Geelong Bottle & Collectables Club Inc Volume 75 July/August 2010
OWE H S IM T
COUNTDOWN IS ON
From the desk of the president
H
WHO’S WHO President: Dave Smith 0419 434 306
Vice-president: Peter Harding Treasurer: Bob Bauer Secretary: Tracey Elso Assistant secretary: Noel Dawson Librarian: Craig Finegan Editor: Cam Ward 0430 369 146 Public officer: Kim Johnson State representative: David Smith Catering officer: Pam Bauer Committee members: Tony Parsons Craig Finegan Kim Johnson Noel Dawson and executives
ello fellow members. I had my longest holiday in 30 years over July and it was fantastic. The national show in Perth was worth seeing, I will try to do a seperate report for you but, seriously, the effort they put into their displays was incredible. See the pics in the October ABCR. Welcome to Darren Barnes, a Bendigo collector who has joined the club, mainly though the positive message our members continue to put out about us (thanks Craig and Tracey). Darren will mainly be a newsletter member but hopes to get to a meeting or two – and maybe even help out at our show. And that’s a perfect segue – our show is now less than four weeks away from our September club meeting night! The committee had a long meeting last week to list the tasks that need to be done. And the list is long. The strong message that I want to talk about is that it seems that every committee member has some challenging times going on at the moment. Illness, work, study, family and life situations are all putting pressure on the time we can give to our hobby. We must remember that your priorities should be personnal life, then work, then your hobby – in that order. However we have committed to this show and we need everyone to pitch in and help and follow up on their tasks. If someone asks you to do a job for the show, I am sure we all will try to prioritise and spread the workload. The thing is, we’re all volunteering to put this show on. We’re not show organisers by trade; we’re learning as we go along. Yes, mistakes have been – we know that details like the date, day, time, price and address on the flyers and entry form need to checked in fine detail – but we have to learn from them and move on. One main task now for us all is three rosters:
SET UP – all day Friday 22 October from 9am (or earlier) to stallholder entry by 2pm, then during the bump in stage up to the BBQ; SECURITY – Friday 2-7pm, overnight Friday and Saturday 7am-3pm; two people at a time in one-hour blocks; and DOOR – Friday 2-7pm and Saturday 7am-3pm. Then it will be a case of all hands on deck to assist with the pack-up to get us out of there ASAP. We have scheduled committee meetings on 5, 12 and 19 October from 7.30pm at 14 Eton Road, Belmont, more (or less) as required. Come along if you want to be involved or volunteer for a job that you know you are good at. Also, please work hard to encourage more sellers. We seem very light on at the time of writing. That said, don’t forget to enjoy our show by planning a great display yourself. With the open category structure and no strict rules, you can let your imagination run free and do that display you have always wanted to do. I hope to do a six-foot display of Geelong soft drink companies that had ceramic labels and a similar one of Australian preserving and jam jars. While you’re at it, why not book some some selling space to clear some room and raise cash for that next purchase? We are planning on putting all Geelong members’ selling space close together so you can leave your table while doing security or other duties and have other members keep an eye on your goodies. So if you haven’t put an entry in tonight please send one to Tracy ASAP. And remember to book a barbecue meal and find time to have a chat with fellow collectors and make them feel welcome to Geelong and our show in particular. Enjoy what you collect. David Smith President
Swap meet drawing power grows THREE OF A KIND: Three ceramic label milk bottles were added to David Smith’s collection, courtesy of his trip up north.
