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The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC)

Annual Convention July 28-31

RENO, NV – Antique bottle and glass enthusiasts will want to mark the “best” J.F. Cutter star shield type
their calendars for Thursday to Sunday, July 28th through July 31st. whiskey fifth; Bay City Soda Water Company
That’s when the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (FOHBC) bottle; and the Old Sachem’s Bitters and
will hold its 2022 National Antique Bottle Convention in Reno. The Wigwam Tonic. The merits of each bottle will
show and sale event will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort. be judged by a panel of veteran collectors
“I’m pleased to announce that this year’s convention will be held in experienced in each type.
our Western Region, in the ‘Biggest Little City in the World,’ and be Day 2, on Friday, July 29th, will begin
our first national event after a two-year pause due to the pandemic,” with an FOHBC membership breakfast
said Ferdinand Meyer V, past three-time president of the FOHBC and meeting from 7-8:30 a.m., followed by a series
one of the driving forces for the event. “Along with the of educational seminars, four in all, that will
traditional bottle show and sale will be educational run from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The subjects are
seminars, a judged bottle shootout competition, silent varied and fascinating. The topics and speakers
auction, cocktail party and banquet, membership breakfast include Morgan Oyster Beds Bottle Finds (John
meeting, displays, team bowling event, bottle appraisals, Shroyer); Marbles (Jeff Wichmann); Grace
youth events, raffles, and many other activities.” Brothers Brewing Co. (John Burton); and Dr.
Mr. Meyer implored everyone to “come to see some Charles Craig, Dr. John Henion, and Hulbert H. Cobalt blue glass insulator
great Western glass and pottery from the major Gold Warner: Their Connections, Lawsuits, for California Electric
Rush cities of the West and towns in-between, for just Competition and Eventual Business Demise Works (San Francisco)
five dollars general admission on Saturday and Sunday. (Michael Seeliger). Presenters will be organized by seminar coordinator
It’s a wonderful way to learn about American history Eric McGuire. Questions regarding the seminars may be directed to
from the 1800s through the turn of the century.” Mr. McGuire via email, at etmcguire@comcast.net.
The many events will make for a packed itinerary. The aforementioned exhibit displays will be on view for three days,
People don’t have to be an FOHBC member to attend, July 29th thru 31st. Friday and Saturday, July 29-30, will also feature
but membership is encouraged and available at the a Silent Auction, in which attendees can bid during the convention on
show, plus online, at www.fohbc.org. There will be two 50 to 100 lots displayed in a secure area on the Summit Pavilion show-
very special exhibits at this year’s convention: room floor. Anyone wishing to consign a bottle to the Silent Auction
• Top 25 Western Whiskey Cylinders: This display is (minimum value: $100) may contact Richard Siri via email at
expected to attract a special grouping of bottles that Dr. Wonser’s rtsiri@sbcglobal.net or Ferdinand Meyer V at fmeyer@fmgdesign.com.
will easily approach $1 million in total value. Such a Indian Root There will be a series of prize drawings during show hours on
display may never happen again and, with the help of Bitters bottle. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (July 29-31). Also, two Jim
This product
the collecting community, will provide an attraction was the inven- Healy Reno 2022 FOHBC National Antique Bottle show
that, alone, is worth attending the Reno 2022 tion of William commemorative jugs will be raffled. Mr. Healy, from
Convention to witness. Hawkins and I. Tribes Hill, New York, is a talented potter and restorer of
• Artifacts from the S. S. Central America: Come see H. Wonser, old jugs. He has designed and made FOHBC national
this once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of recovered artifacts with Dr. show commemorative mugs for many years. The current
from the S.S. Central America Wonser being a plan is to have one jug in the Silent Auction and another
known for its vast cargo of gold. silent partner. for the raffle. Raffle tickets will cost $2 each; three for $5.
The ship sank in a storm in 1857. Advertisements Alan DeMaison with the FOHBC Virtual
There will be bottles, Gold Rush first appeared in Museum will be setting up and imaging bottles the
jewelry, firearms, luggage tags, pho- November three days of July 29-31, during showroom hours in
tographs, currency, gold pokes, 1870. the GSR Summit Pavilion. He will do this on an
clothing, and a treasure box appointment basis but will also consider walk-in
and lid. requests, time permitting. “Be a part of the greatest
This year’s FOHBC show is a must-attend new thing in our great antique bottle collecting
for antique bottle and glass enthusiasts and hobby,” Mr. Meyer said.
members of the many antique bottle clubs A pair of fun Youth Corner activities are planned
scattered across the country. Diggers and for kids interested in getting started in the hobby. The
pickers will also find the show of great first one involves Children’s Bottle Grab Bags, where
interest. Antique bottle collectors are very the FOHBC will provide about 50 bottle grab bags for
passionate about a category of collecting kids ten and under, during the General Admission
that’s enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity hours of the show (July 29-31). Each bag will have an
in recent years. There will even be a free antique hand-blown bottle, in good condition California Club
appraisal table for people to bring in their and embossed. One bottle grab bag per child. House Pure Bourbon,
finds and possessions. The other event is a Scavenger Hunt, for considered one of the
The convention schedule will kick off children aged 8 and up, at the GSR Summit premier brands to
with the semi-annual FOHBC Board Pavilion showroom floor. Organizers will prepare collectors of California
Meeting slated for 8 am to 12 noon on a list defining specific items, which the partici- whiskey bottles.
Thursday, July 28th, in the Carson 1 Room. pants will seek to gather or complete all items on It was produced
A VIP Reception & Dealer Registration will the list, usually without purchasing them, either between 1872 and
take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m., followed by an individually or in small teams. The goal is to 1874. There are nine
evening Reno Shootout bottle competition complete most or all of the items on the list. For or so known in shades
Cassin’s Grape Brandy Bitters in the Grand Salon and Crystal Ballroom. more information, contact Bella Alucema, at of amber.
bottle, circa 1860s, most
unusual in shape and pro- The Reno Shootout will be a friendly Isabellaalucema@gmail.com.
duced in two mold variants, competition that will compare and judge For more information about the Federation of Historical Bottle
this bottle being the earliest three types of bottles (all entrants are Collectors (FOHBC) and this year’s National Antique Bottle
produced with approximately welcome; limit three bottles per category Convention, slated for July 28-31 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno,
ten examples known. per person). The judging events will be for Nevada, please visit www.fohbc.org.

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