) and the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, New York. 1985 - John C. Tibbitts
Founder and first president of the first U.S. bottle club, the Antique Bottle Collectors Association of California. The club eventually had a national membership of more than 250 persons representing 23 states and was the model for the formation of many others. He was the first to edit a club newsletter. It was called The Pontil. 1985 - Harry Hall White
A great bottle archaeologist, his excavations of glass houses and research of public libraries produced sound data that was used by authors such as Kenneth Wilson and George McKearin in writing books that enriched the knowledge of glass collectors. “Harry Hall White is the outstanding pioneer in this field of research and investigation,” McKearin wrote in American Glass, published in 1941. In November of 1926, his story on Early Pittsburgh Glass-Houses was featured in the magazine Antiques to which he was a frequent contributor for more than two decades. He was born in 1884 and died in Shelbyville, Indiana, at the age of 60 in April 60
1944. He was buried in Cleveland, Ohio. 1987 - Paul L. Ballentine
A collector who became an authority on Midwestern glass, he was a noted author, speaker, collector, club founder, educator and friend. He will be remembered by members of a hobby that he promoted, preserved, advanced and loved. He was ably and lovingly supported by his wife, Mary. 1987 - Dr. Cecil Munsey, Ph.D
A bottle collecting pioneer noted for significant contributions to the organized hobby, not the least of which was his 1970 book, An Illustrated Guide to Collecting Bottles. He also authored The Illustrated Guide to the Collecting of Coca-Cola. He is a skilled researcher, writer and editor. 1988 - Bernard C. Puckhaber
He helped popularize the collecting of “Saratoga-type” mineral water bottles by writing and publishing a book, Saratogas in 1977. He helped further the educational aims of the Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs (now Collectors) and was instrumental in establishing the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, New York. 1989 - George S. McKearin
His commitment to bottle collecting resulted in extensive research and development of two major books with daughter Helen - American Glass and Two Hundred Years of American Blown Glass. He spoke extensively throughout the United States and Europe and was consulted by major museums, collectors and auction houses. His unequaled early glass collection sold at auction in 1931-32, being dispersed in collections across the U.S. His figural (historical) flask identification chart remains the singular means of describing each specimen. 1990 - Jean Matthews Garrison
She lived the FOHBC slogan: “The Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs (now Collectors) strive to promote, foster and encourage all activities toward the betterment of bottle collecting.” She became national chairman of the Federation in 1980 and served as public relations chairman for eight years. A life member of the Federation, Jean was active in no fewer than seven bottle clubs. Sam Fuss, in 1990 the Northeast Region chairman (now called director) said in nominating her to the FOHBC Hall of Fame, “She was like an auto spark plug getting things started and finding proper people to finish the job, a vote for Jean is a vote for America, motherhood and apple pie!” She did not live to enjoy her hobby’s ultimate honor, passing away in her sleep at Walter Reed Army Hospital on March 16, 1990. 1992 - Dr. George Herron
He became a member of the original bottle club (in Sacramento, Calif.) in 1965 and two years later, “Doc” and his wife, Ruth, were among the original charter members of the Iowa Antique Bottleers established in 1967. He retained membership and leadership in that group and the hobby until his death. He began a regular column in Old Bottle Magazine called “Herron’s Hunches” in July of 1989. 1993 - Stephen “Peck” Markota
The Federation’s first honorary director, Peck and his wife, Audie, dug, cleaned and collected bottles and researched, wrote and taught others about them. He helped found the Federation and later the Markotas published a book called Western Blob top Sodas. 61
1993 - Verna L. Wagner
Her tireless efforts in organizing the first national bottle show - the 1976 EXPO in St. Louis set a standard of excellence. She was an officer and ambassador, in person and in print, for her local club and Federation and guided its growth, made lots of friends, and loved every minute of it. 1994 - Harold G. “Hal” Wagner
His vision and chairmanship of the first national show gave lasting strength to the Federation and hobby. The Federation was not financially able to follow through on his suggestion to hold a national show in St. Louis during the nation’s Bicentennial Celebration in 1976. He volunteered to use his own money, to be reimbursed after show profits were collected. It was the crowning achievement in his three decades of local and national leadership. 1995 - Alice Creswick
She took up the formidable task of documenting fruit jars and authoring The Red Book of Fruit Jars, among other publications, for a quarter of a century. She authored six editions of the Collector’s Guide to Old Fruit Jars, more commonly known as the Red Book, bringing to light more than 3,000 varieties of fruit jars. 1995 - John C. Fountain
A bottle collecting pioneer, he operated the first bottle shop (in Sacramento, Calif.), was the first bottle wholesaler, wrote articles and co-authored three books about bottles. He also published the National Bottle Gazette, one of the first publications geared to the hobby. He always saw to it that a full page was available for Federation use - free of charge. 1996 - Carlyn Ring
Early collector and historian who amassed what was believed to be the most complete bitters collection, she wrote For Bitters Only, which became the primary reference of bitters bottle collecting. She later collaborated with California collector Bill Ham in publishing the massive Bitters Bottles book. 1997 - Doc Ford
Considered one of the chief ambassadors of the bottle hobby, for 30 years he traveled the country supporting shows and displaying his collections, making many friends in and for the hobby. 1997 - Richard “Dick” Watson
Author of the first major book on bitters collecting, Bitters Bottles (1965), setting a standard for all the bottle books that followed, and later published a supplement to the book (1968). His service to the Federation came at a time when leadership was greatly needed. He and his wife, Elma, amassed outstanding collections of bitters and Saratoga waters. He later served as the Federation historian and was a member of the board of directors. 1998 - Dr. Burton Spiller
Giving lectures and writing articles, putting on programs and sharing his vast knowledge, he has tirelessly worked to promote our hobby. 1999 - Howard Dean
His literary contributions and work with the Federation, the National Bottle Museum and 62
bottle clubs have made a lasting and enduring impact on the hobby. His activities continued even into his 90s. 2002 - John Eatwell
One of the giants of the hobby, he was the Federation’s first chairman (now called president), designed the organization’s first logo, and was the first to suggest the possibility of holding a national show. He was an active member of the Antique Bottle Collectors of Colorado since 1967, serving as its president. He was famous for his collection of Pike’s Peak flasks and co-authored (with David K. Clint III) the comprehensive and beautifully illustrated landmark book, Pike’s Peak Gold, in 2000. 2002 - Bob Ferraro
President of the Federation from 1977-79, he has been a collector since the mid-1950s. He built outstanding collections of figural bitters, eastern whiskeys and Nevada bottles. He co-authored (with first wife Pat) The Past in Glass (1963) and A Bottle Collector’s Book (1964). He continues to serve the Federation (first vice president 2008-14) and director-at-large (2015). 2002 - Elma Watson
The perfect helpmate to husband and Hall of Famer Dick, she was an important leader in the Federation, serving as treasurer for many years. Co-chair of the 1994 National Show in Cherry Hill, N.J., she helped establish and arrange bottle exhibits at the Wheaton Museum and assisted with the establishment of the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, New York. She was an important contributor to her husband’s books - Bitters Bottles (1965) and Supplement to Bitters Bottles (1968). 2003 - Norm & Junne Barnett
Early Federation members, the Barnetts specialized in fruit jars. In 1972, Norm joined Roger Emory of Hagerstown, Indiana, to organize the Midwest Antique Fruit Jar and Bottle Club. Norm served as president for all but 10 years of its existence and was show chairman at the same time. Junne served as club newsletter editor for 30 years, retiring in 2006. She did the souvenir program books for the FOHBC 25th anniversary show in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. (1994) and the Nashville, Tennessee Expo (1996). 2007 - Bill Ham
Avid bottle collector and author of numerous articles on historical glass, he collaborated with Carlyn Ring to produce the massive Bitters Bottles, as well as the Bitters Bottles Supplement. He also contributed to the revised Whiskey Bottles of the Old West. He is always willing to share his vast knowledge and has given many talks on his favorite subject to various organizations. Bill is presently working on Bitters Bottles Supplement 2. 2008 - Betty Zumwalt
She researched and co-wrote Spirits Bottles of the Old West with her first husband, Bill Wilson. They later published Western Bitters and 19th Century Medicine in Glass (1971). She was an active member of the first bottle club - the ABCA of California. She was instrumental, with Bill and Dick Hansen, in drawing up the first draft of the Federation bylaws. After parting with Bill, she researched and published Ketchup-Pickles-Sauces, 19th Century Food in Glass (1980). It has become the standard for this division of bottle collecting. 2008 - Tom Caniff
Since 1995, he has authored The Label Space (complemented by the photographic skills of 63
wife Deena) in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. From 1999, he’s authored Fruit Jar Rambles in the same magazine. He entered the bottle collecting world in 1975, became active in Midwest collecting circles and served a term as president of the Jefferson County Antique Bottle Club in Steubenville, Ohio. He served a two-year term as co-editor of the Federation newsletter (1978-80), was the Northeast Region newsletter editor from 1981-83 and served as editor of the Federation’s annual newsletter contest in 1995. He was vice president and president of the national Jelly Jammers between 1990-93. He is the recognized authority on the various Flaccus family companies and their food-packing competitors along the Ohio River. 2008 - Junior Carl Sturm
Completing his 19th straight year as a member of the FOHBC board of directors and his third term as president of the organization, Carl freely gave his time and himself for the betterment of the hobby and fellow collectors on a local and national scale. He became editor of The Federation Glassworks newsletter in 1988 and played a key role in the acquisition of Bottles and Extras, the magazine having been privately published by Scott Grandstaff and Kitty Roach, who gave it to the FOHBC as a gift. Carl’s favorites among his own collections are cures, half-pint pictorial flasks, black glass and tobacco tags. 2008 - Jim Hagenbuch
After an accidental start (through marble collecting) landed him into the bottle collecting hobby in the early 1970s, Jim Hagenbuch has become an authority on such diverse collectibles as pottery pigs and historical flasks. After the Firestone Tire and Rubber Plant at which he worked 14 years closed its doors, he became a full-time bottle dealer to earn a living for himself, his wife, Janice, and daughter Jessica. After Old Bottle Magazine and another publication went out of business in 1983, he decided to publish Antique Bottle & Glass Collector and the first issue came out in May 1984. It was an instant hit with collectors, and has become a forum for topics relating to bottles around the world. In 1986, he started Glass Works Auctions, selling reasonably priced, high-quality, full-color catalogs so potential buyers could see what they were bidding on, at the same time giving collectors options to obtain bottles not often seen. His catalogs have become collectors’ items. 2009 - Johnnie Fletcher
A founder and several times president of the Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club, Johnnie has served as editor of Oklahoma Territory News since the club was founded in 1987. In 1991, he published Oklahoma Drug Stores; in1994, he published the first edition of his Kansas Bottles 1854-1915; in 2006, he published the second edition of Oklahoma Bottles, and is working on a St. Joseph, Missouri, bottle reference book. He won FOHBC awards for best newsletter and best story in 2003. He was nominated for inclusion on the Federation Honor Roll, but board members voted him Hall of Fame status instead because of his important contributions to the hobby. 2011 - Bill Baab
A collector of antique bottles since 1969, Bill joined the Federation in 1996 and a few years later volunteered to become Southern Region editor when Mary Jane Ferguson was forced to resign because of illness. His goal was to improve the quality of FOHBC club newsletters by urging more historical research. His regional reports were designed to contain news of interest to all bottle collectors, leaving out items of interest only to member clubs. He updated the FOHBC Hall of Fame and Honor Roll lists. He also collected information to be used in sketches of the FOHBC presidents. His suggestion that errors of fact in stories published in BOTTLES and EXTRAS be corrected in the following issue, thus raising the Federation’s credibility with members, was adopted. He also designed a style book for regional editors, 64
following guidelines in The Associated Press Stylebook. Bill proof-reads all stories and President’s Messages carried in BOTTLES and EXTRAS. He also proof-reads copy in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club Gazette, and Ralph Finch’s target ball newsletter On Target! In 2009, he inaugurated a series of state-by-state bottle collecting histories which continue today. He resigned as Southern Region editor in mid 2011. Bill was given President’s Awards from Ralph Van Brocklin (2004) and John Pastor (2006). Bill and his wife, Bea, self-published four books on Augusta bottles. He retired as outdoor editor and sports writer from The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle in 2000 after 36 years. He still edits the newspaper’s Friday fishing page each week. 2012 - Jack Sullivan
Author of an incredible number of bottle-and pottery-related stories, Jack Sullivan’s name has been a familiar one to collectors for many years. He has written extensively for collector publications in the U.S., England, Australia and Canada. A resident of Alexandria, Virginia, since 1965, he writes frequently for BOTTLES and EXTRAS, the Ohio Bottle Club’s Ohio Swirl newsletter and the Potomac Pontil, the online publication of the Potomac Bottle Club. He is a member of both clubs. He also has written three self-published books on whiskey containers and other collectibles. Jack also maintains two online blogs devoted to aspects of collecting and history - “Bottles, Booze and Back Stories,” and “Those Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Men.” His collecting interests include glass and ceramic whiskey containers, whiskey collectibles, breweriana, hillbilly items and paperweights. Jack holds B.A. (1957) and M.A. (1960) degrees in journalism from Marquette and a PhD in international relations from American University (1969). He is married (for 51 years in 2014) to Paula Boyer Sullivan and is the father of two sons, John, an icthyologist at Cornell University, and Brian, an entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Louisiana. 2012 - Warren Friedrich
Warren was born in Southern California in 1954, the son of a World War II barnstormer and his University of Southern California-educated wife. Seeking a better environment for their only child, they set their sights on Nevada City, a tiny rural community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and put down roots. While his parents worked, young Warren began to explore the area, spending his days miles from home, digging up artifacts. While his friends were spending hot summer afternoons in the coolness of a movie theater, Warren was picking his way through dark tunnels of long-abandoned mines. As he grew into adulthood, Warren continued to seriously collect bottles, amassing a modest collection of western bitters. He began traveling to bottle shows, meeting many like-minded people. He joined the local Mother Lode Antique Bottle Club, then the Federation, and in 1993 co-founded the Downieville Antique Bottle Show. He has authored articles for Antique Bottle & Glass Collector as well as BOTTLES and EXTRAS. He has helped put on local shows and has a keen interest in encouraging a younger generation to get active in the hobby. Years of research led to the 2010 publication of the book, “Early Glassworks of California,” with revisions made in 2011. 2013 - Gene Bradberry
In 2010, the FOHBC was in trouble. Internal squabbling was pushing the organization away from being the paternal parent of the hobby. Its future was bleak. In stepped Gene Bradberry as president, a job to which he was no stranger. He’d also served previously. But this time it was different. A retired Memphis, Tennessee, policeman, he quickly laid down his brand of law and, as a result, the FOHBC arose, like the phoenix, and headed in the right direction. Ed Provine, Gene’s longtime good friend and fellow collector, in his letter of nomination pointed out that many collectors know of Bradberry’s dedication and hard work for the Federation. He joined the FOHBC in 1969 and quickly became active behind the scenes. He served as 2nd vice chairman (1971-72), chairman (1972-74), President (as chairmen became) (1988-94), 65
Membership Director (1994-2000), Expo 2004 show chairman, 1st vice president (2004-06), Membership Director (2006-10), President (2010-2012) and Director at Large (2012-Present). He also found time to serve his Memphis Bottle Collectors Club and is presently show chairman. 2013 - Alan Blakeman
Worldwide fame, at least in the antique bottle collecting hobby, long preceded the publisher of British Bottle Review magazine. Through that medium, Blakeman has become the European spokesman and watchdog for the hobby. His magazine editor, Guy Burch, felt it was high time his boss received recognition from his peers. His peers unanimously agreed. The fact that Blakeman is a Brit did not matter. Other non-Americans have been honored by the FOHBC. “Anyone who knows Alan well will realize that money does not motivate him,” Burch said in his nomination. “He is simply in love with bottles and the related fields of pot lids and salt glaze stoneware (he was once a potter).” Based at Elsecar Heritage Centre in South Yorkshire, in addition to publishing the magazine, Blakeman organizes four auctions and four bottle and related packaging antique fairs per years. He is author of 11 books on the subject and publisher of three others. 2015 - Ralph Finch
