Fun Happenings with Bottle Collecting

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated the Bottle-Bible Web Site along with my Blog, so I thought I better get myself in gear on what’s been happening with Bottle Collecting. There’s been a bunch of great stuff, so let’s get going.
As everyone knows by now, I’m always reminding the collectors that one of the best ways to support the hobby of bottle collecting is to support not only your bottle club, bottle shows, but as many other club and bottle related events as possible. Keeping that in mind, I want to give a big shout-out to the National Bottle Museum located in Ballston Spa, NY and their yearly request for support. I first connected with the museum in 1999 when I attended the Saratoga Bottle Show and participated in a book signing for the 2nd Edition of “Bottles: Identification and Price Guide” and again in 2008 for the 5th Edition book signing. At that time, Jan Rutland was the Museum Director, and now Gary Moeller has assumed the responsibility as Director, and doing a great job.
Over 1,000 visitors have signed the guestbook for the first eight months of 2017 representing 29 states as well as other countries such as Canada, Hong Kong, Turkey, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Australia, Philippines, Dubai, and China. The museum continues to grow with over 3,000 bottles, a library containing over 1000 books and publications, and numerous educational Bottle Displays and Exhibits. The museum is a must see for all collectors, and your donations will help with its continued mission of providing a valuable resource of education and research for all Bottle and Glass collectors. If interested, contact with Gary Moeller, Director, or Ellie Dillon, President, at 518-885-7589, or www.nationalbottlemuseum.org.
Have you ever dreamed about finding a room with nearly 100 bottles and demijohns containing Madeira wine dating back as early as 1769? I’ve dreamed about it, but I’m still waiting for it to happen. Recently, museum workers and historians have been renovating the Liberty Hall Museum, originally the home to New Jersey’s first elected governor and signer of the Constitution, William Livingston, at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. During the renovation, they found a Prohibition-era wall with a locked wooden cage containing 50 Bottles and 42 Demijohns of a rare Madeira wine dating back as early as1769. The six-month renovation also led to major discoveries of additional wine bottles in the attic. Keep the faith collectors, there has to be other rooms left to discover.
And, there’s been plenty of hot action with numerous bottle auctions. As part of the Reno Bottle Club’s 53rd Annual Show on June 16th – 17th, Fred Holabird’s Western Americana Collections held a two-session auction of 400 lots of limited scarce and rare bottles, headlined by the Ralph Van Brocklin collection of Western Whiskey Flasks and the Rod Stock Hutchinson bottle collection. One of the highlights of the auction was an 1880’s “H.T. Tobin Western” Pumpkin Seed Flask, made for the Walla Walla Saloon when Washington was still a territory that sold for $4,840. Van Brocklin said, “I consider this to be one of the top five Western pumpkinseed flask.”
Not to be outdone, Glass Works Auctions conducted their “Colors of Fall” auction September 18th – 25th with 312 lots including Mineral Water, Soda and Beer, Medicines, Bitters, Historical Flask, Whiskies, and much more. Some of the highlights of the auction were a very rare “Crystal Spring Water/C.R.Brown/Saratoga Springs/N.Y.” Emerald Green Quart, 1865-1875, for $8,000; an extremely rare “G.A.P. Mason-Alpine/Hair Balm-Providence, R.I.” Olive Green, 1850-1860, for $7,500; and a very rare “General Washington/ Bust of Washington-Eagle/J.R./Laird.SC.Pitt” Clear Glass with Amethyst Tint, Pint, 1830-1860, for $10,000.
Like I said, there’s a lot of good stuff going on with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting, and let’s make sure we all keep making it happen. “Have Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting. Mike

2017 Reno Antique Bottle Club Show & Sale 6/16 – 6/17/2015
Holabird Western Americana Collections Live Bottle Auction

REMINDER:

