Geelong Bottle & Collectables Club Inc
BLACK MAGIC
Volume 66 January/February 2009
David Smith’s find of a lifetime in Geelong West
WHO’S WHO President:
Kim Johnson 5267 2486
Vice President:
Peter Harding 5275 3411
Treasurer:
Bob Bauer 5250 1392
Secretary:
Robyn Harding 5267 2522
Vice Secretary:
Anne Phillips Librarian:
David Smith
Editor:
Cam Ward 0430 369 146
Public Officer:
Kim Johnson State Representative:
Craig Finegan & David Smith Supper Attendant:
Pam Bauer
WHAT’S NEXT Bottles (any number)
APRIL – Goldfields oils
Collectables (any number)
APRIL – Anzac Day
April will be the final month for designated categories of bottles and collectables. Club members agreed at February’s meeting to make these displays open to anything that anyone wishes to bring in and talk about.
Club remembers bushfire victims
L
ike so many others, the Victorian bottle collecting fraternity was not spared by the catastrophic firestorms of Black Saturday. Among the victims was Gavin Dunn, whose family would be familiar to many collectors as the publishers of the Australian Bottle & Collectables Review. Gavin died at his home in Flowerdale. He was 39. A sympathy card has been sent to the Dunn family on behalf of the club. More details are available online at: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,251027645018723,00.html Also affected by the Flowerdale fires were long-time bottle identities
Ross and Christine Roycroft, who lost their home. Ross and Christine were forced to take shelter in a creek on their property, along with their 14-yearold grandson Jeyden who was with them at the time. Within weeks, Ross was already talking to ABC radio about their plans to rebuild on their block. The club has sent a letter of support and bottle collectors have already begun donating bottles to Ross, who has been a bottle dealer and auctioneer since the Seventies. A full transcript of the interview is available online at: http://www.abc. net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/ s2498680.htm
STOP PRESS
Allan Backwell will be a guest speaker at our April meeting to talk about Backwells’ 150th anniversary and book. Bring along any Backwells-related memorabillia.
14 horse-power smiles: Club members David Smith and Craig Finegan with the fruits of their labours.
14 Black Horses unearthed in suburban site
Dave and Craig’s classic cache I
had been pestering my builder/renovator relation for many years for leads on old bottles on his renovation sites. Finally one night over a chance dinner, he said he had turned up some old glass and the odd complete old bottle in a sewer trench he’d had a plumber dig. I had a quick look around and a bit of a scrape along the trench side. There was not much joy but some good signs of goldfields-era broken glass. So I asked Craig Finegan to come and teach me how to probe and dig. We agreed that anything on a first-
to-find basis to be kept for collection was the finder’s; anything that was to be sold was to be divided. A thorough demonstration probe of the site gave some hopeful sounds and Craig was into the digging, turning up 1940s sauces, etc Craig was relieved not to be looking over his shoulder and having the owner’s permission was great. “Keep going deeper” was the instruction and then we were into a rubbish hole of broken and smashed pickles, schnapps and Black Horse bases. Persistence and Craig
turning into a beaver, were rewarded with two complete Black Horses by the end of the first night. (I must state clearly here that Craig did most of the digging as I was under work pressure and had to disappear and drop back in as time allowed.) I beat Craig on site the next morning with clear instructions to clean the hole out. I was raking out the broken glass seam as Craig arrived and was getting changed and out rolled a complete SQUAT BLACK HORSE !! “You’ve dug a black horse! You’ve dug a black
horse!” echoed through Geelong West! This pit held around 40 smashed Black Horse bases and three complete ones, a few goldfields oils and lots of common pickles, some schnapps and no aerated waters and was full of deliberately smashed bottles – a meat and beer institution indeed. The next pit, probably a toilet barrel, had single bottles thrown in and 11 more complete Black Horses were recovered, as well as a few more oils but still no aerated waters. – David Smith
latest finds February Alan
Old sailing ship diorama Plaster koala statue 50s novelty ashtray
Ron & Jan
Wooden telephone Lady & The Tramp plate
Tony
5 country codds
David
Grisby & McSweeney hamilton Chas Cole Nash patent Chas Cole hamilton Bayldon & Graham hamilton 2 small ceramic labels American Fruit Jar, McKenzies oats, Cheetham
Barry
Scales
Peter & Lee
Early Minties tin Casbah coffee jar Embassy laundry bag Coles knitting book Assorted plastic shopping bags GJ Coles commemorative plate Assorted brown paper shopping bags
Ern
Nutmeg grater Small vice 2 insulators 2 insulators
2nd
1st
3rd
REMINDER It is the responsibility of ALL club members to ensure their latest finds are recorded on the sheet provided. Failure to do so doesn’t just make it hard to compile these pages and work out monthly winners, IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
Despite all signs to the contrary, David’s sparkling American Fruit Jar is actually Australian made.
latest finds
Alan’s latest find was this unusual three-dimensional diorama of the days of sail
This wall telephone in original condition earned Ron and Jan second place in February.