FOHBC Board members didn’t have to ask Ralph what he had been doing to promote the hobby of antique bottle collecting since he became involved nearly 50 years ago. His articles featuring bottles and well known collectors in the field number more than 500 and have appeared in many of the hobby-related journals. In 1969, following his discovery of more bottle bug-bitten people in his native Detroit, he played host in his apartment to a meeting that resulted in the organization of the Metropolitan Detroit Antique Bottle Club. In 1994, he founded and published On Target! It is a newsletter geared to those who love and collect the glass spheres and it also led to Ralph building a collection that’s become “the largest and most important collection ever amassed.” Highly respected, Ralph, 75, and his expertise moved into the ketchup bottle world. He and his collection of some 1,800 have been featured in at least two TV documentaries. That he has a sense of humor can be found in many of his stories. Ralph has earned numerous awards, including a Distinguished Service Award (1969-1977) from his home club, a Journalism of Excellence Award from the Ohio Bottle Club as well as the 1981 Best of Show Award from the Genessee Valley Bottle Collectors Association for his target ball display. In 1979, he became a charter member of the National Bottle Museum Society and is a supporter of the museum in Ballston Spa, New York. 2016 - Jeff Wichmann
Jeff Wichmann is a California native who has parlayed his vast knowledge of antique bottles and glass into a full time related business called American Bottle Auctions. His was the first auction house to provide full-color glossy catalogs sent to interested collectors at no charge. He also launched what is believed to be the first online antique bottle auction. In 2013, Jeff was inducted onto the FOHBC Honor Roll, but given his increase in antique bottle collecting-related activities, including financial support of the Federation, the board of directors voted to move him up to the organization’s highest honor level. Photography of old glass is one of his strong points. He also shares his knowledge on his web site www.americanbottle. com. In 1999, he published The Best of the West - Antique Western Bitters Bottles, a book containing information of value to collectors of that genre. 2017 - Charles & Mark Vuono It’s hard to believe this father-son duo wasn’t nominated to the FOHBC Hall of Fame years ago because of their continuing contributions to the antique bottle hobby in general and the world of historical flasks in particular. Had it not been for his wife Grace’s love of all things 66
antique, Stamford, Connecticut’s Charles Vuono might not have gotten out of his car and entered an antiques store, wondering why his wife was taking so long, and found himself checking out a historical flask. Of course, it wasn’t that simple, but such trips eventually led to his purchasing and fascination of early American glass and his building a collection of historical flasks second to none in the world. He wasn’t satisfied to just place a bunch of beautiful flasks on a shelf, but he thirsted for the stories behind each. And he satisfied that thirst, thanks to the availability of like-minded pioneer collectors of his era who were pleased to share their early research with the latest enthusiast. Charles’ son, Mark, happily joined his father in their adventures to not only collect and document the stories behind not only the flasks, but the early glass works that manufactured them. His father shared his knowledge with everyone who expressed an interest and since his passing, Mark continues that to this day, thanks to his stories published in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine, as well as personal contacts with the current crop of collectors. Mark’s passion has rubbed off on his son, Andrew, whose time in the limelight will come. 2018 - Richard Allen ”Dick” Roller Fruit jar enthusiast Richard Allen “Dick” Roller’s legacy continues to stay alive and well 20 years after his untimely death at age 67 in 1998. Historical material on fruit jars and their makers that Roller netted by years of tough research before the Internet Age is still being used by collectors and writers such as FOHBC Hall of Famer Tom Caniff, who continues to give Roller credit for facts outlined in Caniff’s monthly Fruit Jar Rambles in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine. Like many others in the hobby, Dick was glad to share his newfound information, most of which corrected and/or eliminated erroneous stories that had been around for years. “When Dick started collecting and studying fruit jars, he was appalled by the conjecture, hearsay and inaccurate material in the fruit jar books that had been published,” said the late Vivian “Granny” Kath. “He decided then and there to do some serious research into the history of glasshouses and the jars they made.” Roller’s contributions are still to be found in the Fruit Jar Newsletter, Fruit Jar Clearing House and New Fruit Jar Newsletter, but collectors really benefitted from The Standard Fruit Jar Reference he published in 1983. Its information remains valid today. 2018 - Richard T. Siri For someone whose brother lit the fuse that sparked an interest in collecting historical bottles, Richard Siri has come a long way. The first chapter in his story notes that his brother, Ted, was working on a road construction project in Willits, California in the mid 1960s and an 18901900 dump containing a pile of early Western whiskey bottles was uncovered. Fast forward to the present day, supported by his wife, Beverley, Richard, 77, is known for his extensive Western bottle collections having amassed one of the most complete Western bitters bottle collections, as well as extensive collections of whiskeys, Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters and USA Hospital bottles, among other things. He is always willing to share his knowledge on his favorite subjects and that knowledge has found a public place inside many books, articles and exhibitions about antique bottles. He has held several offices within the federation, most notably that as president in 2008. Richard co-chaired the FOHBC 2012 Reno National Antique Bottle Expo and the most recent, FOHBC 2016 Sacramento National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo. He is also a major supporter and an active member of the Northwestern Bottle Collectors Association. In 2009, Richard Siri first brought forth the concept of developing the FOHBC Virtual Museum. He now serves on the museum Board of Directors and he, along with his wife Beverley, is a major financial contributor to the museum.
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Jeffrey S. Evans The nation’s leading auctioneer of American and European glass and lighting from the 18th to early 20th centuries. Also specializing in Southern furniture, decorative and folk art; Americana of all types; 17th to 20th century ceramics; American and European fine and decorative arts; textiles and sewing; fine jewelry and silver; and a wide range of desirable collectibles. Contact consign@jeffreysevans.com or 540.434.3939, ext. 102 for information. Since 1979, we have sold for and to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Sandwich Glass Museum, the Toledo Museum of Art, Colonial Williamsburg, MESDA, and many other regional and national institutions, as well as collectors and dealers worldwide.
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What’s the attraction for you at FOHBC National Events? Why are you here? That’s an easy question, but the answer may not be. You might be here because of a chance to buy quality bottles for your collection. Or you might be here to visit with friends. Or it may be a combination of both answers, with a few personal reasons thrown in. Whatever the reason, the facts remain that you are happy to be here, and you plan to make the most of it. Before 1976, when the Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs (as it was then known) held its first national show in St. Louis, antique bottle shows were strictly local or regional, attended mostly by collectors and members of the curious public who resided within those locales. The FOHBC now conducts the biggest antique battle and glass event of the year using a fourday convention and expo format. Let’s take a look at some of the past shows leading us up to the FOHBC 2017 Springfield National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo.
1976 National Antique Bottle & Jar Exposition - St. Louis, Missouri
There is no doubt this show set the standards for those to follow. There were 140 outstanding displays of bottles and fruit jars, many of which had never been in the public view; 280 sales tables, and 4,000 collectors. Hal Wagner was chairman and Jerry Jones co-chairman of the event. The program featured articles by some of the legends of the hobby, including Helen McKearin, Alice Creswick, George Herron, William E. Covill Jr., Dr. Cecil Munsey, Dick Roller, John Wolf and Paul Ballentine. Ken and Shirley Asher, Old Bottle Magazine publishers, devoted 17 pages to photos of the displays, unfortunately, all in black and white, because color was expensive to print back in those days. There was a surprise awaiting visitors - a commemorative Expo bottle in the shape of a scroll flask with the Federation’s distinctive eagle on one side and crossed flags on the other. How many of these bottles sold during the Expo still exist? 1980 National Antique Bottle-Jar Exposition - Rosemont, Illinois The St. Louis extravaganza was a tough act to follow, but show chairman Ken Sosnowski and co-chairman Jim Hall did their darnedest and, in the opinions of those who were there, succeeded. There were 330 sales tables and 70 displays, the latter including a Hutchinson bottling display by Bob Harms and Sean Mullikin. Demonstrations on how Hutchinson bottles were actually filled were held every two hours. The 96-page program included articles by 70
Betty Zumwalt, Bob Ferraro and Clevenger Glass Works’ Jim Travis, among others. Souvenirs included a commemorative paperweight to display owners, a miniature stoneware jug to those attending the banquet and suitably inscribed log cabin bottles in cobalt and amethyst made at the Clevenger factory and sold for $20 apiece. 1984 Antique Bottle, Jar & Insulator Exposition - Montgomery, Alabama
After the two previous shows were held in the Midwest, the sunny South finally got a chance to shine and highlighted insulators on the cover of its 78-page program. Chairman James Robbins called the show “my dream come true.” Feature articles were written by Bernie Puckhaber (Saratogas), Dick Bowman (Insulators) and Dennis Smith (Pioneer Glass Works), among others. The latter also found time to put together an outstanding exhibit on Celery Cola (on which he is still THE authority). There were 32 exhibitors and 204 dealers listed in the program. There also was a heat wave as one might expect in the Deep South during the August show dates so visitors and hosts alike built up lots of sweat equity. One specially made quilt was raffled (and brought $3,400) and the other was auctioned (for $1,600). Profits from the two plus auction of a one-of-a-kind Federation bottle ($325) were donated to the Verbeck House/National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, New York. 1988 Antique Bottle & Jar Exposition - Las Vegas, Nevada
Show chairman Lou Pellegrini and his crew of volunteers “hit the jackpot,” according to comments from many of those who attended the Federation’s fourth Expo. There were 285 dealers set up on 365 tables and there were 53 displays. Show-goers likened the atmosphere as comparable to that of the St. Louis Expo and, while there were a few glitches, bulk of the comments was positive. Bob Harms had his traveling Hutchinson bottling machine there, while other displays ranged from Alex Kerr’s target balls and go-withs to a display of historical flasks. There was something to please just about everyone. There was no mention of Expo souvenirs. 1991 Bottle & Advertising Show - Memphis, Tennessee
Display of a pair of $40,000 bottles owned by Frank Brockman was one of the highlights of the show at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. One was the Northbend-Tippecanoe Cabin and the other the sapphire blue Columbia-Eagle flask. “He brought them in from California at my request and we used them in our pre-show publicity,” said show chairman Gene Bradberry. “I borrowed the artwork for the full-color, slick paper flyer from Norm Heckler and used it with his permission. We had 200 sales tables and (Atlanta collector) Bob Simmons handled some great displays. Heckler, Jim Hagenbuch and Dick and Elma Watson were among wellknown collectors in attendance.” Bradberry’s idea at the time was to create a national show every year. “There were still those who wanted an Expo every four years so we compromised and had the national shows every year between the Expos.” 1992 Antique Bottle & Jar Exposition - Toledo, Ohio
Show chairman Adam Koch and his Ohio Bottle Club volunteers had to get used to hearing exclamations of “Holy Toledo!” from excited visitors at the show at the Seagate Centre. Bulk of the comments from show-goers was highly positive. The program was the thickest ever, 110 pages counting the covers, with features by Ralph Finch, Bill Agee and Stanley and Isabel Sherwood. There were a bunch of specialty group meetings taking place, too - the Jelly Jammers and those who liked fruit jars, Saratoga Waters, painted label sodas, poisons, whimsies, glass knives, milk bottles and infant feeders. There was a chance for early buyers to get into the show in advance of the rest of the crowd and this did not sit well with many. But as one dealer among those manning a record 550 sales tables put it: “those people were there to buy and they did.” There were 60 displays, all outstanding. 71
1993 National Advertising & Bottle Show - Richmond, Virginia
Somewhere in the Federation board of directors records, there is mention of someone who probably was suffering from bottle show withdrawal pains suggesting that instead of waiting another four years for an Expo to roll around, why not hold annual national shows. This Virginia show was the first of many and it was a good one. “The show was great and went off without a hitch,” said Federation Chairman Gene Bradberry. There were 17 displays, including a genuine wagon showing off hundreds of medicine bottles and go-withs. Post-show stories never gave a dealer count, but comments given to reporter Ralph Finch were mostly on the positive side. The 25th Anniversary National Bottle & Advertising Show & National Convention Cherry Hill, New Jersey - June 22-26, 1994
The Federation was “born” in 1968 so the Silver Anniversary show was a special one, thanks to Dick and Elma Watson of New Jersey and Jerry McCann of Chicago. The Watsons had come up with the idea of a bus trip to Wheaton Village in Millville, New Jersey, and McCann got the ball (and the bus) rolling, according to a post-show article. The Federation rented the bus for $500 and each one who made the trip paid $10 that included the trip, admission to the museum and a box lunch. The next day, the Watsons arranged for a Wheaton glassblowing display to set up in the hotel parking lot. Collectors from Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, Grenada and the United States came to the show. Some of the visitors made it to the Watsons’ “bottle house.” Jon Panek of Deerfield, Illinois, said his visit there “was like dying and going to heaven!” 1995 National Bottle Show - Chicago, Illinois
Dealers set up on 210 tables and there were 11 outstanding displays. Many visitors were able to take a Friday night cruise on the Chicago River and out into Lake Michigan. Jon Panek of Deerfield, Jerry McCann of Chicago and Barb and Bob Harms of Riverdale, Ill., came up with lots of neat extras not normally found at such shows. At previous shows, visitors lamented that two days were just too short. The complaints at this one were that the show was too long. Perhaps the 90-degree heat had something to do with that. One of the most unusual items sold during Jim Hagenbuch’s Glassworks Auction was a salt-glazed jug imprinted with Lancaster Tonic Bitters / C.A. Wood & Co. / 37 Haverhill St. / Boston. It sold for $400. Hagenbuch’s 3-day-old van was stolen, and that was bad enough, but happily there were no bottles inside. 1996 National Antique Bottle Exposition - Nashville, Tennessee
“Music City, USA,” attracted 665 sales tables staffed by 461 dealers and many of those in attendance came in a vacation mode. There were 45 displays. Bitters maven Carlyn Ring was named to the Federation Hall of Fame. Many visitors, among them non-smokers, enjoyed a trip to the Museum of Tobacco Art & History. Show chairman Claude Bellar and his staff of volunteers were lauded for their efforts. Norm Heckler conducted the auction and among noteworthy items were an 1820-30 Concentric Ring Flask that netted $20,000 and a cobalt Columbia Eagle Portrait Flask that garnered $21,000. There were no awards given for the displays, but each entrant received a commemorative bottle of Jack Daniel’s best stuff. Ken Anderson’s trailer, which held all of his Indian cures, go-withs and the great medicine wagon he displayed them in, escaped being damaged when the trailer broke loose from the hitch and wound up in a ditch. “It must have been Indian magic,” commented one observer. 1997 National Antique Bottle Show - Jacksonville, Florida
The show was smaller than usual, with 120 dealers manning 160 tables, but enthusiasm was high for the first show held in the South since the 1993 affair in Richmond, Va. Dick Watson and Doc Ford were inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Carl Sturm celebrated his birthday and a slice of key lime pie with one candle was delivered to him. There were several 72
outstanding displays, ranging from Wayne Boynton’s Celery Cola display to Ron Rasnake’s pictorial case gins to Joe Brock’s Jacksonville’s Past in Glass, among others. Another highlight was a dinner cruise up the St. Johns River. 1998 National Antique Bottle Show - Cincinnati, Ohio
Burton Spiller gave a nostalgic talk about the early days of bottle collecting as he remembered them and that was one of the highlights at the Cincinnati Convention Center. Another event was more personal for Spiller, who was inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Fifteen terrific displays attracted lots of attention. There were 160 dealers’ tables and at one of them, a dealer was going to put out some Beanie Babies. But show chairman Adam Koch was adamant that Beanie Babies had no place at an antique bottle show and sale. Good for him! 1999 National Antique Bottle Show - Cincinnati, Ohio
No one made a bid to play host to this year’s show, so Adam Koch & Co., agreed to do a 2-peat. Howard Dean, longtime collector of Saratoga Springs bottles and author of many stories relating to the bottle hobby, was elected to the FOHBC Hall of Fame during this meeting. Kevin Sives, an FOHBC member and early user of the Internet, gave a user-friendly talk about using that medium to one’s advantage. There were two programs on inks and labeled inks by Keith Leeders and John Hinkle, respectively. 2000 National Antique Bottle Exposition - Denver, Colorado