I wanted to send out a reminder that the Reno Bottle Club Show & Sale will be held on June 16th & 17th 2017 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center on 4590 South Virginia Street. It is a return to their old haunts after a number of years of having the club shows around town in various venues. Along with the show, Fred Holabird of Holabird Western Americana Collections will be holding a fantastic live auction with 1400 Lots of Western Bottles, Gaming & Mining Collectibles, Native American Items, Western Art, Tokens, and much more on Friday 6/16 at 6:00pm & Saturday 6/17 at 4:00pm at Western American Collections, 3555 Airway Drive, Suite 309, Reno, Nevada 89511. (PH –775-851-1859 / Website – www.fhwac.com)

The Reno-Sparks Antique Bottle Club has been going strong for 55 years and is one of the oldest clubs in America. “The hobby remains strong and vibrant. People are still fascinated with this art form” said club president Marty Hall of Reno. “Over the years we’ve had shows with hundreds of dealers. This year we hope to pull in dealers and collectors alike from all over the Western United States. There will be historical and topical displays of antique bottles, as well as vendors from all over the West.” Hall invites all interested collectors who may wish to display, sell or acquire special pieces for their collections. For more information, please call Marty Hall (775-355-9467) or reach him thru email, rosemuley@att.net.

This is always a great bottle show, and this year there will be a great auction to complement the show. Let’s not miss it. “Have Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting”. Mike

Hi to my fellow bottle collectors wherever you may be, or whatever hole or dump you’re digging in. I hope you’re finding some good stuff, or at least having a good time trying. This is a message that Fred Holabird recently sent out regarding the upcoming Reno Antique Bottle Show on June 16th and 17th at the Reno Convention Center. The reason that I’m posting it is that I wanted to share the good thoughts and words on the hobby of bottle collecting, and the impact it still is having on the entire hobby of Bottle Collecting. Remember, “Keep Having Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting. Mike

“The world of antique bottle collecting has taken a full turn from collecting pretty old purple and blue bottles in the desert to investment quality pieces envious of any art museum. With key rarities often trading in the tens of thousands of dollars, a new breed of collector has developed. “We are seeing many more new collectors who are collecting for the beauty of the product. The investment angle has also taken a toll, with some collectors heading straight for the rarities,” said national auction house seller Fred Holabird of Holabird’s Western Americana Collections based in Reno. “The spectacular shapes and colors rival anything else I can imagine” says Ferdinand Meyer V, a major collector of colored bottles and president of the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, a national collecting organization formed for historical education about antique bottles.

Other collectors love the history. And what’s not to love – the aura of collecting bottles from Wyatt Earp’s saloon. “Antique Bottle Bible” author Mike Polak (Krause Publications) maintains the bottles found behind Earp’s old Northern Saloon in Tonopah have added value, and if nothing else “bring home incredible history to the bottle field itself.” Holabird’s new book “Ghost Towns and Medicines” highlights the Nevada collecting genre, with stories rich in history and local lore. Holabird has planned an auction of one of the top collections of western whiskey flasks and Hutchinson soda bottles from all over America on Friday night of the show.

The Reno Bottle Show this year will be June 16-17 at the Reno Convention Center on South Virginia. It is a return to their old haunts after a number of years of having shows around town in various venues. The Reno-Sparks Antique Bottle Club has been going for 55 years strong, one of the oldest clubs in America. “The hobby remains strong and vibrant. People are still fascinated with this art form” said club president Marty Hall of Reno. “Over the years we’ve had shows with hundreds of dealers. This year we hope to pull in dealers and collectors alike from all over the Western United States. There will be historical and topical displays of antique bottles, as well as vendors from all over the West.” Hall invites all interested collectors who may wish to display, sell or acquire special pieces for their collections. For more information, please call Marty Hall (775-355-9467) or reach him thru email, rosemuley@att.net.

