Author Mike Polak
About Author Mike Polak
Since it’s impossible to know everyone, it time for an introduction. Antique Bottle Collecting has been my hobby for 43 years, and have had the pleasure of writing the current 8th Edition, “Bottles: Identification and Price Guide”. I’m currently a contributing columnist for Antique Trader Magazine, and, I’ve written numerous articles for various antique publications. In addition, I’ve writing articles for Writers Digest, Scouting Magazine, and Nevada Magazine. I’m a member of the Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Las Vegas Bottle Clubs, along with the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors.
Past activities included serving as the Public Relations Director for the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, Western Region News Editor for Bottle & Extras magazine published by the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, and Special Contributor to the Antique Trader’s “Antique & Collectibles Price Guide. When I’m not having fun with bottle collecting, I’m hard at work on a thriller/suspense novel, fishing, and traveling with my wife Jacqueline.
My goal has always been to encourage a positive influence on the Hobby of Bottle Collecting for everyone, beginners and veteran collectors. “Have Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting”.
WRITING BACKGROUND
Books:
Bottles: Identification and Price GuideBottles: Identification and Price Guide 1st Edition, Avon Books -1994
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 2ndEdition, Avon Books – 1997
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 3rd Edition, Harper Collins – 2000
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 4th Edition, Krause Publications – 2003
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 5th Edition, Krause Publications – 2006
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 6th Edition, Krause Publications – 2009
Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 7th Edition, Krause Publications – 2012 Bottles: Identification and Price Guide 8th Edition, Krause Publications – 2016
Bottle Field Guide
Bottle Field Guide, 1st Edition, Krause Publications-2005
Bottle Field Guide, 2nd Edition, Krause Publications-2007
Bottle Field Guide, 3rd Edition, Krause Publications-2010
Picker’s Pocket-Guide – Bottles
Picker’s Pocket-Guide-Bottles, 1st Edition, Krause Publications 2014
American Patriotic Memorabilia
American Patriotic Memorabilia Price Guide 1st Edition, Random House-2003
Writer’s Digest Books:
“Handbook of Magazine Article Writing”, 2nd Edition (Published March2005) Contributing Author
Published Articles:
Antique Bottle Collecting
Antique Bottles: Facts for the Collector – Mountain States Collector, 11/91
Antique Bottle Collecting – The American Collectors Journal, 1/92
Collecting Antique Bottles – Antique & Auction News, 3/92
Antique Bottles – Treasure Chest, 4/92
Antique Bottles: Facts for the New Collector- The Antique Trader, 7/94
Solving Bottle Mysteries- Antique Week, 7/97
Antique Bottles: A Beginner’s Guide- Collector News, 11/97
How to Find Antique Bottles- Collector News, 2/98
Trademark Identification – Collector News, 4/98
Introduction to Bottle Collecting: Part 1-West Coast Peddler, 4/98
Introduction to Bottle Collecting: Part 2-West Coast Peddler, 5/98
Collectors ‘Dig” Antique Bottles – Antique & Auction News, 6/98
Bottle Trademark Identification – Antique Trader, 2/99
Bottle Collecting Frenzy in Saratoga, New York- Antique Trader, 7/08
What’s New in Antique Bottle Collecting – Antique Trader, 10/08
Popping the Cork on the Bottle Market – Antique Trader 9/10
Bottle Collecting Market Update – Vintage Magazine 4/11
Fish Bitters – History and Value –Antique Trader 9/11
What’s My Bottle Worth? – Antique Trader 1/13
Bottle Collecting – Hawaiian Style – Antique Trader 4/13
Bottle Collecting – Hawaiian Style – Bottles and Extras 6/13
Wyatt Earp’s Northern Saloon Dig – Tonopah, Nevada-Antique Trader 7/13
Wyatt Earp’s Northern Saloon Dig – Tonopah, Nevada-Bottles and Extras 10/13
Figural Bottles – Antique Trader – 10/13
Collecting Antique Bottles On A Budget –Antique Bottle & Glass Collector 11/13
Insulators – Between The Lines – Antique Trader 3/14
Bottle Shows, Digging, and Wyatt Earp – Antique Trader 8/14
Crocked Up: Singing The Praises of Stoneware – Antique Trader 12/14
Spring Means Warmer Temps and Bottle Shows -Antique Trader 4/15
The Civil War: Conflict Advances 19th Century Medicines and Bottles – Antique Trader 9/15
Corning Museum of Glass: World’s Largest Collection of Glass Objects – Antique Trader 3/16
Your Invited to a Celebration:Los Angeles Bottle Club’s 50th Bottle Show-Vintage Magazine 9/16
Popping the Cork on Ginger Beers – Antique Trader 10/16
Celebrating The Beginning of the Next 50 Years-Los Angeles Bottle Club’s 51st Bottle Show – Vintage Magazine 9/17
Collectors Crushing on Drug Store Dispensers – Antique Trader 12/16
Los Angeles Bottle Club’s 52nd Bottle Show – Collectors Magazine 8/18
Young Collectors Needed – Apply Immediately – Antique Trader 10/18
Breaking Down Whiskey Flask Types, Sizes, Colors – Antique Trader 1/19
Death of the Snake Oil Doctor – The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 & Sherley Amendment of 1912 – Antique Trader 4/19
Milk: It Does A Country Good – How The World War II Dairy Trade Aided the War Effort – Antique Trader 7/19
Los Angeles Bottle Club’s 53rd Bottle Show – Collectors Magazine 8/19
Other Articles
Lost River Trading Post – Nevada Magazine, 8/98
Pancakes for Profits – Scouting Magazine, 12/98
Turn Your Interests into Profits – Writers Digest, 2/03
Central Nevada Museum/Tonopah Nevada- Nevada Magazine 10/11
History In A Bottle – Bottom Line Personal Magazine – 2/12
Newspaper Columnist
Long Beach Independent Press Telegram (Long Beach, California)-1987-1990
Seal Beach “The Journal” 1991
Los Cerritos Community News 1995-1997
Contributing Columnist
Western Region News Editor –“Bottles & Extra Magazine” Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors) – 1998-2001.
Antique Trader – 2012 – Present
Consulting Advisor
Consultant: Antique Trader’s Antique & Collectibles Price Guide- Bottle Section – 2001 & 2002.
How to contact Mike:
E-mail: bottleking@earthlink.net
Web site: www.bottlebible.com
Phone/Fax: (562) 438-9209
Mail: PO Box 30328
Long Beach, CA 90853