Dave Cheadle succeeded Dave Hinson as editor of BOTTLES and EXTRAS and found time to give an educational talk on trade cards and bottles, one of the Rocky Mountain highs during the show. Sheryl Anderson was show chairman and did a remarkable job. There were new books galore from Pike’s Peak Gold by John Eatwell and David Clint III, Antique Glass Bottles by Willy Van den Bossche of Holland, and Bitters Bottles by Bill Ham and Carlyn Ring. Seven countries and 33 states were represented at the event and the federation picked up 60 new members, according to post-show reports. It was noted that the first FOHBC convention was held in Denver back in 1969, presided over by John Eatwell. 2001 National Antique Bottle Show & Sale - Muncie, Indiana
Thirteen exhibits featuring fruit jars, water bottles, poisons and show globes, among others, and 140 sales tables highlighted the show in “Fruit Jar Country, USA.” Future federation president Ralph Van Brocklin gave a slide presentation on Western Whiskey Flasks. The show was chaired by Norman Barnett, with lots of help from his wife, Junne. The Federation made a nice profit via an auction conducted by Norm Heckler with lots ranging from inks to barber bottles. Collectors came from California, Colorado and Georgia. The Minnestrista Cultural Center housed a collection of patent models of fruit jars plus other exhibits relating to Muncie history and the Ball Brothers Fruit Jar Co. Visitors literally had a ball! 2002 National Antique Bottle Show & Sale - Syracuse, New York
The 72-page program features 16 pages of “Pride of New York” bottles in full color and is definitely a coveted collector’s item. Ralph Van Brocklin, who was elected FOHBC president, gave a seminar on Western Flasks, and George Waddy, a featured columnist in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, gave one on Saratoga Bottles. There was more on Saratogas inside the program written by authority Howard Dean, while Kevin A. Sives wrote about New York glass houses of the 17th through 19th centuries. Elma Watson, John Eatwell and Mayor Bob Ferraro were inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Phyllis and Adam Koch wrote a touching tribute to Elma Watson in the September BOTTLES and EXTRAS. Mrs. Watson died of cancer on Aug. 26, 2002. There were 252 sales tables and 29 exhibits and the show’s auction conducted by Norm Heckler grossed $25,000. 73
2003 National Antique Bottle Show & Sale - Louisville, Kentucky
More than 200 tables awaited early buyers at this show co-hosted by Wayne and June Lowry of Raymore, Mo., after two years of planning. Longtime collectors Norm and Junne Barnett were inducted into the Federation Hall of Fame. They set up their famous collection of unusual fruit jar closures as one of 16 educational exhibits. Orville Seals of North Jackson, Ohio displayed more than 100 Louisville mini jugs (mostly from the Bauer Pottery). Norm Heckler called the auction which grossed more than $30,000. 2004 National Antique Bottle Exposition - Memphis, Tennessee
Ralph Van Brocklin closed out his last term as FOHBC president with the triumph that was this Expo. Chaired by his friend and longtime federation member Gene Bradberry in the latter’s home town, the show featured 371 sales tables and 23 displays. Seminars included such topics as baby bottles, locating sites and digging them, black glass dating, fruit jars and bitters. Twelve authors got a chance to sign and sell their books. Jimmie Wood of Denver, North Carolina, was awarded the FOHBC People’s Choice ribbon for his stunning display of applied color label sodas from North and South Carolina. There also was a forum describing the trials and tribulations of becoming a book author, with Jack Sullivan, Dewey Heetderks, Jerry McCann, John Eatwell and Bill Ham chiming in. 2005 National Antique Bottle Show - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Thirty-one outstanding displays awaited visitors’ attention at the show where chairman John Pastor and his crew of volunteers did a marvelous job. Seminars were plentiful and first class, with Red Book author Doug Leybourne discoursing on fruit jar closures, Carl Sturm speaking about identification and dating of black glass bottles, Dann Louis talking about cures, Dan Simons on Michigan bottles, Wayne (Jar Doctor) Lowry about cleaning old bottles, Dr. Darell Erickson on infant feeders, Rick Ciralli about Connecticut glass and Mark Vuono on historical flasks. Norm Heckler again loaned his auctioneering talents to the Federation. One of the outstanding bottles sold was a green Drake’s Plantation Bitters for $10,500. 2006 National Antique Bottle Show - Reno, Nevada
This was the first national show held in a Western state since the 2000 Expo in Denver, Colorado, and it was a roaring success, thanks to the efforts of FOHBC conventions director Wayne Lowry, show chairman Marty Hall and Reno-Sparks club members. There were 287 in line for early admission and 315 more for general admission, making for standing room only around the 266 sales tables. A significant piece of federation business was the approval to publish BOTTLES and EXTRAS bi-monthly instead of quarterly. California collector Richard Siri was the keynote speaker and his discourse on Hostetter’s Bitters was complemented by his 190 variants of those well-known bottles. The displays drew this rave from Ralph Van Brocklin: “Hands down, THE BEST group of displays I have ever seen at a show!” Wonderful seminar topics ranging from target balls to historical bottle research were highlights of the meeting. BOTTLES and EXTRAS editor Kathy Hopson-Sathe gave the show coverage more than 17 pages of the Fall issue and Van Brocklin did a masterful job of describing what went on. 2007 National Bottle Show - Collinsville, Illinois
“Back To Where It All Began” was the theme at Collinsville’s Gateway Center, pointing to the inaugural national show held in 1976 across the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri. Special pins were presented to “Long Timers” who attended both shows. Wayne (Jar Doctor) Lowry was show chairman, with assists from Curt and Ellen Faulkenberry, Jim and Debbie Taylor and Pat Jett. Wayne’s wife, June, business manager for the federation, was stunned to receive the President’s Award from Carl Sturm. Seminars ranged from “Something for Every74
one” by Jelly Jammer members Phyllis Pahlman and Margaret Shaw to “Chero-Cola - There’s None So Good” by Dennis Smith to “Using the Internet to Collect Bottles” by John “Digger” Odell to “Ink Symposium” by Keith Leeders, John Hinkel, Ed and Lucy Faulkner, Frank Starczek and Don Carroll. Longtime collectors and Federation members Gene Bradberry and Ed Provine did a show and tell session on early glass-blowing methods and tools of that trade. Other highlights included 19 outstanding displays. Greg Hawley, one of a group of treasure hunters who found and excavated the Steamboat Arabia, was the banquet speaker. 2008 National Antique Bottle Exposition - York, Pennsylvania
Collectors from across the country and around the world (Australia, Germany, United Kingdom) made the trek to the ninth Federation Expo where they enjoyed seeing 32 terrific displays ranging from fruit jars to California perfumes. They also attended outstanding seminars on Saratoga waters, black glass, inks, the Lancaster, N.Y. Glass Works and the Kola Wars. Convention Director R. Wayne Lowry reported 415 sales tables had been sold. Perhaps the show’s only negative aspect came at the banquet where featured foods were in short supply and some of the 246 guests had to accept substitutes. The FOHBC Hall of Fame grew by four new inductees in Tom Caniff, Jim Hagenbuch, Carl Sturm and Betty Zumwalt. Steve Ketcham and the late Katie Foglesong were inducted onto the Honor Roll. Norm Heckler once again was the auctioneer for the Expo event, with an early, olive-green Wryghte’s Bitters / London the top lot with a $3,900 bid. Russ Smith of the United Kingdom and Rex and Joanna Barber of Australia penned views of the Expo from their perspectives in the November-December BOTTLES and EXTRAS. Former FOHBC president John Pastor resigned as Midwest Region director and Jamie Houdeshell was named to take over the post. Mr. Pastor accepted the position of second vice president and remains on the board of directors. June Lowry became editor of BOTTLES and EXTRAS after Kathy Hopson-Sathe was forced to step down because of illness. 2009 National Antique Bottle Show - Pomona, California
Highlight of this show, host of which was the Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club, was the awards banquet during which many collectors received their just dues. It was the first Federation National Show to be held on the West Coast and was ably chaired by Pam Selenak. Onlookers included collectors and dealers from Australia and England, as well as from 18 states. Outstanding exhibits included Richard Tucker’s historical flasks (winning the People’s Choice ribbon) and Terry Monteith’s well-displayed collection of demijohns and carboys captured the FOHBC Most Educational ribbon. Alan DeMaison received the President’s Award for his outstanding contributions as Federation treasurer from Richard Siri. The FOHBC Hall of Fame gained another member in Johnnie Fletcher of the Oklahoma Territory Bottle & Relic Club. Johnnie was originally nominated by his friend, Ed Stewart, of Paola, Kansas, for inclusion on the FOHBC Honor Roll, but Johnnie’s dedication and contributions to the hobby led board members to vote him into the main shrine. Midwest Region Editor Joe Coulson’s Glass Chatter of the Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club was a first-class winner in the newsletter category. The Ohio Swirl, edited by Phyllis Koch of The Ohio Bottle Club, was second. Huron Valley Antique Bottle Club’s show flyer was first and the Antique Bottle Club of San Diego placed second. Jack Sullivan, of Alexandria, Va., won for the best researched article for “The Night the Axe Fell on Cleveland.” Dave Maryo, the host club’s president, was second with his article, “Forsha’s Balm is Endorsed by President Lincoln.” Mike Bryant won the best true story award for “The Snake in the Glass” and best fiction for “Ask Aunt Blabby.” 2010 National Antique Bottle Show - Wilmington, Ohio
Best thing about this show, those who attended would agree, was the Roberts Centre showroom with its well-lighted, wide aisles, offering plenty of room for 297 sales tables, 20 wonderful displays and hordes of people. Show chairman Jamie Houdeshell became ill a few days before the show, but co-chairman Joe Hardin and chief coordinator Patty Elwood stepped up. 75
They were assisted by Jamie’s parents/ Jim and Mira Houdeshell, as well as Richard Elwood and John and Margie Bailey. Jamie’s pet project was the auction and, thanks to his early efforts. the event grossed just shy of $20,000. A highlight of the show was the induction of Scott Grandstaff and Kitty Roach, of Happy Camp, California, onto the FOHBC Honor Roll. Joining them was another Californian, Jeff Wichmann. Scott and Kitty founded the original BOTTLES and EXTRAS magazine, eventually giving it to the Federation when it got too much for them. Sheldon Baugh gave an educational talk about Ohio’s Shaker communities and displayed Shaker bottles from his own collection. 2011 National Show - Memphis, Tennessee
FOHBC President Gene Bradberry played the perfect host as the Federation returned to the Southland for the first time since 2004. That show also was held in Memphis, known for its downtown trolley cars and barbecue. Second Vice President Ferdinand Meyer V outlined his progress on the FOHBC web site (FOHBC.org) and Virtual Museum during the semi-annual board meeting held prior to the show and sale. Seminars were held dealing with inks (John Hinkel), bitters (Ferdinand Meyer, Don Keating and Sheldon Baugh), odd-closured fruit jars (Dick Watson), German colognes (Carl Sturm) and applied color label sodas (Randee Kaiser). Seven outstanding displays sparked interest, with Base-Embossed Cylinder Whiskeys by Steve Schingler winning the Most Educational Award and Patented Labeled Medicines by Henry Tankersley garnering the People’s Choice Award. Ninety-one lots were offered during the FOHBC National Auction, with the highlight of the sale the Morning Call Bitters going for $5,460, which was $1,460 over the high estimate. The unique variant, light amber with a hint of olive in color, sports deeply indented panels and arched column corners. Another highlight was the induction of Bill Baab, of Augusta, Georgia, into the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Former Federation Treasurer Mike Newman, of Martinez, Georgia, nominated the 76-year-old Baab, who joined the Federation in 1996 and later became its Southern Region editor. 2012 National Antique Bottle Exposition - Reno, Nevada
Those who were there at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino included longtime collector and published author Mike Polak, of Long Beach, California. Let’s hear all about it from Mike: “Over the years, I’ve attended a large number of club bottle shows, national shows and Expos, and I need to say that the Reno 2012 Expo was absolutely fantastic and probably the best all around show I’ve ever attended!” If that comment didn’t make show co-chairmen Marty Hall and Richard Siri proud, who knows what will? This was a show of “firsts” in the hobby. Complementing the thousands of words written about the show were a series of great color photos from the lenses of the first professional show photographer, Scott Selenak. (“There was so much action, my camera couldn’t stop firing,” he said later). Norman C. Heckler & Co., conducted the first “Drakes, Whiskey & Umbrella Ink Shootout” where more than 200 people showed up. Competing in back-to-back-to-back “duels” were Circle Cutter Whiskey cylinders, Drakes Plantation Bitters and umbrella inks. After all was said and done, Judges Bruce Silva, Dennis Bray and Ralph Hollibaugh awarded Steve Hubbell, of Gig Harbor, Washington, top billing in the Cutter category for his olive green-amber specimen. Drakes Judges Jeff Noordsy, Jeff Burkhardt and Rick Simi picked a blue-green example owned by Ferdinand Meyer V, of Houston, Texas as No. 1. Umbrella inks Judges Holly Noordsy, Bryan Grapentine and Jamie Houdeshell chose a mint and pontiled puce ink owned by Jim Jacobitz, of San Francisco. “I learned how to have a shootout with killer glass bullets and still remain friends,” said veteran collector Lou Lambert. Two longtime contributors to the hobby, Warren Friedrich, of Grass Valley, Calif., and Jack Sullivan, of Alexandria, Va., were inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Fourteen scintillating displays ranging from David Hall’s fantastic assortment of E.G. Booz bottles to Dennis Bray’s outstanding EC&M insulators to eye candy Swirls, Whirls, Twists & Twirls from Dwayne Anthony, featuring bottles, fruit jars and insulators. 76
2013 National Antique Bottle Show - Manchester, New Hampshire
When collectors of antique bottles and early glass think of New England, early glass works come to mind. Like Keene, Stoddard, Temple, Lyndeboro. “I had never seen so much world class glass under one roof before,” said FOHBC Hall of Famer Bill Baab after having attended the Federation’s first National Show to be held in New England. The “roof” belonged to the Radisson Expo Center and the place was Manchester, New Hampshire July 19-21. Co-chairmen Michael George and Maureen Crawford and their Merrimack Bottle Clubbers pulled out all the stops to make this show one attendees will remember for the rest of their lives. Nine seminars covering as many different areas of collecting got the crowd going in the right direction early on Friday, July 19. Presenters were Rick Ciralli, Connecticut Glasshouse Rarities; Tom Haunton, Last Links to the Past: 20th Century South Jersey Glass); Ian Simmonds, American Mold Blown Tableware 1816-35; A Fresh Look at “Blown Three-Mold”; Michael George, New Hampshire Glass Factories and Products; George Waddy, Mineral Waters from Yankee Country; Jim George, Early 20th Century Milk Marketing in New England; Brian P. Wolff, Mount Vernon Glass Co. - History, Products, People; David Hoover, Uncovering Demijohns, and Al Morin, Markings and Seals Embossed on Milk Bottles. In addition to the glass and pottery offered by the 168 dealers present, collectors were treated to 17 displays of outstanding glass and pottery. The People’s Choice Award was won by Michael George for his awesome display of Stoddard glass, including inks, a flask with embossed U.S. flag (featured on the souvenir program’s front cover), medicines and utilities. Most Educational Award was won by Ken Previtali, of Glastonbury, Connecticut for his wonderful ginger ale bottle display, with many of the bottles displaying an astounding array of paper labels featuring great graphics. Other exhibitors were Tom Marshall (New England Inkwells), Mark Newton (Lyndeborough Glass), Dale Murschell (Wistarburgh Glass), Jeff and Holly Noordsy (Utilitarian Vessels from New England and New York State), Bob Kennerknecht (Sunburst Flasks), Dave Olson (Bonney Ink Bottles), Dave Waris (Moxie Bottles), Rob Girouard (Striped Sandwich Glass), Kevin Kyle (Blue Sodas), Dennis Gionet (Manchester-produced Bottles), Paul Richards (New Hampshire glass shards), Jim and Karen Gray (Stoneware Jugs), Bobby Heton (cone inks) and Jim Bender (Reproductions). The high quality of the exhibits made judges wish there were more awards to present. Next came the New England Bottle Battle, sponsored by Norman C. Heckler & Co., and directed by Michael George, dressed in full 19th century regalia. Categories were Whimsical Objects, Colored Medicines and Utility Bottles. And the winners were: (Whimsical Objects), Kevin Sives, Appalachian, N.Y., for his handled E. Waters Ink; (Colored Medicines), Dr. Charles and Jane Aprill, New Orleans, half-gallon cobalt Dr. Wynkoops Sarsaparilla; (Utility Bottles), Rick Ciralli, Bristol, Conn., multi-sided utility bottle. Wrapping up the first night’s activities was the Madness in Manchester Auction put on by Jim Hagenbuch of Glass Works Auctions, with John Pappas the auctioneer. One of the highlights was Lot No. 44, a wide-mouthed Sunburst flask/snuff jar in light greenish aqua. Pre-auction estimate was $40,000 to $60,000, but it sold for $24,000. Inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame were Gene Bradberry, of Bartlett, Tenn., and Alan Blakeman, of the United Kingdom. Bradberry is a longtime Federation member, having served more than one term as its president, as well as in other capacities. Blakeman, published of British Bottle Review, is England’s “Mr. Bottle Man. 77
2014 National Antique Bottle Show - Lexington, Kentucky
