FOHBC Letter of Reference - Jeff Wichmann
RE: Ferdinand Meyer, V To the Officers of the FOHBC: It is my pleasure to offer my support for the nomination of Ferdinand Meyer to the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors Hall of Fame. Ferd, as most of us call him, has been not only a devout collector with a keen eye for America’s early glass bottles, but has excelled at sharing his insight and love of the hobby. As I understood from the beginning, Ferd began collecting bottles with his father. As he became more educated and learned, he concentrated on the different companies that ordered bottles and the glass houses that made them. His website, Peachridge Glass, is the go-to site to learn more about antique bottles with an explosive amount of information and beautiful pictures. In addition to his own website, he also maintains an extensive site for the FOHBC. Both are without a doubt the most useful and extensive antique bottle websites ever created. It isn’t unusual for Ferd to spend a vast amount of time researching just one company. His specialty is bitters and visiting his house and seeing his collection this year in Houston was a privilege that many of us have enjoyed. Ferd’s wife, Elizabeth, has also devoted much of her time to the hobby. Lifetime friends and partners, the two have enjoyed working together studying and promoting the hobby and being an intricate part of the federation’s duties. Ferd’s house displays a vast collection of bottles lining his shelves in different rooms including an amazing collection of aqua bottles in multiple categories. His collection centers on color runs of figural bitters and other rare bitters examples. But Ferd’s collecting prowess is only a part of what he’s accomplished while enjoying this wonderful hobby. Many years ago, the two of us sat at a FOHBC meeting wanting to offer our help in both design and layout and distribution of their in-house magazine, Bottles and Extras. A natural transition for Ferd, his marketing company, FMG Design, had been providing marketing and design nationally for years. While our offer wasn’t accepted back then, it motivated Ferd to better pursue a position with the Federation. As I look back today, he not only completely re-designed the publication, but also became the FOHBC president for six powerful years and literally changed the hobby into what we see today. His time and effort dedicated to the Federation’s other brainchild called the Virtual Museum, it has become an even greater bonus for the hobby and given collectors a chance to see some of the finest antique bottles ever made in a three-dimensional format. I could go on, but you get the idea. Without Ferdinand Meyer, this hobby would be a lot different today. His efforts, along with Liz, have brought color, excitement and a new path to the hobby. When you consider that only 15 years ago it was very difficult to see the rarest and the best bottles in the country, today Ferd has opened a whole new window into this wonderful hobby. Suffice it to say, Ferd has brought the bottle hobby to a whole new level and I wholeheartedly support his nomination to the FOHBC Hall of Fame. Jeff Wichmann
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