FOHBC Board of Directors

Midwest Region Director: Henry Hecker, W298 S10655 Phantom Woods Road, Mukwonago, Wisconsin 53149, phone: 262.844.5751, email: phantomhah@gmail.com

Southern Region Director: Tom Lines, 1647 Olivia Way, Auburn, Alabama 36830, phone: 205.410.2191, email: Bluecrab1949@hotmail.com

Western Region Director: Eric McGuire, 1732 Inverness Drive, Petaluma, California 94954, phone: 707.481.9145, email: etmcguire@comcast.net

Public Relations Director: Position Open

The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors is a non-profit organization for collectors of historical bottles, glass and related collectible items. Our primary goal is educational as it relates to the history and manufacture of historical bottles and related artifacts.

President: Michael Seeliger, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608.575.2922, email: mwseeliger@gmail.com

First Vice-President: Position Open

Second Vice-President: Stephen R. Jackson, P.O. Box 3137, Suffolk, Virginia 23439, phone: 757.675.5642, email: sjackson@srjacksonlaw.com

Secretary: Alice Seeliger, N8211 Smith Road, Brooklyn, Wisconsin 53521, phone: 608.575.1128, email: aliceajscreative@gmail.com

Treasurer: Kathie Craig, 1037 Hazelwood Avenue, Campbell, California 95008, phone: 408.591.6511, email: kathiecraig@sbcglobal.net

Business Manager: Elizabeth Meyer, FOHBC, P.O. Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423, phone: 713.504.0628, email: fohbcmembers@gmail.com

Director-at-Large: Ferdinand Meyer V, FMG Design, Inc., 101 Crawford Street, Studio 1A, Houston, Texas 77002 phone: 713.222.7979 x115, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com

Director-at-Large: John O’Neill, 1805 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, California 94002, phone: 650.619.8209, email: Joneill@risk-strategies.com

Director-at-Large: Richard Siri, PO Box 3818, Santa Rosa, California 95402, phone: 707.542.6438, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net

Northeast Region Director: Charles Martin Jr., 5 John Hall Cartway, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts 01985, phone: 781.248.8620, email: cemartinjr@comcast.net

Conventions Director: Craig Cassetta, 12 Marlin Court, Chico, California 95973, phone: 530.680.5226, email: craig.cassetta@gmail.com

Historian: Brian Bingham, 4305 Arbor Cove Circle, Oceanside, California 92058, phone: 442.264.9945, email: brian.bingham@att.net

Membership Director: Elizabeth Meyer, FOHBC, P.O. Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423, phone: 713.504.0628, email: fohbcmembers@gmail.com

Merchandising Director: Position Open

Alan DeMaison, 1605 Clipper Cove, Painesville, Ohio 44077, phone: 440.358.1223, email: a.demaison@sbcglobal.net

Joe Gourd, 27W058 Fleming Drive, Winfield, Illinois 60190, phone: 630.653.7088, email: joegourd@aol.com

Ferdinand Meyer V, FMG Design, Inc., 101 Crawford Street, Studio 1A, Houston, Texas 77002, phone: 713.222.7979 x115, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com

Miguel Ruiz, FMG Design, Inc., 101 Crawford Street, Studio 1A, Houston, Texas 77002, phone: 713.222.7979, email: mruiz@fmgdesign.com

Richard Siri, PO Box 3818, Santa Rosa, California 95402, phone: 707.542.6438, email: rtsiri@sbcglobal.net

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Magazine Editor: Peachridge Collections, LLC, Ferdinand Meyer V and Elizabeth Meyer, P.O. Box 1825, Brookshire, Texas 77423, phone: 713.222.7979 x115, email: fmeyer@fmgdesign.com

Design and Layout: Ferdinand Meyer V

Proofreaders: Alice Seeliger and Bill Baab

President’s

During a recent visit with a couple of dear bottle-collecting friends I mentioned an article called “Registering Bottles” I found very interesting in our last issue of Antique Bottle and Glass Collector. I was surprised to learn they had not read it, stating they only read articles about bottles they collected or are interested in. So, with that in mind, I offered my opinion as to why the gorgeous John Ryan cobalt blue bottles, in great shape, were so hard to come by. Back then, if I had enjoyed a soda from one of those bottles, I would have put it in a collection, or my mom would have taken it and used it as a vase or window dressing...it was just too nice to return. Having read the article though, I realize the effort the bottler went through to get those bottles returned for multiple re-use, even threatening to fine those who did not do so, all in an effort to recover the cost of production. (Did they actually have sentinels checking out windows for wayward bottles?) So, if you didn’t return them, into the dump or privy they went.