The Loss of a Great Friend and a Great Mentor
Bob Ferraro

The Bottle Collecting World lost a true giant of the hobby when Bob Ferraro passed away at 81 on Saturday April 29th following a lengthy illness. Since his passing, there have been numerous condolences and messages to his family, especially to his wife Connie, and there most likely will be many more over the next few weeks. I know that all of these messages recall his many contributions and devotion to the community of Boulder City, Nevada, the Hobby of Bottle Collecting, his passion for the State of Nevada, and his positive influence and kindness to everyone he met. He always had a great smile, never refused to help or answer a question, was a tremendous inspiration to everyone he met, and a true Gentleman.

I began my love of bottle collecting in 1974 with a trip to Tonopah, Nevada for the first of many adventures of digging in the early 1900’s dump. A year or two later, I met Bob at a bottle show while we were both looking at bottles on a sales table. I paid attention to the type of questions he was asking the seller about some of the bottles, and realized he knew much more than I did. That never changed. No matter how much I’ve learned over the years, Bob still knew more I did, or ever would. I introduced myself, told him about my trip to Tonopah, and asked how I could learn more about bottles. He took it from there and never stopped teaching and helping. He not only became a mentor and supporter, but also a great friend.

This information has been printed elsewhere, but I wanted to highlight some of Bob’s many accomplishments. He was appointed to the Boulder City Council in 1976 and served 31 years, including six separate terms as the Mayor, spend 19 years on the Clark County District Board of Health, Chairman of the Southern Strategic Planning Authority, and served on the board of numerous organizations in Southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. In addition, Bob was an active supporter of the Boulder City Hospital and served on its board for 12 years. As if this wasn’t enough, he worked for Pacific Engineering and Production Co. in Henderson, Nevada for 31 years.

But, his passion was bottle collecting. Bob got the collecting bug in the mid-1950’s, and accumulated an outstanding and superior collection of Figural Bitters, Western and Eastern Whiskeys, one of the best mint pristine Nevada Collections ever seen, and a vast amount of other Nevada collectibles and documents. He wrote his first book, The Past in Glass (1963) and A Bottle Collector’s Book (1964). He was the President of the Southern Nevada Antique Bottle Collector’s Club from 1971-1973, Chairman of the FOHBC’s Western Region from 1971-1973, President of the Federation of Historic Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) from 1977-1978, and was inducted into the FOHBC Hall of Fame in 2002. He continued to serve the Federation as First-Vice President from 2008-2014, and Director at Large in 2015.

While we won’t have Bob around anymore to enjoy that smile and his willingness to help and teach, he will always be with us in spirit because of the great legacy he left for everyone. Bob, you were truly a Great Friend and A Great Mentor.

Bottles, Advertising, and Color

I thought I’d better get to work since I haven’t written an update since July. Since the last blog, I’ve been too three bottle shows (Picked up some nice bottles of course), a wedding, took a vacation, and squeezed in two fishing trips. Now it’s time to catch upon on some bottle stuff.

As I’ve written before in my previous blogs, I’ve always thought there are three things that keep fueling the growth and interest in the hobby of bottle collecting; Bottle clubs and their members, Monthly bottle shows sponsored by the clubs, and Variety of items made available for the collectors at these shows. The three bottle shows that I recently attended are great examples, and tie into my “Bottles, Advertising, and Color” theme for this blog; The San Diego Bottle Club Show in June, The FOHBC Sacramento National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo in August, and the Los Angeles Historical Bottle Club Show in September.

The one thing in common at all three of these shows wasn’t necessarily the selection of bottles, or the array of advertising such as posters, artwork, advertising cards, beer trays, and labels and placards, but how all the colors of these items jumped out at me when displayed together. Every bottle collector has heard the term, “Color is King”, along with Condition, but it’s also the same way with advertising.. It’s almost like looking at the 20 outstanding displays that were featured at the FOHBC Expo in August (To quote Ferdinand Myers, President of the FOHBC, “You could rely on every person who visited the displays to say an extra “Wow” to all displays). As a note, I’ve been to many shows during my 45+ years of collecting, and the Sacramento EXPO set the bar high for all future FOHBC EXPO”s. It was absolutely amazing!