David had this Chas Cole patent but won find of the month with another rare Geelong bottle.
minutes January meeting January 26, 2009
Meeting opened at 8.00pm Apologies Peter and Leanne Harding, Robyn Harding, Ron & Jan Pocock, Anne & Daryl Phillips Moved – Jennifer Sydenham Seconded – Pam Bauer Business arising from minutes Nil Correspondence Nil Treasurer’s Report Nil General Business Welcome back to everyone. Only a small group tonight due to the Australia Day weekend. It was discussed if we should keep the meeting on this day. Bob said it is too hard to get another day booked in for the club rooms. Two new clubs use these rooms now. Noel & Kim suggested that for the next bus trip we should support Cranbourne Bottle Show and combine it with Camberwell Market and Tyabb. A few people went to Fryerstown and picked up some bargains. Bob said it is starting earlier and earlier with stall holders getting there Tuesday and doing business amongst themselves. Club members asked to think about committee positions as president and secretary want to step down. Noel said he was cleaning out the shed and would love to get the honour board out of the way. Kim will organise this as we have the money and it needs to be done in 2009. Committee meeting to be held after March with the new committee. Kim has had a phone call regarding the price of an Ushers whisky bottle. Meeting closed 8.30pm.. Best Acquired 1st: Barry Sydenham 2nd: Tony Parsons 3rd: Dot & Joe Votava
Chinese Scales Black Horse whiskey bottle Chocolate box
After winning January’s best finds with an impressive set of Chinese scales, Barry produced this ancient Salter spring balance at February’s meeting.
minutes February Meeting Meeting opened at 8.10pm
February 23, 2009
Apologies Bruce and Elsie Colls Moved – Joe Votava Seconded – Noel Dawson Minutes of previous meeting Accepted by – Pam Bauer Seconded – Ern Taylor Business arising from minutes Nil Correspondence Gippsland Antique Bottles & Collectables Club Inc. Newsletter The Mornington Peninsula Antique Bottles & Collectables Club Inc. Newsletter The Bottle Review The Sandhurst Antique Bottles & Collectors Club Newsletter Australia Post Renewal form for our post office box The Adelaide Historical Bottle Club Newsletter Moved – Leanne Harding Seconded – Jennifer Sydenham Treasurer’s report Term Deposit Cash tin Tea tin Swap & Sell tin Moved – Barry Sydenham Seconded – Noel Dawson
$2475.00 $0.00 $100.00 $8.50
General Business Bus trip to Williamstown in cancelled as there will be no fair there this year. We will go to Cranbourne fair on March 29 instead. This will incorporate Camberwell Market and any other stops we can fit in on the way. Gavin Dunn passed away in the recent bush fires. He was the son of the editor of the Bottle Review. Robyn to send a card of sympathy. Reminder to all members that it is our AGM next meeting, March. Reminder also that Kim, Peter and Robyn are DEFINETLY standing down, please consider standing for any one of the vacant positions. Peter has had more problems with his photocopier—it has stopped completely this time. We need to get the newsletter printed elsewhere. It looks like Officeworks will be the ideal place, but Jan’s daughter works at Southern Cross Business Machines and will get us a quote for black and white or color. Will review this next meeting. Cam is in the process of compiling the yearly calendar for the display tables. It has been suggested that we broaden this adding the option to bring along a favourite item as well as what is listed. This will encourage people to display their collection more freely. Ross and Christine Roycroft have been badly affected by the bush fires. The club to send a letter of support. Western Bottle Club will be hosting the State Show October 25, 2009. They are talking about doing a bi-annual show. State Association is discussing the options of simplifying the schedule ie: reducing categories. The National Show may be held in Bendigo. Meeting closed 8.30pm.. Best Acquired 1st: David Smith 2nd: Ron & Jan Pocock 3rd: Peter & Lee Harding
Grisby & McSweeney Torp Wooden Telephone Commemorative Plate—G.J. Coles
CLASSIFIEDS Notices
Wanted to buy
Need to e-mail a photo? Like to post a photo on the internet to sell an item? Have a lend of the club’s digital camera. ASK PETER FOR DETAILS
Milk glass Vegemite/Marmite jars. Also screw top metal lids, any size. Phone Bruce on 0408 527 741.
Wanted to buy
Pre-1956 telephone directories. Geelong & District or Melbourne Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.
Anything to do with Jim Beam, Coca Cola, ceramic Garfields and Ned Kelly. Collectables collector. Phone Len Ellmer on 5224 1469.
Any old newspapers and documents. Prefer Geelong and areas but will consider anything. Phone Peter on 5275 3411.
Royal Doulton Whisky flasks/Kingsware Old electric jugs Please call JIM HUNTER on 5127 6420. Member of the Gippsland club.
Victa logo plate For original model Phone Alan on 5255 4773 or 0403 160 336.
SINGER SEWING MACHINES Anything to do with Singer. Phone Bruce or Elsie on 5275 5450. Matchboxes, labels, vesta boxes, match grips and Meakin china. Phone 5276 1267. Any old newspapers and documents. Prefer Geelong and areas but will consider anything. Phone Peter on 5275 3411. Geelong street guides and business directories. Phone 5266 1126.
Embassy branded items. The old GJ Coles home brand. Will BUY anything. Phone Peter on 5275 3411. Any Scouting memorabilia. Phone Shane on 5229 6469.
For sale Photographic record of 2008 State Bottle and Collectables Show. All category winners and selected individual bottles on one CD. Suitable for enlargements. $10 per copy. Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.