I
headed north in May to take in two contrasting – but very successful – shows at Caloundra and Cowra. What a contrast they were. Caloundra’s show is on the first weekend in May every year. This year’s was huge, covering four basketball courts and absolutely full of collectables. For me there were not enough bottle tables – maybe only 15 of the total – and a similar amount of display space. This was a collectables fair in the truest sense. There were huge queues before opening, not a car park to be had, and about 3000 people though the door at $6 each made for some tidy proceeds for a local not-for-profit helicopter rescue group. This was a big show for a bottle and collectables club to put on. It surely must dominate the organisers’ spare time and put a strain on the very small volunteer base of the club. Some certainly professional security guards were on hand for the whole show at both front and back doors. They were very
noticeable and much appreciated, even checking people had name tags on the Friday and Saturday before public entry. The Cowra show on 14-15 May was a “country” (you could camp at the venue if you wanted) show at the Cowra Showgrounds. It is similar in status to the longrunning Maryborough show in central Victoria. Cowra is very busy and always booked out. In contrast to Caloundra, Cowra had lots and
lots of bottle tables, and maybe only 25 per cent collectables. Trading and deals are very busy on the Friday and Saturday before the public entry. Even at $25, the early bird passes are well worth the investment. Plenty of others were happy to pay the $5 per person general admission. Every door at the venue was open during the set-up day. It made for a very relaxed atmosphere but no-one was manning on the doors. Is this
something we need to address for our show? Happy with both my purchases and sales, I had to leave at lunchtime Saturday and really didn’t want to go because it was so busy and so much fun. This hobby is not just about the thrill of the hunt and the purchase, nor even the deals to be done; it’s also about the people you meet and make friends with at events like these. David Smith
Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club Inc. The club meets on the fourth Monday of each month (excluding December) at the Belmont Park Pavilion, Barrabool Road, under the James Harrison Bridge.
Geelong Bottle
and Collectables Club Inc. Box 5049 North Geelong LPO 3215
latest finds July Alan
Victorian glass pale brandy barrel Early Cockatoo Jam jars Rob Roy Whiskey jug
Noel
Shaving cream jars and razor blades Glass piano insulators
Tony Ron & Jan
6½oz Franklins bottles in a crate
Franc is
McCann stoneware water filter
Andrew
A&R Tasteless Castor Oil Christmas tree oil Fizzy Fruits box
Scott
Convict ginger beers Early Fosters beer
Craig
S Killyards cast weight 1880s
Kim
Palm Toffee tin Radiance Toffee tin
Peter
Assorted Embassy products Geelong book Embassy pencil tube
THIRD
SECOND
Chas Cole demijohn Ceramic light weight Wade “Jock” collection FIRST
COMING CLEAN: This classic McCanns Geelong stoneware water filter allowed Francis to clean up in July’s latest finds competition.
latest finds
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Tony produced an array of Franklin’s crown seal varieties in July – and an original company crate to keep them in.
QUALITY CONTROL: One of Kim’s finds for July had everyone wondering if the company’s toffees were better or worse than its spelling.
STRIKING: A familiar name on a battered paper tag gave special local significance to an otherwsie non-descript stoneware demijohn - and a nice July find for Ron and Jan.
minutes July monthly meeting July 26, 2010 Peter Harding chaired meeting, Craig Finegan stood in as secretary Meeting opened: 8.05pm Apologies Tracey Elso, Darryl & Anne Phillips, Dave Smith, Bruce & Elsie Collis Minutes of Previous Meeting: Moved: Robyn Stocks Seconded: Kim Johnson Business arising from minutes: Budget quote for bus trip, 22-seater Correspondence: ABCR Mornington Peninsula AB&C newsletter Maryborough Show Schedule Treasurer’s report: Term deposit $2556.79 Cash Tin $0 Tea Tin $66 Swap & Sell Tin $0 Moved: Kim Johnson Seconded: Robyn Stocks General Business: Show of hands for Maryborough Show. 10 people want to go, Ross Johnson to drive bus Meeting closed: 8.17pm Best Aquired: 1st: 2nd: 3rd:
Francis Cerasa Noel Dawson Alan Snowden
McCanns water filter Piano insulators Victorian glass brandy barrel
HISTORY LESSON: After chairing July’s meeting, Peter Harding looked over some local written history.