It was Tom Phillips’ last show as Conventions Director and he made the most of it, teaming with co-chairmen Randee Kaiser and Sheldon Baugh to make the FOHBC’s first visit to Lexington and Blue Grass horse country most enjoyable. One-hundred forty-seven dealers set up at 204 tables and offered a bounty of glass and ceramic treasures and most were ecstatic about their successful sales. “One said that within an hour of setting up, he made over $3,000,” said Randee’s wife, Sue. “Another said he made four times the profit as what he usually collects at shows.” The numbers of early buyers (178) and general attendees (320) exceeded the numbers at past shows, said Phillips, whose good work was acknowledged when he received the President’s Award from FOHBC President Ferdinand Meyer V. The show was headquartered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and held at the adjacent Lexington Center, a wonderful venue with lots of space, great lighting and enthusiastic staff. Events got under way on Friday, August 1, with a series of six seminars: Jerry McCann’s Mid 1800s, The Evolution of Bottles Through Fruit Jars; The History of ACL Soda Bottles in Kentucky and Beyond, by Randee Kaiser; Here’s to Beers, by Gary Beatty; FOHBC Virtual Museum Progress, by Ferdinand Meyer V and Steve Libbey; The History and Evolution of the Shaker Herb and Medicine Industries by Sheldon Baugh, and Ohio River Privy Digging by Jeff Mihalik. All were entertaining and educational. This show was notable for a number of “firsts.” A ribbon cutting with Randee and Sheldon utilizing the oversized scissors (enough ribbon was left over for next year’s Chattanooga show and 2016’s Sacramento show) opened the showroom doors. There was an appraisal table in charge of Martin Van Zant (who became a Kentucky Colonel) and friends who saw a cool master ink, a Japanese balsam from Cincinnati, lots of Coca-Cola bottles, an aqua double eagle historical flask “and a ton of common stuff,” he said. California antique bottle auctioneer Jeff Wichmann donated a cool $5,000 to be raffled in smaller segments. Scott Selenak, who has become the Federation’s chief photographer, recorded everything on his trusty digital cameras. Friday night’s banquet featured Michael “Mr. Bourbon” Veach as the guest speaker. He later signed copies of his book, Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Veach’s friend and co-author, Chet Zoeller, signed copies of his book, Bourbon in Kentucky,” on the show’s final day. Since Lexington is home to the Kentucky Derby, it was appropriate that the Federation hold its own Run for the Roses. Instead of Thoroughbreds, the contest featured wax sealer fruit jars, scroll flasks and Midwestern swirl decanters. FOHBC member Chip Cable videotaped the bottles and projected each onto a large screen. Sue Kaiser tracked down the finishers: WIN: Midwestern Swirl Decanter - John Pastor, New Hudson, Mich.; Historical Scroll Flask - Steve Schingler, Braselton, Ga.; Wax Sealer Fruit Jar - Jerry McCann, Chicago, Il., PLACE: Midwestern Swirl Decanter - Tom Lines, Birmingham, Ala.; Historical Scroll Flask - John Pastor, New Hudson, Mich.; Wax Sealer Fruit Jar - Ryne Henrich, Crystal Lake, Ill., SHOW: Midwestern Scroll Flask - Dave Maryo, Victorville, Calif.; Historical Scroll Flask - Mike Henrich, Crystal Lake, Ill.; Wax Sealer Fruit Jar - Perry Driver, Live Oak, Fla. There were 13 educational displays running the gamut of subjects, with Tom Sproat’s 19th century glass-making tools winning the Federation’s Most Educational Award. Jim Hubbard’s outstanding display of Kentucky pocket flasks won the FOHBC Best of Show Award. Worth mentioning was Federation historian Dick Watson’s display tracing the history of the organization that started in 1969. Unfortunately, Dick and David Olson, of Carver, Mass., were involved in an automobile accident just minutes away from Dick’s New Jersey home while 78
heading to Lexington. Happily, both have since recovered. Another novel idea was the fancy hat contest, won with a bottle-and horse-themed example worn by Leanne Peace. Capping the night’s activities was the “Thoroughbred Auction” conducted by Jim Hagenbuch. 2015 National Antique Bottle Show - Chattanooga, Tennessee The Federation found itself on the right track after picking Chattanooga as the perfect site for its Southern Region national show July 31-Aug. 2. So “Choo-Choo to Chattanooga” was the theme engineered by great graphics on the show’s logo showing an old-time steam engine. Chattanooga itself was made famous by the Glenn Miller tune “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” sung or hummed during the 1940s-50s: “Pardon me boys, is that the Chattanooga ChooChoo?” Federation President Ferdinand Meyer V expressed it well in the lead of his main story in the September-October issue of BOTTLES and EXTRAS: “The train arrived in all of its glory, met us at the station, and carried its passengers on a grand three-day excursion in the great southern city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It left us with memories that will last a lifetime.” Show co-chairmen Jack Hewitt and John Joiner co-wielded the giant scissors to cut the ribbon allowing “passengers” to stream into the showroom of the Chattanooga Convention Center on Saturday afternoon. Dealers were allowed in first, then early buyers, instead of everybody en masse as in previous shows. Opening the event on the evening of July 31 was the FOHBC Banquet and Awards session in the Marriott Hotel’s ballroom. It was preceded by a cocktail party during which old friends greeted each other and made new friends. Highlights included the induction of target ball collector and expert Ralph Finch, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, into the FOHBC Hall of Fame, and an amusing and emotional address by keynote speaker Tom Hicks, of Eatonton, Georgia. Hicks later became ill and, to his dismay, missed the show and the Rolling Thunder Auction held Saturday night. The Federation Board of Directors surprised President Meyer with a special award denoting his outstanding service not only to the Federation, but to the hobby as well. The President’s Award went to Jim Bender, of Sprakers, New York, “for his outstanding service as FOHBC historian.” Other honors were bestowed on winners in the club newsletters, show flyers, web sites, articles-research/information, best true story and best original fiction story categories. Bottle-knowledgeable Mike Newman, of Martinez, Georgia, was the perfect emcee of the Battle of Chattanooga Bottle Competition capping the first day’s activities. He was ably assisted by Chip Cable of McMurrayville, Pennsylvania, who filmed and projected the images of each entry. Bob Riddick and Mark White, both of Lexington, South Carolina, checked each bottle and made sure each was returned to its respective owner. First-place winners were Dr. Charles Aprill, of New Orleans, for his 9-1/2 inch tall, cobalt blue Wells, Miller, Prevost sauce bottle. Dr. Aprill is well-known for his love of cobalt blue bottles. Eric Schmetterling, of Moorestown, New Jersey, won the colored sodas category with his amethyst Blagroves Superior Aerated Mineral Waters, Brooklyn, New York, 10-sided, iron-pontiled tenpin-shaped bottle. Best Bottle South of the Mason-Dixon Line winner was Dr. Aprill with his blue wine with embossed grapes and leaves. It was an unembossed variant of the Imperial Levee, J. Noyes, Hollywood, Miss. Judges also gave Dr. Aprill a first-place tie with his pontiled blue Dr. Leriemondie’s Southern Bitters. It was unmarked, but known to be from Brookhaven, Mississippi. Another innovation introduced by President Meyer was the membership breakfast on Saturday morning. Previous membership gatherings were held in Friday afternoons and were lightly attended since many show-goers did not arrive until later. This one attracted 110 members who voted to increase the Federation dues package to keep up with growing expenses and re-institute life memberships. 79
One of the best programs is the seminars held during the morning prior to the show’s opening. Tommy Schimpf presented Charleston, South Carolina Colored Sodas; Every Bottle Has a Story, with Jack Sullivan and Ferdinand Meyer V; The History of Jack Daniel Whiskey by Mike Northcutt; Alkaline-Glazed Stoneware of the Edgefield District by Jim Witkowski of Charleston, South Carolina; The Evolution of the Coca-Cola Bottle by Doug McCoy and Bottle and Relic Digging by Rick Phillips and Paul Sampson. Show scenes were documented by talented Mallory Boyle, Jack Hewitt’s daughter, and her photos were displayed throughout the BOTTLE and EXTRAS issue featuring summaries of the show. Twelve wonderful, colorful and educational displays under the title of Great Southern Bottles chaired by Tom Lines, Birmingham, Ala., and Ed Provine, Millington, Tenn. “Best in Show Award” was presented to Mike Newman, Martinez, Ga., for his stunning array of colored sodas from Georgia and South Carolina. The “Most Educational Award” was given to Tom Sproat, Covington, Kentucky, for his display of glass-making tools. Other displays were Tenn-Cola, Gene Bradberry, Bartlett, Tenn.; Dale Murschell, Springfield, W. Va., paperweight perfume bottles; Walter Smith, Augusta, Ga., Edward Sheehan sodas from Augusta; Mike Jordan, Ocala, Fla., Hyacinth Vases; Bill Haley, Chattanooga, Glass Insulators; Amy Autenreith, Chattanooga, Houston Museum Bottles; Dennis Smith, Buffalo, N.Y., Celery Colas; Jim Berry, St. Johnsville, N.Y., Inks, and Mike Northcutt, Lynchburg, Tenn., History of Jack Daniels. NOTES: Ninety-two-year-old Dorothy “Tootsie” Hood, of Apison, Tenn., a longtime bottle collector, became a member of the FOHBC when her grandson bought the membership. . . a treasure trove of items from E. Dexter Loveridge of Wahoo Bitters fame was auctioned off. . . James Penrose came from far off New South Wales. . . Alicia Booth, Houston, Texas, donated a Success to the Railroad historical flask as a hat contest prize in honor of her late husband, Tom. . . Liz Maxbauer, New Hudson, Mich., won it. . . the Souvenir Program’s 107 pages carried features by Jack Sullivan and Charles David Head as well as a listing of the Top 25 Tennessee Bottles. . .there were 230 sales tables. . . 2016 National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo - “Back to Our Roots” - Sacramento, California “A Celebration of People and Our Hobby:” That’s how FOHBC President Ferdinand Meyer V headed the lead story in the follow-up November-December issue of the Federation’s magazine, Bottles and Extras. The organization took root in 1969, some 10 years after John C. and Edith Tibbitts organized its predecessor, The Antique Bottle Collectors of California, in their Sacramento home. That club caught the imaginations of antique bottle collectors from “sea to shining sea,” including Charles Gardner, of New London, Connecticut, known as “The Father of Antique Bottle Collecting.” Federation officers and board members pulled out all the stops to make this venture into Gold Rush Country a memorable and memory-making, strike it rich experience. First stop was the privately owned McClellan Conference Center and Lions Gate Hotel at the decommissioned McClellan Air Force Base (1935-2001) seven miles northeast at Sacramento. Sacramento resident Jeff Wichmann held open house at his American Bottle Auctions where visitors “ooooed” and “ahhhed” at his collection of outstanding historical bottles and related “goodies.” The Lions Gate General’s House played host to a reception for dealers and their assistants, early buyers, displayers and seminar conductors on the Thursday evening (the first day of the event). The Sacramento Shootout followed that evening back at the hotel with whiskeys (Jesse Moore Sole Agent cylinders, U.S.A. Hospital Bottles and Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters) in the bottle battle. Richard Siri, who spearheaded the Shootout, found himself the hospital bottle winner. Dale Mlasko captured the top whiskey prize, while Mike Henness’s Hostetter’s topped that category. 80
The inaugural FOHBC Membership Breakfast Meeting was held at the 2015 Chattanooga show and was a great success, so it was repeated on the Lions Gate Hotel patio. Nothing like free food to attract a crowd. A fine array of speakers presenting educational seminars on Warner’s Safe Cures and Products (Michael Seeliger,.Mike and Kathie Craig), the A.W. Cudworth Business Journal (Tom Jacobs), Early American Scent Bottles (Chris Hartz), Early California Stoneware (John O’Neill), Red Wing Advertising Stoneware (Steve Ketcham) and Gold Rush Artifacts (John Schroyer) followed. The mud flats at Benicia, California are unlovely to behold. Just when they revealed their hidden iridescent glass treasures is a matter of conjecture, but their unique colors were on a wonderful display called Benicia Glass – Nature’s Tiffany by Michael and Karen Peart. It was just one of 20 outstanding displays of bottles, jars, miniatures, Owl Drug bottles, Hostetter’s Bitters and an apothecary cabinet filled with gems. The Warner’s Safe Bottles and Posters display took both “Best in Show” and “Most Educational” ribbons. Collectors holding early admission badges joined the rush of dealers into the McClellan Conference Center show room at 1 p.m., Friday. There was a bit of confusion when the supply of early admission badges gave out, but a runner was sent to a local office supply company for name stickers. The crowd may have been a record number for a first day and most were in a buying mood. That set the stage for the FOHBC Cocktail Party and Banquet Friday evening. There had been 115 reservations, but 150 showed up to feast. Highlight of the meeting was an emotional speech by Betty Zumwalt, the 2008 FOHBC Hall of Fame inductee and noted authority on antique glass, as well as an author. Jeff Wichmann, who had been named to the Federation Honor Roll in 2010, was “bumped up” to the Hall of Fame following his many contributions to the bottle hobby. The late Tommy Mitchiner, of Gordon, Georgia, was placed on the Honor Roll for his role as the Peach State’s most famous antique bottle collector and researcher, particularly relating to the Savannah, Ga., bottles of John Ryan (1852-1870s). John Joiner, of Newnan, Georgia, was presented the President’s Award for an outstanding job at the 2015 Chattanooga National Antique Bottle Show. Mike Bryant, of the Antique Bottle Club of San Diego, hauled off four awards to lead club honors. Show room doors opened at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, and almost 700 folks piled through the door. General admission tags gave out. A tour bus arrived loaded with Reno Antique Bottle Club members. The future of any hobby is its ability to attract younger members and Richard and Bev Siri were ready. The show’s co-chairmen had prepared 44 children’s grab bags, each filled with two or three newspaper-wrapped bottles from the Siri collection. The day was capped by the 49er Bottle Jamboree Auction conducted by Fred Holabird, president of Holabird Western Americana based in Reno, Nevada. Star of that western bottle-themed auction was an early yellow-green Gold Dust Whiskey from San Francisco (1871-74), a flawless example of only eight known. It brought $34,500 including the auction house premium. Eyes of 200 in-house bidders plus hundreds more online (including a collector aboard an aircraft carrier) shattered previous FOHBC auction records, according to President Meyer. Also setting a record was the 134-page Souvenir Program, surely to become a favored collector’s item. Jim Bender and Bob Strickhart, co-chairmen of the 2017 National Show in Springfield, Massachusetts (Aug. 3-6), may find it a hard “act” to follow. We shall see. 2017 National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo - Springfield, Massachusetts When one thinks of Springfield, Massachusetts, the legendary Springfield rifle comes into the mind’s eyes of many people, but not antique bottles; that is, until the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors held its annual National Show and Exposition there. 81
The four-day, high caliber event (pun intended) started with a reception at historic Springfield Armory on Aug. 3, setting the tone for the rest of the week. There was a small glitch not of the Federation’s making: A Tennessee company conducted an auction at the host hotel during the reception, leading to a future rule prohibiting such things from happening during FOHBC shows next year in Cleveland and in Augusta, Georgia in 2019 and beyond. Co-show chairmen Jim Bender and Bob Strickhart did an amazing job in taking control of the show. “We both felt it was what a show chairman does,” Bender said. “So everything good or bad was on us.” The Sheridan Springfield Place Monarch Hotel was host for the show and the staff could not have been more helpful. The Springfield Bottle Battle took place in the MassMutual Center. These contests give collectors the opportunity to see rare examples of the best bottles known from that Massachusetts area. Judges Ed Gray, the bewigged Jim Hagenbuch and John Pastor were up to the challenge and didn’t go off half-cocked. The winner was Mike George with a very rare pontiled Phelps Arcanum. Jack Fortmeyer was runner-up with a very rare Massachusetts Fire Extinguisher, and Ron Ranka was third with super-rare lavender-colored J&IEM monitor ink. Matt and Elizabeth Lacey and Louis and Lindsey Fifer made sure the event ran smoothly and Chip Cable again was present to videotape all of the bottles and show them on the big screen for everyone’s viewing pleasure. Here are the other categories, judges and winners: Best Sandwich Glass, Judges Eric McGuire, Greg Bair and Mike George. Ed Beard, first; Nick Wrobleski, second and third. Best Saratoga-Type Spring Water Bottle, Judges Jeff Ullman, Jim Berry, Jim Bender. Rich Strunk, first, peach-toned Excelsior Rock Springs quart; Strunk, second, rare beveled corner John Clarke quart; Rick Cirali, third, Lynch and Clarke quart. Six seminars on varying subjects were held Friday morning and, as usual, attendees had to make up their minds which of the two held at the same time they wanted to attend. The FOHBC tried to remedy the situation by video-taping each, with plans to make the tapes available in the future. The programs were Glassmaking in New England (Michael George), The Marketing of Milk in the 1940s (Peter Bleiberg), Flask Classification 101 (Mark Vuono), Colors of Sandwich Glass (Wes Seeman), Excavations of The Mount Vernon Glassworks (Richard Strunk and Mark Yates) and Dr. Sweetiing and the Flag Salt Remedy Co. (John M. Spellman). The late Dick and Elma Watson were among the honorees at the Friday evening banquet, with Jim Bender, Bob Strickhart and Phyllis Koch sharing their memories of the Hall of Fame collectors and their collections. The Watsons’ son, Steve, presented an emotional Bender with a small flask of a man holding a flag that was a part of his parents’ collection. FOHBC President Ferdinand Meyer V enjoyed the moments when he inducted longtime collector and Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club founder Jon Landers onto the Honor Roll and Charles and Mark Vuono into the Hall of Fame. Together, the father-son duo built what is believed to be the best collection of American historical flasks in existence. Ferdinand presented the annual President’s Award to five women for their hard work at the FOHBC 2016 Sacramento National Antique Bottle Show and Expo. They are Val Berry, Alicia Booth, Elizabeth Meyer, Linda Sheppard and Bev Siri. Next came the Watson One Auction on Saturday morning, conducted by Jim Hagenbuch’s Glass Works Auctions and called by Jesse Sailor. Idea for the event came from the co-chairmen who knew Dick and Elma would have loved to be involved in the show. Specially designed stickers in the shape of Massachusetts with the lot number, Springfield and the auction house logo were placed on each bottle. 82
Another of the highlights came from Norman C. Heckler & Co. The auction house had no fewer than seven display tables placed in a living room setting, including tables and chairs and many spectacular bottles. Speaking of displays, Fran Hughes was credited for coordinating the set-up of no fewer than 11 displays. The dealers in attendance voted Rick Ciralli’s Connecticut Glass the Best of Show Award. The Peoples Choice and Most Educational were presented to Richard Campbell for his spectacular dose measure glasses. The FOHBC Virtual Museum is gathering momentum. The brainchild of Richard Siri, the museum “is a digital and online expression of one might find in a real museum, containing (but not limited to) images of bottle and glass.” There was a display held during the show. It revealed how the “spinner system” of photography works. Alan DeMaison demonstrated it for all the people who asked about it.
