BOTTLES IN THE NEWS 

Alleged Theft Foiled At Popular Antique Bottle Show

Hi Fellow Collectors.  I just received this article from another collector and dealer, and wanted to post it as a reminder to all of us that we always need to pay close attention and be aware when selling at shows.   While I feel that all buyers are honest collectors, it only takes one to ruin things for everyone.   If we all watch and help each other when we’re selling or buying, we’ll be able to catch and stop these knucklehead characters.

A rare Keene 1830s sunburst flask, valued at $800, went missing from a dealer’s table at the 46th annual Somers Antique Bottle Show at St. Bernard’s School in Enfield on Feb. 28, 2016, casting a shadow on an otherwise successful show.

Scott St. Laurent, a collector and show dealer, had the flask out on his table when a man came along, picked it up, and chatted with him about it. The man put the flask back and moved on. A woman following right behind bought a small bottle from his collection. Laurent said that when he bent down to get wrapping paper for her purchase, he immediately noticed the Keene flask was missing. As no other visitor had passed his table, Laurent said he stopped the woman and confronted her.  She claimed the bottle she purchased was all she had. She invited him to follow her out of the school auditorium where the show was being held to check her bag in the school entryway.

Laurent followed her out where she again said he could check her bag, but that she needed to use the bathroom. The bottle wasn’t in her bag, and when she came back, Laurent apologized. But, he noticed that she was acting very strange and nervous

Suspicious, he went into the women’s bathroom and picked up and shook the waste basket, which was full of paper. He heard a rattle and found the missing bottle buried underneath the papers.  Organizers detained the woman and called police.  “It’s a shame. This never happens here,” said one of the regular vendors.  “I’d like her to be permanently banned from this show,” said St. Laurent. “But I’m happy. I got my bottle back.”   Despite the incident, the show presented an excellent opportunity for dealers, collectors, and the just plain curious to buy, sell, and learn about popular vintage glass.  We always hear  the saying, “Let the Buyer beware”, but maybe we need to add a new one that says, “Let the Seller beware”.

“Have Fun With The Hobby Of Bottle Collecting”    – Mike

Hi everyone. I thought I better get to work with some updates on what’s happening in the world of bottle collecting.

First, let start with some Good News! The 8th Edition was published March 1, 2016 and is available online and in all major book stores. In order to continue making the “8th Edition” the most informative reference and pricing guide available, and to provide the beginner and veteran collector with a broad range of detailed pricing information and reference data, major updates and additions have been included in this revised edition. Based on numerous requests by the Pot Lid collectors, the 8th edition is introducing a special new chapter on one of the fastest growing segments to complement bottle collecting, “Pot Lids”.

In addition to a number of valuable illustrations, the 8th Edition features 250 stunning color photographs throughout the book. Also included in this update is complete new pricing updates and revisions for both the “Old Bottles” (pre-1900) and “New Bottles” (post-1900) sections, and a new special feature to assist the collector to better visualize the items. Now, approximately 85% of all the line items, specifically in the “Old Bottle” section, include a color photograph to complement the line item pricing. With this newest added feature, the book now provides the collector with a total of approximately 2000 color photographs, and a unique value-added research source to help with the identification of your bottles.

In order to help the collector to better understand the details of how to price and evaluate your bottles, the “Determining Bottle Values” chapter has been updated and expanded along with the reference and research sections on “Trademarks”, “Bibliography”, and the “Glossary” of glass related terms. This edition also includes extensive updates and revisions to essentials of the hobby, such as the “History and Origin of Glass and Bottles”, how to start a collection, “Basic Bottle Facts”, “Bottle Sources”, bottle handling techniques, and one of my favorites, “Digging for Bottles”, which features the digging adventures of Charlie Cook and Terry Guidroz and their crew, from New Orleans, Louisiana. I hope everyone enjoy the new 8th Editions. If you would like to order the book direct from me, send $31 ($$25 Book & $6 Shipping) to Mike Polak, PO Box 30328, Long Beach, CA 90853. If you have any additional questions, you can always contact me at bottleking@earthlink.net or through my website at www.bottlebible.com.

Another new book that is close to hitting the book shelves is “Ghost Towns & Medicines, The Nevada Bottle Book Volume II, Drug Store Bottes”, by Fred N. Holarbird. If you collect any type of Nevada Bottles and associated items, this is a must book to have. In fact, I think that if you are a collector of any type of Western Drug Store Bottles, you need to add this book to your research library. The book provides 458 pages of detailed comprehensive research and pricing information on all aspects of Drug Store Bottles of Nevada. There is so much data in fact, that the book had to be divided into six distinct parts; Nevada Medicine and Pharmacology, Nevada and the Drug Store, The Drug Trade, Drug Store Bottles, Reference Materials, and Nevada Druggists. If you’re interested in additional information about the book, including ordering, contact Fred Holabird at 775-843-0229 or 775-851-1859, or fred.holabird@holabirdamericana.com.

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC), in conjunction with various bottle clubs, sponsors a yearly National Antique Bottle Show featuring a three-day bottle show and sale with an average of 300 sales tables, educational displays, educational seminars and programs, and a banquet. This year, the National Show will be held August 4 -7, 2016 in Sacramento, California, at the McClellan Conference Center with the Lions Gate Hotel as the event host hotel, including an great auction hosted by Holabird Western Americana Collections with a quality selection of rare and scarce bottles. This will be one of those shows that shouldn’t be missed. If you are interested in obtaining additional information about contracting for tables or other show events, contact Richard Siri, Show Chairman, at rtsiri@sbglobal.net. Don’t Miss This Show!!

Another great show that will be held on the West Coast is the International Perfume Bottle Association (IBPA) 28th Annual Convention with a theme of “Scents, Wine & Roses” in Portland, Oregon from April 7th to May 1st, at the Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront. The convention will be hosting numerous events and educational programs and displays. The event is open to the public free on Saturday, April 30th, with the highlight of the convention being the Perfume Bottle Auction on Friday evening, April 29th, with Antique Roadshow celebrity Nicholas Dawes returning again as the auctioneer. This is another show that shouldn’t be missed. For additional information and a full list of events, contact Teri Wirth at 407-973-0783 or www.vicepresident@perfumebottles.org, or the IPBA website at www.perfumebottles.org.

I wanted to add one more thought before signing off. I’ve mentioned two major bottle shows within this blog, but there are many more shows happening out there, approximately 35 shows between March and June, that offer collectors a wealth of education, knowledge, and great bottles for sale or trade. The Bottle Clubs, their Members, and their Club Shows, are the life-blood of the Hobby of Bottle Collecting, and should be supported and attended by as many collectors as possible.

Keep Having Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting.
Mike

Hello, I am Michael Polak III. Working with my Grandpa Mike Polak we have brought you a redesigned website. We plan to keep the site interactive with bottle news, informative bottle  blogs, and many more exciting stuff to come! We will also keep you up to date on all the latest bottle meetings, book releases, and appearances.

Yes so the grandson gets to bug his own Bottle Collecting Grandpa to get him updated stuff so you will be sure to get the latest news! Please let us know if there are any thing you would like to see on the site. We would love your feedback. Please visit our contact page.