Glenn Poch's Bottle Collecting Newsletter 6

Newsletter #6
August

Attended the York Pennslyvania Bottle Show last month, always a large
diverse show which is held yearly outdoors at the Fairgrounds.  Many
quality items were for sale as usual, a auction follows the Friday show
which is composed of bottles not sold during the first day (it's a two
day show).  York is near Gettysburg and Landcaster and has lots of
Antique Shops near the area (some with quality eastern pieces) - it is
held in the middle of July, and in my opinon it has many items that are
unusual and not offten seen - next year plan to attend!
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Speaking of Bottle Shows - why not come out to the Federation Show this
August its held on Aug 10-13 with Thr consisting of Fed. Meetings, Fri
Early Setup and display setup - I belive the Glassworks Auction will be
on this day as well, Sat & Sun the bottle show.  It show be a great
Federation show because we have dealers coming from many-many states and
some dealers from out of the country.  My club (Antique Bottle Club of
Northern Illinois) and the Chicago Club are both hosting this show
consisting of over 300 tables.  It is going to be held in Rosemont
Illinois which is very close to O`hare Airport - there are many events
also planned for this show including a bus to the Art Museum which is now
featuring the Monet exhibit (the largest yet assembled) along with a
cruise on Lake Michagan - the show will be held at the Clarion Hotel
which provides an excellant setting for lighting and loading.  Plan to
attend this one - and if anyone needs more specific details about the
show let me know by emailing me at :  pochg@phk.nslsilus.org

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Talked to a candy container collector - who wrote me the following
suggestions on discerning reproduction candy containers:


The easiest way to tell whether a candy container is reproduced, is of
course to know WHICH ones are reproduced, and WHAT the differences are. 
The following is NOT true for all repros, but for many:

Repro glass is "icy".  Some repros have "Taiwan" embossed.  Some repros are
made with colored glass (but some also are clear).  Many repros do not have
closures, and of course none of the repros have the original paint or candy.
Many of the repros have "smooth, rounded" edges (as in Happifats or Kewpie by
barrel, and a locomotive).  Also, look for wear, like on the bottom of wheels
of vehicles.  As children played with them by scooting them back and forth on
the floor, they are worn and the repros won't show this.  Some of the higher
priced candy containers that have tin parts have been reproduced, but the
repros do not have the tin (lawn swing).

There are approximately 40 candy containers that have been reproduced.

I know this is pretty vague for you, but hope it helps a bit.  If in doubt,
don't buy it.  When I first started in candy containers, I was easily
fooled---but not any more.

Nadine

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I had a chance to browse through a recently published glass book by
Kenneth Wilson called American Glass (not to be confused with the older
publications) this is a 2 volume publication which sells for $200- The
book is a collection of photographs and descriptions of glass from the
Toledo Museum of Art, The first volume has a nice selction of flasks and
some misc. bottles along with cup plates and other early pieces, the
second volume has early pieces but also some more contemorary glass.  The
pieces within the book have a age range from 1760-1930.  The book is
nicely put together however it leaves out large categories of bottles and
glass, it is only what the museum has on hand.  It was nice to look
through but I don't think it warrents the $200 price it wants to command.

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I asking those who read this newsletter and specilaize in a certain area
to write a article on your area of collecting and send it to me so I can
include it in the newsletter and others can learn from your knowledge,
this also allows us to find out what you collect and maybe even sell or
trade items you might want.  For example I have a few ACL(?) painted
label soda bottles and maybe I can learn how to distinguish what makes a
good bottle from the 30's-60's, maybe I have one someone is looking for.
Anyhow I know many of you have knowledge in the area you collect- and the
whole idea of collecting is to share this knowledge with others.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I collect Bitter Bottles - Bitters originated from the European market -
Germany in particular in the 1700's.  The United States started to market
them in the early 1800's when a liquor tax was imposed, bitters claimed
to be medicine so they could get away from paying that tax (although many
of them had enough alcohal to burn the carpet).  True bitter collectors
look for certain things when collecting Bitter Bottles - most important
is the word Bitters to be embossed on the bottle, following this is shape
the figural bottles that held bitters are in high demand (shapes such as
cabins, pigs, corn, barrels and other novelties) color is also important
- especially light colors and puce (red wine), many of these bottles are
square in shape and amber (probably over 1/2 of them) they are still
worth money but even the rarest ones usually do not go over $1000,
compare this to a figural queen bottle in clear for over $10,000 - while
somewhat scarce a square bottle with the same rarity would only see around
$150 at best.  There are thousands of brands to be collected and many are
quite common - so this makes collecting them popular because there are
some readily available and many that are quite chalenging.  The most
common bitters are hostetters, lashs, and atwoods.  Hostetter's Bitters
are so common that when you see a square bottle in amber I'll bet 90/100
times it will be this brand.  This bottle also comes in different colors
- standard amber will bring around $5 while olive green or light green
around 200-, and there is a couple iron pontil example that bring over
$1000 in amber (look for those).  For more info on starting to collect
bitters or questions concerning a bottle you own contact me at  :
pochg@phk.nslsilus.org - I can also supply those interstead in a copy of
my bitter pricing guide - A collectors guide to Bitter Bottles A to Z -
at half price $12.50 + S.H.

I have other collecting focuses as well but that is my primary collection.



----
Wanted: Milk Bottles from Connecticut as well as creamers from any state.
Also looking for any type of soda bottle from my hometown, Waterbury,
Connecticut.  Also looking for someone to correspond with via-email who
collects milk bottles!

John Wiehn (WIEHN@GDC.COM)
****

Always looking for quality bottles, and have some for sale too! Glenn

Happy Collecting


---------Glenn