2019 Southern Region: FOHBC 50th Anniversary Augusta National Antique Bottle Convention 2020 Western Region: FOHBC Reno National Antique Bottle Convention 2021 Northeast Region: To Be Determined *Proposals Welcome 2022 Midwest Region: To Be Determined *Proposals Welcome
National Show Special $10 show pick up! H.H. Warner His Company & His Bottles 2.0 H.H. Warner - His Company & His Bottles 2.0 by Michael Seeliger & Contributing authors worldwide. Digital Format fits any USB Port PDF version. Filled with the Warner and Dr. Craig Story, Bottles, Advertising, Posters, Almanacs, and other information on Warner and Craig bottles. Over 600 pages with great pictures of all Warner bottles and advertising. Includes the 1974 book H.H. Warner His Company & His Bottles and a checklist of Warner and Dr. Craig items. Michael Seeliger MWSeeliger@gmail.com, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521
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On July 25, 1986, Dr. Cecil Munsey, of Poway, California, sent a memo to Marilyn Schmieding, FOHBC Western Region representative, that the FOHBC “seriously consider establishing an ‘HONOR ROLL’ of people who have contributed significantly to bottle collecting. The Honor Roll would not replace the Hall of Fame, the greatest honor the hobby can bestow, but only supplement it.” The FOHBC Board of Directors adopted the idea and it was put into place the following year.
1987
The following were nominated by The Ohio Bottle Club, Gary Beatty, President. Research was conducted by Paul Ballentine, Springfield, Ohio, and Gary Beatty, Galion, Ohio. “The Reward of True Excellence is to Obtain Honor.” The list was updated with capsule comments on each honoree (when available) by then Southern Region editor Bill Baab during 20082010, with help from Mary Ballentine, Sheldon Baugh, Ralph Finch, Norm Heckler, Cecil Munsey, Richard Siri, Dick Watson, Ralph Van Brocklin, Bruce Silva and Garth Ziegenhagen. George S. McKearin, co-author (with daughter Helen) of American Glass, noted authority on early American glass in general, not just bottles. Malcolm Watkins and Lura Woodside Watkins. He enjoyed an extensive career at the Smithsonian Institution, was curator of several collections including ceramics and glass. He was a pioneer in the field of historic archaeology. Lura, his mother, was a pioneer in the study of American cultural history, and collected extensively at New England’s unexplored pottery kiln sites. She later donated her collection to the Smithsonian. She was the author of Cambridge Glass, 1818-1888, The Story of the New England Glass Company. Stephen Van Rensselaer, one of the earliest individuals to collect and study early bottles (1920s). His Early American Bottles and Flasks was published in 1926. It was revised in 1929. His research for the time was nearly impeccable, since he was able to interview “former glassblowers, their wives, relatives and others who were familiar with local history and tradition.” The book was reprinted in 1969. Otha Wearin was a congressman during the early Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration, and became an authority on figural bottles. He authored a book called Statues That Pour. James Gabel, early collector. Ezra Feinberg, early collector. Edgar F. Hoffman, of Maplewood, N.J., was a collector in the 1930s-50s who specialized in historical flasks, although he collected others such as bitters, sodas and figurals, according to his early 1950s correspondence with prominent Alabama collector Doy McCall. Hoffman became an expert on early glass and sold some to prominent collectors such as Charles B. Gardner of New London, Conn. 84
James H. Thompson was the author of Bitters Bottles (1947), the first specialty bottle book. He cited George McKearin, Sam Laidacker and Charles B. Gardner among the list of contributors to the book, which describes 500 bitters, as well as “amusing lore of the Bitters Era.” Neil C. Gest, Mechanicsberg, Ohio, was a flask collector, researcher, writer, contributor to The Magazine Antiques. He was well-known for collecting rare Midwestern glass. He co-wrote (with Parke G. Smith) a feature story on glassmakers Johann Baltazar Kramer and his son, George, in the March 1939 issue of The Magazine Antiques. The Kramers were associated with the Stiegel factory and those of Frederick County, Maryland, particularly Amelung, and with the New Geneva and Greensboro works. Gest also wrote the foreword to the Parke-Bernet auction catalog describing the early American glass collection of William W. Wood III of Piqua, Ohio, in 1942. Frederick W. Hunter, collector and archaeologist of the Harry Hall White type. Lowell Innes was one of the country’s foremost experts and museum consultants on 19th century American glass making. As the leading authority on Pittsburgh glass, he wrote many articles and lectured widely on the subject. He was responsible for the first public exhibitions of Pittsburgh glass in the early 1940s. Author of the book, Pittsburgh Glass 1797-1891. He died in 1985. Rhea Mansfield Knittle was a prolific author and early authority (1920s) on glass, silver and pewter. She was one of the founders of and contributors to The Magazine Antiques from its inception in 1923. One of her books was Early American Glass. Maude Wilkerson owned a “Mom and Pop” motel and operated a bottle museum in Camdenton, Missouri, and was a contributor to Old Bottle Magazine for many years. Guests at her motel could enter the museum in an adjacent building for free. Bottles were displayed in cases around a room and many early bottle collectors went out of their way during the 1960s-70s to see what she had. She and Honor Roll honoree Otha Wearin were good friends and made many bottle trades over the years. After she died, some 1,900 items were moved to Skinner’s auction gallery in Bolton, Mass., and an auction was held there in 1976. Numerous glass candy containers were among the items sold. Edwin Atlee Barber was an author who recognized the importance of early ceramics. Among his books was one about lead-glazed pottery written in the 1930s. He also authored one on early American bottles. He also authored American Glassware Old and New. It was published in 1900. Ruth Webb Lee authored books on antique fakes and reproductions, Victorian glass patterns, Sandwich glass and early American Pressed Glass, most published in the 1930s-40s. George Horace Lorimer was an early editor of The Saturday Evening Post. It was published weekly in Philadelphia and its origins dated to Benjamin Franklin’s day. The Post was the most prominent magazine in Philadelphia along with Collier’s. He did publish (on Oct. 16, 1929) Edwin Lefevre’s story, “Why I Collect Empty Bottles.” Lorimer started collecting during the early 1920s, mostly great historical flasks and diamond-daisy types. His collection was donated to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is always partially on display. His philosophy on money was reflected in a quote published by investment firm Charles Schwab in the fall of 2009: “It’s good to have money and the things money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy.” Charles Baugh, with his wife, Roxy, of Menton, Ohio, pieced together a collection of early American glass that ranked at the top in rarity, condition, perfection of form and workman85
ship. The Baughs also made a thorough study of the fields in which they were interested. Crawford Wettlaufer became an authority on early American glass and never hesitated to share his knowledge and collection, which contained many rarities, with other collectors. Dale Kuhn, of Ohio, was a pharmacist who had amassed a wonderful collection of glass that eventually was sold by Garth’s auction house near Delaware, Ohio. The sale gave modern collectors an opportunity to buy treasured items that previously had not been available. There were no bottle shows during his era and the only recourse collectors had was to buy from some of the many lists sent through the mails, or advertised in the antique journals. Earl Seigfreid. Early collector. Parke G. Smith was a collector and authority on early American flasks. He authored bottle-related stories in The Magazine Antiques (See Neil C. Gest) and other publications during the 1930s and 1940s. Edwin LeFevre was an early collector of bottles. His main claim to fame came when he authored a story, “Why I Collect Empty Bottles,” in the Saturday Evening Post of Oct. 16, 1929. Charles McMurray was a well-known antiques dealer in Dayton, Ohio. He wrote articles for local newspapers and in 1927 published a small black handbook on bottles, using items from his own collection for the photos. In 1970, a Connecticut bookseller sent out a list of bottle books for sale. On the list was a small black handbook the bookseller said was authored by Charles B. Gardner and himself. Turned out that Gardner had only priced the bottles in the book, which was nearly identical in every way to McMurray’s 1927 book. Sam Laidacker was the author of two excellent books on blue China dishes. He also published a small magazine or paper on antiques in general. He operated an antiques shop in Bristol, Pa., and was considered an authority on antique bottles. He relocated to Bloomsburg, Pa., in the late 1960s and continued to deal from a large mansion and carriage house. His father was collecting flasks and Kentucky rifles in the early 1900s. His brother, John, had 1,000 historical flasks to sell in the mid-1960s. Sam’s son, Jack, became an authority on guns and military medals and an author on the subject. Sam also did cataloging for many of the prominent auction houses across the country. He helped FOHBC Hall of Famers Dick and Elma Watson develop an expertise in antique bottles and sold them many that became the foundation for their extensive collection.
1991
Dr. Julian Harrison Toulouse was a student of glass containers for more than 30 years. He was chief engineer and manager of quality control and operations research and later consultant to the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. He was chief of the glass container section of the War Production Board during World War II. He was the author of Fruit Jars: A Collector’s Manual, in 1969 and Bottle Makers and Their Marks in 1971.
1992
Ron Fowler was born in 1947 and is retired from the SAFECO Insurance Co. He became interested in bottles and their histories while serving as manager of the Triple R Ranch in Olympia, Wash. He discovered the ranch’s dump and excavated it over a period of several years. The bottles he uncovered he did research on. He maintains a worldwide correspondence with fellow bottle collectors. He was a monthly columnist for Old Bottle Magazine from 1983 to 1986. The author of six books on bottle collecting, he received FOHBC awards for research 86
and editing. He established the Hutchinson Bottle Collectors’ Association in 2007 and continues compiling data while documenting the existence of more than 15,000 Hutchinson bottles.
1993
Lew and Lois Roach were from the original group of pioneer western collectors from Sacramento, Calif. They put together a marvelous collection of label-under-glass back bar whiskeys and Lew became the authority on that variety. Lew designed, printed and hand-colored the first multi-colored show poster in 1968 for the Golden Gate Historical Bottle Society Inc. The show was held in Alameda, Calif., May 25-26. After the show, the poster was presented to FOHBC Hall of Famer Dr. Cecil Munsey, one of the poster’s admirers.
1995
Judge Edward S. MacKenzie began collecting by accident in 1959 during recuperation from a heart condition. His physician had ordered him to take walks and the judge found a few old bottles en route and became curious about them. Inspired by his wife, Romie, he and she eventually put together one of the finest general bottle collections in the world in their Brooksville, Fla., home. The collection had eventually grown to more than 7,000. The first of a series of auctions was conducted by Norm Heckler Sr., on Oct. 7, 1994. “This collection coming on the market carries the same weight, is similar in importance, as the glass collections of Charles Gardner, Edmund Blaske and even Paul Richards,” Heckler noted. MacKenzie died in 1994. Kenneth M. Wilson was an early collector, book author and distinguished glass expert. He was the director of collections and preservation at Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. He teamed with the famous Helen McKearin to write American Bottles & Flasks and Their Ancestry (1978), an update of George S. and Helen McKearin’s 1941 classic American Glass. Wilson also authored New England Glass and Glass-making on his own.
2000
Sam Taylor was a pharmacist and member of the St. Louis Bottle Club. He had one of the best collections of pharmaceutical items in the U.S. He transformed his basement into an early drug store atmosphere, displaying his great collection. Supported by his wife, Eloise, he shared his enthusiasm by inviting numerous collectors who happened to be in the area into their home and shared their hospitality and tremendous knowledge. It was like stepping into an early drug store of the past if you were lucky enough to be invited. The Taylors, who had no children, frequently attended the Mansfield, Ohio Bottle Show and stationed themselves near the front entrance. They were easily identified by their traveling companion, “Edith,” a full-blooded English bulldog of massive proportions, who spent most of her time sleeping behind their tables. When the dog passed away, she was mourned by all the collectors who had come to know her.