I also asked them if they read the article on “Jarring Discoveries” by Mike Beardsley. When they said they didn’t collect jars, I pointed out how they missed some great stories of early collecting and fantastic finds...and an interesting tidbit about a rare Saratoga water bottle. So, don’t miss those great articles in each magazine issue! The ACL soda pop series might just get you started collecting those types of fascinating bottles with stories!

I recalled the early days when you paid extra to get your magazine “Airmailed,” so you were first in line for the “For Sale” ads and then having to wait until 7pm when the long-distance rates were lower to call out of state to see if a bottle was still available. Sure added some excitement, and also lots of disappointment. But that’s not what they were experiencing these days. They said they like to thumb through to see the photos and read a few things that interested them. They loved Ralph Finch’s take on things, and the Lost and Found and Member Photos sections.

I hope you’re not missing some great articles! I am so proud to be part of the Federation and all it is contributing to the bottle-collecting hobby. AB&GC plays a really big part in letting readers know what we have to offer. Ferdinand Meyer V does a fantastic job of putting articles, advertisements, and show information together in each issue. The photos are first rate.

An article on Baraboo Pottery in this issue is near and dear to my heart. Authors Henry Hecker and Peter Maas have been my bottle buddies for many years. My aunt and uncle had a house just across the street from the dig they highlight and I may even have played in that area back in the 1950s. This article also reminds me of Jim Hagenbuch’s story about the intact kiln buried in Pennsylvania that was resurrected and now resides in a museum. I love stories about digging and finding things since I no longer dig myself. If it was easy enough, I would love to be on a dig, dragging out dirt, and uncovering exciting new things even if the best ones were broken.

ACL bottles featuring cowboys is the next installment in the ACL series. I remember traveling in the 50s with my parents in the west and southwest. I probably drank from these bottles if they contained grape soda...it was my favorite flavor.

Be sure to check out Regional News and the Directors’ reports which highlight shows in their regions. They would sure appreciate it if you would provide information and photos about shows you’ve attended. Expanded reports are accessible on our website FOHBC.org. So please take the time to read through every article in this and every issue of AB&GC. I’m sure you will be surprised and pleased...and maybe you’ll start a new collection!

Big news is that the planning for the FOHBC Houston 2024 National Antique Bottle & Glass Exposition (Houston 24), August 1–4, at the Houston Museum of Science and Hotel ZaZa is well underway. Some of the rarest bottles and early American glass from private collections will be together for the first (and probably only) time. There will be so much to see in the spectacular Houston Museum District in addition to our FOHBC activities. Alice and I will be there for almost a week to take in as many of the 19 museums and other attractions as we can. Event Information Packets became available August 1, 2023. If you haven’t received one yet, request one now or download one from our website! Start planning, and make your reservations early.

For the 2025 Federation Event, we’re looking for a host in the Northeast Region. Manchester, Springfield and York were sites of the most recent conventions in that region and all three were fantastic. If no one from that region comes forward soon, we will move on to the Midwest Region. But whichever region you are in, get a group together, make a proposal to host, and let’s make it happen. The FOHBC will be fully supportive.

So many things are happening in the Federation. Online educational seminars by Zoom are recorded and then available on our website. (Check out the schedule online or in each magazine issue.) The FOHBC also has a YouTube site! More past magazines are being scanned and made available on our online archives. The Virtual Museum is constantly growing. The Auction Price Report includes 10 years’ worth of auctions and will be updated with three more years before 2024. As a member, you have access to all this stuff, so start digging! And make those plans for FOHBC Houston 24, a once-in-a-lifetime bottle event.