To further highlight the allure of antique advertising and color, below in italics are excerpts from an article written on August 6, 2016 for The Journal of Antique and Collectibles, “Antique Advertising at Auction: When Color Became King:, by Mike Eckles, Co-owner with wife Lori, of Showtime Auctions located in Woodhaven, MI. I’ve provided the following link if you would like to read the entire article. http://journalofantiques.com/2016/features/antique-advertising-auction-color-became-king/. For further information for Showtime Auctions, you can visit their website at www.showtimeauctions.com, or email at mike@showtimeauctions.com.

In the last ten years, antique advertising has become a very popular lot in auction arenas around the country. The category is made up mostly of posters and signs but also includes calendars, banners, chargers and trays. Printed advertising as we know it has been around for hundreds of years, starting with simple signs denoting the trade practiced at a particular shop, to lengthy advertisements in newspapers and printed magazines.    It is however, examples produced from 1880 to 1925, when color lithography began and quickly gained in popularity, that are considered the most sought after and desirable among advanced collectors. Some of the specialized printing during that period included ink containing gold in the red and silver in the blue, producing some of the most colorful and vibrant images for advertising. And from then forward came colorful graphics printed on almost every surface available.
During the key segment of advertising history in the late 18th and early 20th centuries, all a company needed to get their name on the walls of general stores, cigar stores, saloons, drug stores, soda fountains, hardware stores, etc. was to hire an artist to portray their product in a colorful image, create the poster, and get the store owner to hang it on their walls.
As early as 1975, the extraordinary beauty of these pieces caught the eye of people who wanted something aesthetically beautiful to grace the walls of their home and business. It wasn’t until 1989 when Peter Sidlow of Los Angeles, California sold his advertising collection at Noel Barrett’s auction house in New Hope, PA, that people started taking notice. Signs that were then selling for several hundred dollars sold for several thousand dollars at this auction.
The next significant auction that created a big stir was the George Cross collection offered in 2008 by Showtime Auction Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan. One example of a growing interest was realized by the sale of a Buffalo Brewing Tin Charger that had typically fetched $10,000 in the past but sold at this auction for $57,750.00 (including buyer’s premium). The amount of collectors seems to be doubling and tripling nearly every year. This increase in demand has kept the prices up and they are continuing to rise. The extraordinary color and graphics displayed in advertising signs creates a compelling esthetic value.
Much of the most beautiful examples of the artwork involved are for alcohol, tobacco and firearms. These companies were the most successful at that time. Therefore, it was easier for them to afford the best artists and the finest printers in the U.S. Some of the original paintings from these artists are fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction houses today.    As you can imagine, subject matter plays an important part of the value of advertising signs. It is not a surprise that nude women rank at the top of list. These mostly appeared in signs advertising Whiskey or Tobacco and were found hanging on the walls of establishments catering to men such as saloons. Cowboys, cowgirls, Indians and pretty women are favorites for collectors living our West. Animals, children and everyday people doing everyday things are popular with collectors in the East.
The signs, posters and calendars put out by makers of farm implements, wagons and equipment were spectacular. Some of the best color is found on paper or tin advertising a steam engine or thrasher. Some other categories that are popular among collectors are drugs, soda, grocery, hardware, millinery, tools, cleansers, soap, shaving, furniture, seed, insurance, candy, stoves, railroad, cutlery, transportation, and clocks.

For anyone just now starting to get the collecting bug, I would suggest taking a serious look at the advertising category. Donna and Bruce Weir of Indiana are promoters of a wonderful Antique Advertising Show in Indianapolis twice a year with a large assortment of signs, trays, calendars, tins and much more. Visit their website at www.indyadshow.com for more information. The Antique Advertising Association of America, better known as Quad A, offers great information. For more about this organization, visit www.pastimes.org. They publish 4 newsletters a year and have a convention for the members each summer.

There’s probably a great Bottle Show, Antique Sale, Flea Market, or an Auction close to home that will also have great examples of Advertising, and probably a few bottles.      Keep Having Fun with the Hobby of Bottle Collecting……..Mike