2001
Robert Eugene (Bob) Barnett was born in Kootenai, Idaho on August 27, 1921 and was bitten by the bottle bug later in life than most, becoming active in the hobby about 1970. He specifically liked Western whiskies. He enjoyed what he called “a revolving collection,” buying and selling large numbers of bottles, most of which never stayed on his shelves more than a month or two. During the early 1970s, Bob and his wife, June, became permanent fixtures at just about every show west of the Rockies, He also began to mail monthly lists of western whiskies to an ever-growing number of collectors. His reputation for honesty, integrity and fairness was legendary. In 1979, Bob parlayed his vast knowledge into publishing his first book, Pacific Coast Whiskey Bottles. He published Western Liquor Bottles in 1987 and Western Whiskey Bottles in 1992 and 1997. He died June 4, 2007 in Lakeview, Oregon. 87
John Thomas was a collector, researcher and historian whose efforts contributed very significantly to the understanding of Western whiskey bottles as well as bottle collecting in general. He is perhaps best known among collectors for his research and publishing of Whiskey Bottles of the Old West (1969). His next book was Picnics, Coffins, Shoo-Flies (1974). He also authored Whiskey Bottles and Liquor Containers from the State of Washington and Whiskey Bottles and Liquor Containers from the State of Oregon (1998). His longtime hobby was the collecting of Western whiskey bottles, shot glasses and related advertising. He was a significant factor in creating a broad interest in the history and collecting of these bottles through his contributions to the hobby. He died in 2000.
2003
Neal and Mary Jane Ferguson, of Nashville, Tenn., were early collectors who in 1965 founded the Middle Tennessee Antique Bottle Club in Nashville. They were life members of the Federation. Quiet and unassuming, Neal was a driving force in the antique bottle hobby in Tennessee and an acknowledged expert on Nashville bottles. His special interests included Nashville sodas and he conducted extensive research into the Diehl and Lord, Ottenville and McCormack companies. He wrote many articles for his club newsletter as well as for the Federation. Mary Jane was a constant help to her husband and was involved in all aspects of the Federation and the hobby with him. She was Southern Region editor of the Federation until ill health forced her to retire during the 1990s. Willy Van den Bossche for more than 30 years has been a serious collector of European antique bottles (1500-1850). Since 1971, the native of Belgium worked as a patent examiner in the field of glass technology at the European Patent Office. He lives in Holland. In 2001, he authored Antique Glass Bottles, Their History and Evolution (1500-1850), capping 12 years of research and development. His library contains most of the significant American literature devoted to antique bottles.
2005
Frank Sternad is a graduate of the University of California School of Pharmacy. He has worked as a community pharmacist for 40 years. He is a historian who has studied and written about medicine for a number of publications, including those that specialize in collecting antique bottles. He has consulted with many collectors and is known for his vast knowledge of patent and proprietary medicine histories.
2008
Katie Foglesong was a charter member and spark plug of the Iowa Antique Bottleers. She also was an early secretary of the Federation of Historical Bottle Clubs (later Collectors) and privately published an entertaining little book, Trials and Trails of a Bottle Collector. Steve Ketcham began collecting antique bottles, advertising and stoneware in 1967 while still in high school. While attending the University of Minnesota, he began digging for bottles along the Mississippi River banks near the campus. He became charter member No. 11 of the North Star Historical Bottle Association in 1970 and a couple of years later joined Minnesota’s First Antique Bottle Club. He began attending regional meetings of the FOHBC in 1973, later serving as assistant chairman and then chairman of the Midwest Region. He established the Federation’s writers’ contest and served as chairman for several years. He was Federation president from 1982-84 and served on the board from 1982-98. A prolific writer, Steve contributes articles to BOTTLES and EXTRAS and Antique Bottle & Glass Collector.
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2010
The contributions to the bottle collecting hobby by Scott Grandstaff and Kitty Roach commenced in 1988 when the magazine BOTTLES and EXTRAS took form on the kitchen table of their home in Happy Camp, California. With the help and support of FOHBC Hall of Famer Dr. Cecil Munsey, of Poway, California, they published their first edition in 1989. In 1995, when the publication had grown too big for both of them, they decided to turn over the magazine and subscribers list to the FOHBC at no charge. BOTTLES and EXTRAS today has become the Federation’s most tangible asset. Native Californian Jeff Wichmann has been a collector of antique bottles for more than 40 years. In 1990, he established Pacific Glass Auctions, changing the name in 2001 to American Bottle Auctions. His was the first bottle auction house to provide full-color glossy catalogs sent to collectors at no charge. Other innovations that benefited collectors included launching the first online antique bottle auction. He published www.americanbottle.com, a website loaded with news and features of interest to collectors. His bottle photography is considered by many to be the best in the business. In 1999, he published The Best of the West - Antique Western Bitters Bottles, considered one of the top resources for researchers.
2016
Thomas William “Tommy” Mitchiner. The antique bottle collecting hobby for Tommy Mitchiner, of Gordon, Georgia, started in 1966 following a newspaper article about people digging in Savannah, Georgia and finding lots of John Ryan sodas and other bottles. Between that year and 2013 when he passed away, Mitchiner had become Georgia’s most famous bottle collector and had amassed a huge collection of John Ryan sodas, many in rare colors, that was never duplicated. He became known as “the King of John Ryan Soda Collectors.” In addition, he conducted lots of research in the days before the Internet and became well known throughout the Southeast as an authority not only on Savannah and many Georgia bottles, but hand-painted marbles and figural smoking pipes, most of which he dug from hundreds of privies in the coastal city. He willingly shared that hard-earned knowledge with any collector who asked. Mitchiner also had become an expert in cleaning dug bottles and many a collection owes its brilliance to that expertise.
2017
Jon Landers. The hobby of collecting antique bottles attracts many people from all walks of life. After joining, many seem to disappear off the face of the earth, never to be heard from again. That isn’t true for Jon Landers, of Utica, New York. Not only was he a founding father of the Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club in 1994, he also holds active membership in many other bottle clubs and historical societies and organizations. Once he started his collections of local bottles, he decided to investigate the histories behind them: Who made them, when and where? Answers to some of his questions weren’t immediately forthcoming so that meant Jon, with the support of his wife, Sue, had to spend much of his free time pursuing documentary evidence at sources such as libraries and newspaper archives. One of his outstanding efforts dealt with the history of the Mount Vernon Glassworks of which he has become an authority. He soon learned that research is an important part of the antique bottle hobby and was thrilled to find answers to questions that had eluded him. That research led him to the stories behind bottle-related businesses and the people who had developed them. Best of all, Jon shares each bit of information with fellow collectors by writing and posting stories in his club’s newsletter, “Bottles Along the Mohawk,” which he has edited since the club’s founding. He’s never missed an issue during those 22 years. He also helped develop www.mohawkvalleybottleclub. com, the club website.
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State of the Art Facility 50,000 sq ft, 400 Dealers Open 10 - 6 pm, 362 days a year
AAA I-76 ANTIQUE MALL
Ravenna, Ohio
Interstate 76 Exit 38 4284 Lynn Road Ravenna, Ohio 330-325-9776 I76antiquemall.com
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The three pictured Brayton jars are graphite pontiled and unique. Possibly blown at the Baker and Cutting glass works or San Francisco glass works. Brayton pieces were excavated among Bowens, Adolpholus, and other cull from an early glass works in San Francisco.
The Pa ssage of Time In 1856, Cleveland hosted the Ohio State fair, celebrating the state's agricultural industry. It attracted people from New York to San Francisco. This was such a success that a few industrious San Franciscans might have decided to return in 1862 to share the plethora of fruits and berries from California. Mr. A P Brayton, of San Francisco, Mr. D Brannan, of San Antonio (Oakland), and Mr. JW Orr, of Michigan Bar; were all planning the long overland journey. Financing may have been made available by Mr Boley, of Sacramento and Messrs Lyde & Putnam of San Francisco. They agreed to pack the best of the best. Worried about the axles, Mr Brayton kept some extra graphite under his jars. They all knew that their jars and crocks would preserve the contents over the long journey. Even if they enjoyed the berries and fruits along the way, the journey with friends was the wanted ribbon. Long lost and later found in an old root cellar, these artifacts from the stalwarts of San Francisco industry remind us that long after all the records have been shattered, the money has been lost, and good looks have faded; it is the simple "ART"-i-facts, like these bottles and crocks that remind us of our history and friendships. So from one collector to another; take a friend on the journey to Cleveland, pick some berries and fruits along the way, and enjoy the Secret of Life. The passage of time. The Mackintosh family 93
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Huntington Convention Center Global Center Mariott Key Center Hotel
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Huntington Convention Center Exhibit Hall A Exit
Exit
Storage Utility
Elevator
Storage Restroom
Virtual Museum
Displays
Restroom
Down Escalators into Showroom
Information Tables
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Medical Office Service Dock Exit
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Huntington Convention Center Event Spaces
Battle of the Bottles & Electric Bottle Auctiuon
To Exhibit Hall A and Seminar Rooms
Marriott Key Center Hotel
Global Center Atrium
Down Escalators into Showroom FOHBC Tables
Registration, Dealer Packets, Membership, Merchandise etc.
Seminar Rooms
Registration & Seminars 97
August 2-5, 2018
CLEVELAND,OHIO 2018 FOHBC CLEVELAND
National Antique Bottle
Convention & Expo
Dealers & Assistants
Location Table
Dealers are listed in alphabetical order by the primary dealer’s last name. List may not be totally accurate due to late table assignments after the printing of this souvenir program. Theo Adams & Gene Anderson
American Glass Gallery | AB&GC John & Donnetta Apple Rick & Berny Baldwin Hubert & Mary Barb
John & Margie Bartley
Sheldon & Brenda Baugh Bob & Ann Beat James Bell
Jim & Val Berry Larry Blake
Chris & Julie Brown
Ken Bryson & Mark Galli
Rufus Buie & Dean Marvel Jeff & Jeanine Burkhardt Jim & Lisa Burns
Chip Cable & Tom Masiarik
Larry Childers & Brad Seigler Rick Ciralli
Paul & JoAnn Connor Kathie & Mike Craig
Terry Crislip & Linda Lewicki 98
I 11 & 12
Granite City IL
A 7 - 14
New Hudson MI
F4
Sidney OH Brunswick OH
D 12
J 13
Edinburg VA North Hampton OH
D7-9
C 11
Russellville KY
I 10
Elida OH Avondale NSW, AU St. Johnsville & NY Findlay OH
F1
C 9 & 10
F 15 & 16
G1&2
Tallmadge OH
H4&5
Zanesville OH
G 11 & 12
Rison AR
I6
Cedarburg WI
K 3 & K4
Oneida NY
C1
Canonsburg PA
G 9 & 10
Ozark AR
B 14
Bristol CT Ocala FL
I 14 - 16
Campbell CA Newbury OH
J1&2
D 13 & 14
Chris Davis
Steve DeBode
Alan & Elaine DeMaison Don Dzuro
Louis & Jeanine Fairfield
Johnnie & Linda Fletcher
J R Gibson & Bill Vanderveen
Chuck Gildea & Allan Pollard
Terry Gillis & Eric Schmetterling Glass Works Auctions Ed & Kathy Gray
Jim & Janice Hagenbuch Jim & Jodi Hall
Randolph Haumann
Michael & Joanne Henrich Ed & Anita Holden
Ted Hollinger & Mike Kolb Gordon & Carl Hubenet Dennis & Nathan Huey Gordon Hugenet
William & April Huntington Peter & Heather Jablonski
Becky Jenkins & Greg Chrisman John Keating & Iwona Smith
Steve Ketcham & Chris Sadar Adam & Phyllis Koch
Bob Koren & Ken DePew Ted & Hazel Krist
Marty & Cindy Kuzmic Tom & Susan Lines
Mike Malanowski & Jamie Houdeshell A Glen Mansburger Jr & Jim Phillips Jim Masterson & Char Crawford
Jerry McCann & Patricia Sprang
K 1 & K2
Newark NY
H 14
Jenison MI
Corner Virt Musm
Painseville OH
D 12 & 13
Akron OH
I9
Lewistown OH
G5
Mustang OK Monee & Orland Park IL
Lagona Hills CA Fort Payne, AL East Greenville PA
East Greenville PA
A5&6 B3-6
E9
Reno NV Crystal Lake IL
H 13
Sherman CT
Morrow, OH
E4-7
H 9 & 10 J7 & 8
Lowell MI
G3&4
Kingsville OH
J7&8
Lowell MI Cuyahoga Falls OH
Akron NY Shelton WA
F5
E 15 & 16 J 14 & 15
WoodstockVA
H 12
I3-5
Edina MN
A2&3
B 9 & 10
Macedonia OH Northfield OH
A4
Chardon OH
D5&6
Indian Springs AL Albion NY
C3&4 C7&8
G 14 - 16, H 15 & 16
Essex MD
E 10 & 11
Southgate MI Chicago, IL
C 13 & 14 C 13 & 14
Gurnee IL
Akron OH
I7&8
C2
DeBois PA
E1-3
F8
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Mike McJunkin
Jonathan Melnick Jeff Mihalik
Bill Mitchell & Mike Seeliger Mike Morgan
Mike Newman & John Fifer North American Glass
Elmer Ogg & Carol Ross
Ohio Bottle Club (Joe & Marlene Franchino) David & Judy Olson John & Judy Panek
John Pastor & Liz Maxbauer David Potter
Greg & Diane Price
Duane Rader & Jeff Shrimplin Chuck & Stan Rash
Festus Russell & wife
Michael & Linda Sabatos Dale & Barbara Santos
Jeff & Joseph Scharnowski Phil & Joan Smith
Greg & Angela Spurgeon Scot St. Laurent
Jerry & Sharon Tebbano Rich & Kathy Tucker
Paul & Dorothy Tutko
David Van Loon & Tina Cronin Tod & Susan von Mechow Mark & Andrew Vuono Galen & Lisa Ware Bob Watson
Duane Watson
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Hutchinson, KS Sarasota FL
I 13
J 11 & 12
D1&2
Canonsburg PA Stevens Pt & Brooklyn WI Venus, FL
Rosedale IN
H 11
F 9 & 10
Norton Shores MI
D3
A1
Barberton, OH
J 9 & 10
Conway SC
F6&7
Dearfield IL New Hudson MI
Cheektowaga NY Massillon OH Lincolnton NC
Thompson OH
E 13
F 12 & 13
G 13
Woodburn, IN
A 7 - 14
B2
Mansfield, Ohio
H1-3 D4
C5&6
Foresthill CA
H 7 & 8
Owosso, MI
F 11
Union KY
F 9 & 10
Rosedale IN Warren MA
J3&4
G6-8
Aurora OH
E8
Newport Beach CA
F2&3
Danvers MA
E 12
H6
Phoenixville PA
B7&8
Stamford CT Connellsville PA Cattaraugus NY Ashland OH
I1&2
B 11 - 13
Martinez GA
Leeds UK
B1
E 14
J5&6
Huntington Convention Center Dealer Loading & Unloading
Loading Dock Entrance
All dealers and persons wanting to deliver and unload material at the Cleveland Huntington Convention Center must enter off of W. 3rd Street next to Fort Huntington Park. GPS 1034 W. 3rd Street. Unloading at the show can be done with ease if we all work together. We will have staff at the unloading area during the unloading times. Please follow their instructions and things will flow rather easily. The Huntington staff is accustomed to dealing with heavy traffic and will assist us with the orderly load in process; please follow their directions. We recommend that two people come to the unloading area whenever possible. One person should stay with your items and the other will move the car out from the area. To enter the loading area, turn into the entrance lane to the Huntington Park Garage and stay to the left of the garage entrance as shown. This road will take you to the Convention Center docks. You Must have your Badge to enter!