minutes August committee meeting August 16, 2010 Meeting opened: 7.50pm Apologies: Bob Bauer Present: Kim Johnson, Noel Dawson, Peter Harding, Alan Snowdon, Tony Parsons, Dave Smith, Tracey Elso, Craig Finegan
General business
Bus Trip – not enough numbers for bus, option for using private cars. Kim and Ross not available for bus. Honour board – Gold vinyl lettering will show life members. Dave to ask Ron Leen about providence of the board’s timber. Cupboard/storage – Can we organise a larger cupboard/storage area for library/bits’n’bobs/paperwork? Present cupboard bursting at seams. Perhaps a Brownbilt storage cupboard in the storage area where chairs are kept? Bob to ask building committee. Craig/Dave/ Peter to clean out cupboard one day. Latest Finds voting – Alan has purchased two tins to separate allotment numbers and voting slips. Antique Trail – Club to publish flyer, no sponsors so we can remain non-biased. Tourism Geelong to be asked if it can assist with sponsorship/supply/distribution. Bannockburn Antique Fair – club committee not able to attend with a display at this year’s fair, too busy with show this year. Tracey – unable to attend club meetings due to school commitments. Craig to take minutes and Tracey will still attend committee meetings when possible. Printing of schedules by Briter Printing – Dave to ask Bob to chase up payment of bill.
Show business
Showgrounds venue booking confirmed – $320 for pavilion Trestles – Dave meeting Stefan to check quality of trestles (cost $900) Rotary BBQ – locked in for Friday night/Saturday catering. Need better estimates on barbecue – perhaps ring to see who is coming? Early birds – Alan would like to see it amended next year. Valuations – Bruce Lowenthal has volunteered and been booked; two items for $5 Flier/print out of bottle club information – similar to one Tracey did for Bannockburn; also need flier for show; Tracey to get printed. Advertising & publicity Tony doing a promo for putting on the forum and internet. Kim – free community forums/publications all booked up. Dave – organised with other advertising re Geelong Tourism Centre. Community notice boards – Kim has done the permits; boards go up 27 September; members to look for special sites. Banners and corflute boards organised – cost $10/board, total cost approximately $250 Name tags – Peter to organise with template, 2 lots to come back (Rex Matthews & Kingsley Durdin) – to show early birds. Vests – accounted for; Kim can borrow more from Winch footy club Pass-out stamp – accounted for Security – 2 on front door; Kim and Beany to sleep in hall for security Display boards – to be used for security and display – Peter to supply Kim to do cover story to publicise club – Cam to do photos, possible PowerPoint presentation on wall/screen to run continuously; Kim to look into this. Prizes and Awards – Black beer bottles to be decorated with gum leaves, Microphone – Craig to ask Jeff (Mill) if we can borrow his. – If not, Noel to be notified so we can get another one. “Welcome place-cards” – Tracey to do cards that get put on swap’n’sell tables and display places. Schedule – Tracey to get 50 schedules printed plus 500 fliers (from Peter: must show antique valuations two for $5) Meeting closed: 10.45pm
NOTICES
CLASSIFIEDS
Need to e-mail a photo? Like to post a photo online to sell an item? Have a lend of the club’s digital camera. ASK PETER FOR DETAILS
WANTED TO BUY Anything to do with Jim Beam, Coca Cola, ceramic Garfields and Ned Kelly. Collectables collector. Phone Len Ellmer on 5224 1469. Royal Doulton whisky flasks Kingsware/Old electric jugs Blowtorches, clean or dirty and any spares. Phone JIM HUNTER on 5127 6420. Member of the Gippsland club. 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. Any Scouting memorabilia. Phone Shane on 5229 6469. 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. Any old newspapers and documents. Prefer Geelong and areas but will consider anything. Phone Peter on 5275 3411. Victa logo plate For original model Phone Alan on 5255 4773 or 0403 160 336. Embassy branded items. The old GJ Coles home brand. Will BUY anything. Phone Peter on 5275 3411. Aussie fruit/preserving/jam jars Geelong bottles Ceramic label milks and soft drinks David 0419 434 306/5243 4306
FOR SALE National Geographic magazines 1920s-2000s. Classic stories, great ads. $1 per issue Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.
POSITIONS VACANT Editor wanted to take over this newsletter from 2011 AGM to oversee production of six issues a year. Must be passionate and computer literate. Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.