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A Brief History of the Birth of the Modern American Toy Industry in Akron, Ohio By Ferdinand Meyer V
Did you know that almost 150 toy companies operated within the greater Akron area since 1884; and of that number, roughly three dozen of them were marble works? These factories made all types and styles of marbles, from mass-produced clay and stone marbles to both hand-made and machine-made glass marbles. Each day, employees manufactured millions of marbles. One million marbles is enough to fill five railroad box-cars. Five railroad boxcars rolling out of the factory once-a-day, filled with these clay toy marbles, made The American Marble & Toy Manufacturing Company the largest toy company to operate in the United States during the nineteenth century. Akronite Samuel C. Dyke ignited the modern toy industry when he automated his factory in 1884. Toy marbles have been around for thousands of years; however, until recently, they were very expensive to produce because they were created by hand: one-marble-ata-time. Sam Dyke changed all that when he invented machinery to fully mass-produce toy marbles made out of clay, later to become nick-named “commies” by the children who were enthralled by them (because they became so common among all the varieties of marbles to be eventually produced). The company compound of The M.F. Christensen & Son Company (1903-1922) is pictued above. It is the oldest still-standing toy company in the USA. It was “the first and original glass toy marble factory in America.” These marbles created an entire industry and are today the most popular toy in the world. The building stands in the birthplace of the modern toy industry. The five buildings making up the compound are still in near original condition. I like marbles as I am just plain hooked on glass, period. Though I really never played with or collected marbles, I did get a quick and enlightening education when I met a couple marble super collectors during the past years. This included Jeff Wichmann and Bill O’Connor to name a few. Once you sit down and get these folks talking and showing marbles, you really make the glass connection and see that marble collecting is a fascinating and very much part of our hobby. 102
Terry Kovel to speak at the FOHBC Banquet
“Everything You Need to Know Except What and How to Buy Your Collection” Friday, August 3rd, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Marriott 2rd Floor, Salons E-H The FOHBC is honored and privileged to have Terry Kovel, world renowned author and collector, speak about her life’s work and share stories of the changing antique hobby and markets over the years. Terry has written 108 books about antiques and collectibles including eight that were price books on bottles when bottle collecting was really hot. She has done three television series, the last one on HGTV. Kovel’s has written a monthly subscription newsletter since 1974 which is now in print and online. Terry did everything with her husband Ralph until he died in 2008 and now works with her daughter Kim. The latter is the expert on items under 50 years old. Terry knows the earlier stuff. Her two most important volunteer jobs are auctioning the antiques and collectibles for 40 years at the WVIZ-TV fund raising auction and raising the money to get the 1919 carousel put up and running at the Western Reserve History Center (convention attendees should go to the history center and the Cleveland Museum of Art at University Circle if they have extra time). She has always collected and has a pseudo country store in the basement stocked with cans, bottles, signs etc. with an emphasis on food and labels. Her house is on land that was once a Shaker farm and she has bottle trees in the garden. Terry is a long-time member of the bottle community and knows better than to give advice to a group of bottle collectors about bottles so the talk is “Everything You Need to Know Except What and How to Buy Your Collection.” She will have some of her books and their newsletter for sale at a special price. 103
PRIZED MIDWESTERN FLASKS by Mark Vuono see images on following pages This past February, I was approached by Matt Lacy and Louis Fifer, co-chairmen of the 2018 Cleveland National Convention, to write the feature article for the souvenir program. Since my specialty is historical flasks, they inquired if I could write an article on Midwestern flasks. I gladly accepted and among us, we agreed upon the title of “Prized Midwestern Flasks”. I felt honored to be asked to write this article by both of them. In beginning this article one must establish a location for the Midwestern flasks. I feel pretty confident that most all of us would consider the early Pittsburgh glass houses as being on the eastern edge of the Midwest as far as glasshouses are concerned. So, for this article, I will try to encompass as many glasshouses as possible with Pittsburgh being the starting point and working my way west through the other Midwestern glass houses and their wares. There are literally hundreds of flasks that can be considered “Prized” coming from the Midwest but for this article I have chosen a variety of examples that I feel will encompass “The Territory” as best as possible. Some of the flasks I will discuss are extremely rare molds that are found only in aquamarine, others are extremely rare molds that have fortunately been found in a color. I will also discuss molds that are rather common in aquamarine but prized in a certain color. Keep in mind, there are many other flasks that could have been chosen for this article but for brevity sake, I have chosen the following fifteen in random order. 1 The GX-20 American System flask in a clear color shading to pale violet. Bakewell Page and Bakewell was arguably the most important of the Midwestern glasshouses making some of the finest and most intricate flask molds of the day. This flask is not only one of the most historical flasks depicting Henry Clay’s “American System” movement but is unique as of today. The lone example is located in The Corning Museum of Glass and was found in the late 1930s near Cincinnati. Needless to say, the intricacy of the mold, the subject matter, and its uniqueness make it a true prize of Midwestern flasks.
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2 The GI-77 emerald green Taylor / Masterson eagle flask. This flask is one that can be considered rather scarce in aquamarine but extremely rare in a color. The obverse of the flask depicts a “bald” General Taylor. Some even say an alien looking Taylor. The reverse, in my opinion, makes up for the obverse by displaying a gorgeous American eagle with thirteen stars above the eagle. Above the stars is the name Masterson. To date, no one really knows what Masterson stands for but in my humble opinion it probably represents a private liquor merchant having his own flasks blown for commerce. It is not definitely known where this flask was blown but consensus has it as being a Midwestern beauty. To date, there are two known emerald green examples and shards of a yellowish olive example. 3 The GIV-32 Shepard & Co , Zanesville / Masonic arch flask in yellow green. Here is an example of a rather common mold in an extremely rare color. No doubt where this flask was blown… Zanesville, Ohio at the White Glass Works. These flasks come in a myriad of colors but the yellow green example in my opinion represents the finest color available among the many. An interesting anomaly of this flask is the amber and orange amber examples are probably the most common colors found in this mold followed by the bluish aquamarine examples. The flask itself is fully loaded with designs on both sides and even displays a little folk art characteristic by having the “S” in Shepard reversed. Quite an attractive flask and surely a prized Midwestern flask. 4 The GIX-6 olive yellowish amber quart sized Louisville Glass Works scroll flask. When one mentions Midwestern flasks, one cannot help think of The Louisville Glassworks. During its production peak around 1855, many scroll flasks were blown. Those embossed with the glassworks name itself are the most appealing and most desired by collectors. All of the aquamarine examples can be considered comparatively scarce to locate but those in colors are even more special. I chose this olive yellowish amber quart for its shear beauty, form, and rarity. Certainly a prized Midwestern flask. 5 The GXV-10 Indianapolis Glass Works flask. Although later in manufacture, about 1874, this flask along with its quart-sized counterpart, GXV-9, remain very elusive to collectors. In American Flasks and Their Ancestry, Helen McKearin and Ken Wilson both list these flasks as rare. In all my years of collecting, I have seen less than five examples of each. I actually consider them extremely rare. The pint-sized emerald green one shown is unique in this color as far as I know and is truly a prized Midwestern flask. 6 The GII-37 Ravenna Glass Works Anchor / Eagle flask. Here is another rather common mold in a desirable color. The Ravenna Glass Works played an important role in flask manufacturing as attested by this beautiful mold design. Personally, one of my favorite mold designs of all. I chose this deep blue green example for two reasons: First, the color is an outstanding color to obtain in this flask and secondly to show the “classic” rectangular iron pontil mark found on many of the Ravenna flasks. This GII-37 Ravenna Glass Works flask is truly a prize for Midwestern glass! 7 The GI-70 Andrew Jackson / Masonic flask. This flask is surely a prized Midwestern flask. It was blown at The Mantua Ohio Glassworks and dates circa 1829. It was hitherto unknown until the excavation of the Mantua site by Harry Hall White in the 1920s. Mr. White at the time was only able to locate fragments of the flask but still
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considered it the single most important discovery of the Mantua excavation. Finally, in the late 1930s an intact specimen was found in a barn in The Western Reserve of Ohio. To date only three examples are known. One in The Corning Museum of Glass, one at The Ohio Historical Center and one in a private collection. While visiting The Ohio Historical Center in Columbus about 10 years ago, I was discussing this flask with one of the curators and she mentioned to me that all the curators of the different departments got together and decided to pick the top twenty-five artifacts in the Museum’s collection. This flask was chosen among the twenty-five… quite an honor! Upon further research, I learned their example was purchased from Neil C. Gest in the mid fifties. Mr Gest was a prominent dealer of the time from Mechanicsburg, Ohio. In my opinion, the finest flask made in Ohio! 8 The GI-63 Wm. Henry Harrison / Log Cabin flask. This early Pittsburgh flask is a sure bet for being a top Midwestern prize. It is the only flask depicting Wm. Henry Harrison on the obverse and a great looking log cabin on its reverse. This flask was first discovered by James H. Rose, of cup plate fame, in Ohio in the 1920s. To date, only four or five examples are known in aquamarine. A flask that is on many want lists and extremely difficult to obtain. 9 The GI-66 General Jackson / American eagle flask in olive yellow. Well, folks, this is a flask that has it All! An early Pittsburgh beaded flask from the John Robinson Glass Factory, so noted by the initials J.R. in the oval frame below the eagle. An extremely rare mold in a color no less. The reverse is embossed with an American eagle. Below the eagle is the embossed name Laird SC. Joshua Laird (sculptor), a prominent mold maker of the day, designed and made the mold for the reverse of this flask. He must have been so proud of his work that he “signed” his name on the reverse as a painter might have done to a painting on canvas. Historically, it is very significant by having General Jackson depicted on the obverse. It is interesting to note that the very rare GI-6a. early beaded Washington flask displays the same reverse as the GI-66. I can only imagine the reverse of the mold was interchanged with the GI-6a. 10 The GXII-39 sapphire blue Union / Cannon flask. In trying to encompass the many Midwestern glass houses, one cannot forget the William Frank and Sons Glassworks of Pittsburgh. I chose this flask because of its unique color for the GXII Union grouping of flasks. The mold itself comes in a variety of colors including aquamarine, various shades of ambers and yellow greens. There are probably about four or five known sapphire blue examples. For me, this sapphire blue example is a very special Midwestern gem!
The GXI-45 amber Pike’s Peak / Eagle flask. When it comes to Midwestern glass, one cannot forget The Zanesville Glass Works. This flask is most likely a flask representing The Zanesville Glass Works and is charted in the Pike’s Peak grouping of flasks. The flask depicts a folky prospector holding a bottle to his lips taking a “nip” from it. It is commonly called “The Tippler” among flask collectors. The reverse depicts an eagle with a large olive branch rising from its beak. To date, I am only aware of three examples in amber. This depicted example is the only one with an iron pontil mark and in my opinion the finest impression among the three. It is interesting to note that there is an olive yellow 11
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example with an open pontil located in The Henry Ford Museum and I have heard of but not seen an emerald green example with an open pontil. The reason this flask is justified as coming from the Zanesville Glass Works is the fact that the extremely rare GII-129 eagle flask, which is embossed Zanesville Ohio, depicts the same eagle on the reverse; possibly an interchangeable mold usage. No matter how you slice it, these flasks are Midwestern prizes! 12 GI-116. The Wheat Price and Co Unknown bust / Glass house flask. One cannot forget the Wheeling glass houses of the day. The Fair View Glass Works was located in Wheeling, Virginia. (West Virginia attained statehood on June 20, 1863 so we know this flask predates that). The GI-116 depicts a folksy bust with long hair on the obverse (possibly John Tyler). Embossed around the bust are the words Wheat Price & Co. Wheeling, Va. It is interesting to note that the letter “N’ in Wheeling is reversed. Also, the “VA” abbreviation for Virginia is upside down when the flask is held upright. A classic example of American folk art in glass. The reverse of the flask depicts a crude looking glass house and the words embossed Fair View Works. There are two versions of this flask; one with a short haired bust (GI-115) and this one with the long haired bust. Although both are rare flasks, I chose the long haired bust for this article because it is the rarer of the two. The Fairview Glass Works was only in operation from July 1833 until January 1834 thus accounting for their rarity. Certainly a prize in Midwestern glass. 13 The GIV-31 Masonic emblems / Eagle and stars flask. This flask is most likely an early Pittsburgh product and I chose it mainly because it is a often overlooked flask and deserves more attention than it receives. It has all the bells and whistles with Masonic emblems on the obverse and a beautiful heraldic eagle and stars on the reverse. With its beaded sides, it is really a very attractive flask and an extremely rare mold with 8-10 known. Of the few I have seen and handled, there is only one example I know of with a contracted base. It is pictured here for your enjoyment. Quite an unusual flask and worthy of being called a prized Midwestern flask.
The GII-27 Farley & Taylor Richmond Ky / Eagle flask. This flask deserves to be called a Midwestern prize for it shear size and extreme rarity. Most likely a Kentucky Glass Works flask from Louisville, this two and a half quart gem has quite the eye appeal. It was most likely blown as a private mold for wine and liquor merchants Farley & Taylor. The shear size of this flask may account for its extreme rarity. If you consider the weight of this flask when filled with a liquid, one can easily see it broken when carelessly handled. On a side note, there is yet another flask with similar size and eagle having a blank reverse. It is charted as a GII-28 and is even rarer than the Farley & Taylor example. 14
The GI-12 early beaded Washington / Eagle flask in deep sapphire blue. This was an easy choice for me as a prized Midwestern flask. It has numerous attributes going for it to include in this article. First of all, it is an extremely rare mold with about five or six known examples. Secondly, and naturally, the color is spectacular for any early Washington flask or any early Pittsburgh beaded flask for that matter. Thirdly, it has a great impression for the mold. I have handled two other examples in aqua and for some reason the flasks are extremely overblown with the top half of the flasks almost appearing 15
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to look like light bulbs. This flask is charted in the McKearin / Wilson charts as coming in sapphire blue and cornflower blue but this is the only one I have been able to locate. Not to deviate from the subject, but the only other beaded early Washington / Eagle flask listed in cornflower and sapphire blue charted is the GI-11 flask. Many, many years ago, I was fortunate enough to see a cornflower blue example of this flask. Although imperfect, with a large “V” shaped piece missing from the mouth, it certainly was a sight to behold. Its whereabouts is presently unknown to me. Well that wraps up my list of fifteen “Prized Midwestern Flasks”. Please enjoy the show as we all know Matt and Louis along with others have put countless hours into this wonderful event. And just remember, while perusing the aisles and tables full of bottles, maybe you can find a “Prized Midwestern Flask” of your own. 1
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WANTED: Fine historical flasks and rare molds. Entire collections purchased for single items desired.
Mark & Andrew Vuono, 16 Sixth Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06905 Days: 203-975-9055 E-mail: mark@americanflasks.com 115
WANTED
CLEVELAND OHIO
Advertising, Stoneware, Bottles, Crocks and Jugs Send Photo and Description to
lilmojo@oh.rr.com Welcome to our Midwest Region! Jim & Val Berry St. Johnsville, NY FOHBC Directors
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RCGLASS Rick Ciralli
Collector & Dealer 203-722-2901 richardciralli@sbcglobal.net
Specializing in Early Bottles, Historical Flasks, & Blown Glass from the Connecticut Glasshouses of Pitkin, Coventry, Willington, Westford and New London, Dr. Townsend’s Sarsaparilla’s, G.W. Merchant Sarsaparilla’s, Udolpho Wolfe’s Aromatic Schnapps, Colored Pontiled Medicines & Colored Hair Bottles
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Congratulations and thanks to the FOHBC for all the hard work put into making the Cleveland National! Dana Charlton-Zarro, collecting New England Pitkin Flasks See you on Facebook!
Wanted!
Bob Daly bobdaly1@icloud.com
Philadelphia pontiled bottles; pontiled medicines, sodas, beers, inks, pickles, whiskeys, historical flasks, etc. Also looking for stoneware/pottery crocks, advertising signs, posters, wood and cardboard boxes and related items. Also collect pre-1870 Philadelphia almanacs, billheads and trade cards related to bottles. 118
We ‘POP’ for the Cleveland National!
Pacific Soda Works, Classen & Co., San Francisco, 1858-1867
Best of
Luck from the FOHBC Western Region
Eric McGuire, FOHBC Western Region Director
BottlePickers.com
Wanted: Bitters & Whiskey Barrels BottlePickers@BottlePickers.com
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Jelly Jammers meet e h t o t e ing Com Saturday, August 4th, 2018, 4:00 pm Seminar Room 3, Huntington Convention Center
Everyone is welcome to come see what we are all about. Pictured are some of the jellies that we collect.
TRY A FREE ISSUE! Do you have a house full of vintage items collected over the years or inherited from relatives? TRY A FREE ISSUE of Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles newsletter. Every issue is packed with sales reports, prices, marks, reproduction alerts and insider tips. FR E E ! IS S U E
YES, RUSH my FREE issue of Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles with no risk or obligation. If I like the newsletter and decide to continue, I’ll receive 12 more issues (13 in all) for just $27 – a 40% SAVINGS off the regular price! If Kovels is not for me, I’ll simply write “cancel” on the invoice and owe nothing, and the FREE issue is mine to keep. PLEASE ENTER YOUR INFORMATION. Expect your FREE issue to arrive within 4-6 weeks. Offer valid in the USA and for new subscribers only. Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________ City, State, ZIP ________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________
Mail this special offer to: Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles, P.O. Box 292758, Kettering OH 45429 or call: 1 (800) 829-9158. 120
Kovels-Bottle-Show-2018-Ad-4x5.indd 1
6/21/2018 10:34:58 AM
WANTED: BITTERS BOTTLES & SHAKER BOTTLES
Sheldon Baugh, 252 West Valley Drive, Russellville, Kentucky 42276 270.726.2712 or 270.726.0847, sbi_inc@bellsouth.net
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WE ARE CLEVELAND. For information & reservations, call 216.696.9200 or visit clevelandmarriottdowntown.com
Marriott believes that travel should be effortless, unforgettable and brilliant. That’s why, during your visit, we hope that you take a moment to relax and explore with us. CLEVELAND MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN KEY CENTER 127 PUBLIC SQUARE CLEVELAND, OH 44114 216.696.9200
© 2018 Marriott International, Inc.
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The National
Bottle Museum Where history is the bottle!
Situated in the heart of Ballston Spa, New York is a museum whose mission is to preserve the history of our nation’s first major industry: Bottle making. Exhibits inside of the National Bottle Museum allow visitors to view thousands of glass bottles.
National Bottle Museum 76 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518.885.7589
NationalBottleMuseum.org
Join the NIA!
• Quarterly Color Magazine • Educational Resources • Scholarship Opportunities • More Membership Benefits:
www.nia.org Request your free brochure! Email: information@nia.org Call: (949) 338-1404 Or write to: Christian Willis NIA Information Director P.O. Box 2797 Parker, CO 80134 123
RICHARD CARNEY ARTIFACT ARTIST
Taking orders for commission artwork. See show schedule at: www.seaglassofmaine.com 207-729-3140 rick@seaglassofmaine.com 124
RON HANDS Collector of Early American Fruit Jars 1102 Kingswood Road, NW Wilson, North Carolina 27896
330.338.3455
125
ALICIA BOOTH
Success to the FOHBC and the Cleveland National
126
HOUSTON ANTIQU E
, ADVERTISING
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Antique Bottle, Advertising & Collectible Show & Sale Every July or August
Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77092
Success to the FOHBC and the 2018 National Antique Bottle Convention
*Antique Bottles *Fruit Jars *Coca Cola *Inks *Trays *Dr. Pepper *Soda Water Bottles *Cans *Breweriana *Glasses *Insulators *Paper Collectibles *Texas Memorabilia *Toys *Drug Store Collectibles *Advertising Items *Oil Company Items *Plates *Milk Bottles *Jugs* and much much more!!!! For Show And Table Information Contact: Barbara J. Puckett, 907 W. Temple, Houston, Tx 77009 713.862,1690 (Home) 713.409.9940 (Cell) Bpuckett77009@Yahoo.Com
Sunday Sept 16, 2018 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Polish Falcons Hall 445 Columbia Ave Depew, NY Admission - $3.00 (Children under 12 free)
Free Appraisals Information & Contracts:
Tom Karapantso (716) 487-9645 tomar@stny.rr.com Peter Jablonski (716) 440-7985 peterjablonski@roadrunner.com Joe Guerra (716) 674-5750 jguerra@roadrunner.com Tables $25, $15 for additional tables Set-up Sunday 7:00 to 9:00 am 127
Got a Spot? ...
Chagrin Valley Archaeology
128
We Can Dig It!
Ever since I can remember, my Uncle Frank has been digging bottles out of the ground. I have vivid recollections of being at family gatherings as a kid and watching him pull a small rolled towel from his truck. I intently watched as he would carefully unroll the towel to reveal a beautiful blue, a gorgeous green, or an amazing aqua bottle. At that age I didn’t quite grasp the “why” or “how” of it all, I just knew they were super cool! As I grew older, I became more and more curious. How did he get into this hobby? Why are there bottles in the ground and who put them there? Where is he finding these bottles? Then the biggest question of all. . .How in the world does he find glass bottles that have been buried for over 100 years?! In my mind I had this image of him walking through the woods and just digging random holes until. . .clink. . .he struck glass. It just didn’t make sense to me. I remember briefly thinking that it must just be a case of him being the luckiest guy in the world. However, if you knew my uncle, you would quickly come to the same conclusion that luck simply could not be the answer. So, I revised my reasoning and chalked it up to skill. It wasn’t until I came home after graduating from college in Florida, that I started to really get into the hobby myself. One day, my older cousin, Matt, (Uncle Frank’s son), looked at me with a mischievous grin and said, “We should go bottle digging.” I agreed and off we went. The first dig I went on was at a location that my uncle and cousin had already found and had been granted permission to dig. It was incredibly exciting, but it wasn’t very fruitful. . .One or two trips later I found my first true keeper. It was a beautiful Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root. (Very common, but very cool.) I remember holding it in my hands and thinking about the fact that the last time a human touched this bottle was over 100 years ago. I though about what the world looked like then compared to what it looks like now. I thought about all the years it had waited in the cold & darkness to be plucked from the ground, rescued, to once again bask in the sun’s warm rays. It was powerful. A piece of history, in my hands. In that moment, I understood what had motivated my uncle to keep digging all these years.
First bottle - Joe & his little brother Mick
In a mere instant I understood the answer to the first question that used to perplex me as a child, the “why.” Unfortunately, the “how” was much more difficult to comprehend. Over the next several years I came to understand that those brilliant flashes of glory are only made possible by weeks of research, many miles of walking, and hours of backbreaking digging. Nevertheless, when you hold that bottle and know the world will be able to enjoy that history and learn from it. . .it makes it all worth while.
Over the years, our bodies have aged, but our passion has grown. It’s a common theme I have noticed in the bottle community. The love for the hobby never wanes, but the physical ability to dig that bottle dump or privy just isn’t there anymore. So in 2014 we started Chagrin Valley Archaeology, consisting of a small family group devoted to finding these artifacts and saving them before they are lost to time. We don’t make any money but we sure enjoy doing it. So to those of you who may know of a good spot, but just never got around to digging it, I propose this to you... Contact us. If you are confident that we would find something and you are within a reasonable distance, we can plan a trip and safely dig it for you. We will document the dig and make sure you get a cut of the treasure. Bottles for your shelf without having to break your back to get them. It doesn’t get much better than that. Together we can help keep this hobby alive, all while preserving a little history in an increasingly modern world. - Joe Jacobs (Founder of Chagrin Valley Archaeology) Left: Clockwise starting in top left: Joe Jacobs, Matt Carroll, Frank Carroll, Soaran Carroll (5), Willow Carroll (2)
Chagrin Valley Archaeology, 46 Shopping Plaza, #141, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022, (440) 561-6567, BottleDigger.com 129
Where
Unconventional Meets
Technology As event technology gets better, so do we. Benefit from one of the most technologically advanced convention centers with a network capable of hosting more than 15,000 simultaneous connections, redundant Cisco core network components, high-density WIFI and state-of-theart audio, video and lighting. Oh... and don’t forget our holographic tour guide, Jennifer!
Contact us at meetings@clevcc.com to discover how our unconventional technology features are compatible with your event.
This 2-foot, custom-made, solid wood, handcrafted guitar was made specifically for the Cleveland National by Axe Haven. Tickets for $2 each or 3 for $5. Smaller versions of the guitar will be on each banquet table (1 prize per table). Find us at: www.clevelandconventions.com www.theglobalcenter.com
Echo Auctions llc Have gavel, will travel! Antiques & Collectables, Estates, Consignment Auctions, Business Liquidations Jesse Sailer Auctioneer AU#005945
(215) 715-2611
John Richard Buy,Sell and Trade slot machines,peanut machines,gumball machines,and trade stimulators... Any Condition 330-461-0069 coinop1958@gmail.com 130
2018 Cleveland National commemorative Guitar to be Raffled!
jsailer73@gmail.com
There will also be smaller versions available for $35 at the front show tables.
A big shout out to Bob Villamagna. Thank you for the many, many bottle related cartoons over the years. 131
For those about to
collect demijohns,
Always buying great demijohns
We Salute You!
Dale & Barbara Santos 916-878-0373 132
ANTIQUES • ART • COLLECTIBLES EPHEMERA • SPORTS • TOYS Falls River Square District 2215-17 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
Tue - Sat 12:00 - 5:00 PM 330.929.0066
WANTED Fine bottles of all types. Barber bottles, Flasks, Bitters, Inks, etc. 0ne or a collection. Immediate Payment - No Premiums Free Appraisals Available
JIM & JODI HALL (847) 249-3715 JhallJ81@hotmail.com
Historical Bottle Diggers of Virginia April 14, Rockingham 2019 Show 9:00 am 3:00 pm
Chairman: Sonny Smiley (540) 434-1129 lithiaman1@yahoo.com
County Fairgrounds
Exit 243 off of I-81
Harrisonburg, VA
133
2018 FOHBC - CLEVELAND
Official FOHBC Show Photographer My name is Troy Scafuro. I'm a bottle hobbyist from Northeast Ohio. I've also been a collector of a very specific line of bottles for the past 20 years, the half pint Union Clasped Hands. I got into this hobby because of my cousin, Matt Lacy. We’ve been palling around since we were kids. I've dabbled with bottle collecting since, when time permits between work, family, and other intetrests. I've also had the pleasure of going to many bottle shows in the area and meeting a lot of great people. I look forward to being your show photographer so don't be shy and enjoy!
Troy and his wife April 134
Rick Eplion
Collector of
Tele: 304 638 7220
Southwest Pennsylvania Stoneware 135
Mobile BottleCollectorsClub
46th Annual Antique Bottle & Collectibles Show & Sale - Saturday, March 23, 2019 Contact: Rod Vining • 251-957-6725 • vinewood@mchsi.com or Richard Kramerich • PO Box 241, Pensacola, FL 32591 • 850-435-5425 • shards@bellsouth.net
Wanted: Dig, Buy, Sell & Trade
Collector of all types of Mobile Alabama: Bitters, Whiskeys, Medicine, Drug Stores, Sodas, Decorated Stoneware, Transferware, Paper, & all other related items. One item or entire collection. Rod Vining • 10691 Old Pascagoula Rd, Grand Bay, Alabama 36541 • 251-957-6725 cell & text • vinewood@mchsi.com See a sample of my collection in the photo above. 136
Bottle
COLLECTING
Please join the FOHBC and keep your membership up to date!
Is Your
Best Bet
137
Celebrating 53 Antique Bottle Club Years! of San Diego 1965 - 2015
Gary Beatty, member of “The Great Ohio Bottle Club” and present Treasurer of the FOHBC and “Purveyor of Good Will”, wishes all in attendance a great time of fellowship, and super buying or selling. Track me down and say hello because even an old cur dog needs a pat on the head once in a while. Always remember...
“Bottles are Glass with Class”
Coverage available for Collectors and Dealers Contact our office today! PO Box 4389 Davidson, NC 28036 138
800.287.7127 www.aciginsurance.com
Mike Dickman Old Bottles Buy ~ Sell ~ Trade
PO Box 549, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504, 505-983-7043
Seeking treatments and cures for epilepsy, fits, hysteria. Also, nervines and other "nerve" medicines. Prefer labeled and with box/contents if possible. Also interested in related cards and advertising. Dan Luciano 914-271-9785, dluciano56@optonline.net
Advertising Index
1st Chicago Bottle Club Show - 50 2019 Augusta National - 18 2020 Reno National - 41 A Coin & Silver Shop - 52 Adam & Phyllis Koch - 51 Alan DeMaison - 48 Alicia Booth - 126 American Bottle Auctions - Inside Back Cover American Digger Magazine - 42 American Glass Gallery - Inside Front Cover Antique Bottle Club of San Diego - 138 Antiques & Collectibles Insurance Group - 138 Bill Taylor (Lady’s Leg Bitters) - 49 Bitters Bottles books and Supplements (Bill Ham) - 124 Bob Daly Collector - 118 BottlePickers.com - 119 Bottles and Extras - 122 Bottle Tree Antiques Farm (John & Mary Bray) - 138 Brandon Smith - 137 Chagrin Valley Archaeology - 128, 129 Chip Cable (Pittsburgh Bottles Wanted) - 69 Circle City Bottle Club (Indianapolis) - 116 Cleveland Conventions (Huntington Conv Center) - 130 Collectibles Insurance - 140 Collectors Decanter & Steins Museum - 69 Columbus Bottle Club - 55 Cures Wanted (John Wolf) - 138 Dale & Barbara Santos - Wanted Demijohns - 132 Dan Luciano - 138w Dana Charlton Zarro (Pitkin Glass) - 118 Dario Dimare Insulators - 45 David Olson - 55 Eric McGuire - 119 Findlay Bottle Show - 124 FMG Design, Inc. - 127 FOHBC Membership - 27 FOHBC Virtual Museum - 26 Forks of the Delaware Bottle Show - 124 Fruit Jar Annual 2019 - 43 Gary Beatty - 138 Genesee Valley Bottle Club - 117 Glass International LLC - 56, 57 Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Show - 127 Heckler & Company Auctions - Back Cover Historical Bottle Diggers of Virginia - 133 Holabird Western Americana Collections - 24 Houston Bottle Show - 127 I-76 Antique Mall - 91 James Hagenbush - 38, 39 Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc. - 68 Jeff Ullman (Saratoga style Mineral Waters) - 51 Jelly Jammers - 120 Jerry & Helen Forbes - 54 Jesse Sailer (Echo Auctions) - 130 Jim Bender & Linda Sheppard - 126 Jim & Jodi Hall - 133
Jim & Val Berry - 116 Jim Healy - 131 John O’Neill - 133 John & Wanda Joiner - 46 John Richard - 130 Kovels on Antiques & Collectibles - 120 Larry Childers - 54 Louis Fifer: Wanted - Pike’s Peak Flasks - 25 Mackintosh Family - 93 Mansfield Bottle Show - 9 Mark & Andrew Vuono Historical Flasks - 115 Marriott Key Center Hotel - 122 Matt Lacy - Historical Flasks - 25 McMurray Antiques & Auctions - 44 Metropolitan Detroit Bottle Show - 125 Michael George - 126 Midwest Antique Fruit Jar & Bottle Club - 137 Mike Dickman - 138 Missouri Bottle Book (Johnnie Fletcher) - 47 Mobile Bottle Collectors Club - 136 Mr. Bottles - Steven Libbey - 92 National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors - 121 National Bottle Museum - 123 National Insulator Association - 123 National Insulator Association 2019 Show - 58 North American Glass - 28 Ohio Bottle Club - 8 Peachridge Glass - 21 Phillip Smith - 44 Poison Bottles (Joan Cabaniss) - 55 Ralph & Janet Finch (Glass Canes) - 46 Red Book #12 - 126 Rich & Kathy Tucker - 90 Richard Carney - 124 Rick Eplion - 138 Richard Siri - 50 Rick & Berny Baldwin - 138 Rick Ciralli (RC Glass) - 117 Ron Hands - 125 Sandor P. Fuss - 22 & 23 Sheldon Baugh - 121 Silver Eagle Antiques - 134 SodasandBeers.com - 125 Southwest Bottle & Jar Spa - 53 State of Franklin Annual Show - 127 Steve Ketcham - 42 Ted Krist - 53 Theo Adams (St. Louis Bottles) - 118 Tod von Mechow - 125 Tom Lines - 43 Troy Scafuro - Collector - 134 Wanted Cleveland Ohio - 116 Warner Products (Michael Seeliger) - 83 Zang Wood - 133 Zurko’s Midwest Productions - 48 139
Proven and trusted since 1966. Appraisals not required.
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CollectInsure.com 888-837-9537
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140
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Heckler
www.hecklerauction.com | info@hecklerauction.com | 860-974-1634 79 Bradford Corner Road, Woodstock Valley, CT 06282
Because you deserve the best!
Coming September, 2018
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