This Month

    Hi gang! We will continue right along with the pace we set last month. Our mission? We are getting everything ready for our 2011 Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Show and we need everyone's help!

    It was so good to see John Pastor at the last meeting Since my first bottle show, I have marveled at the energy of John Pastor. Running a bottle show really takes a lot of organizing, planning and promoting! I might add, all the work doesn't stop once the show starts rolling . . . it intensifies! It is really going to be a lot of work this year without your help so please come to this meeting and pledge your support!

    Sign-up sheets were passed around at the last meeting for the Friday night Hospitality Suite party and for show security. I hope you had a chance to get your name down. If not, please plan to be at the March meeting. We need your help more then you know! Yes, I'm repeating myself!

    John was filling us in about some of the advertising that has already been started to announce the show. That is when I learned something that I had missed before. John is now the owner and publisher of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector Magazine! How cool is that!

    I knew that John had taken on even more responsibility within the hobby, and I thought it was with more involvement with the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors (F.O.H.B.C.). Recently I decided that I wanted to support the hobby more and, at the same time, reconnect with the antique bottle magazine that I have enjoyed so much in the past.

    One day when I was at work, and had some extra time on my hands, I went online to see if our bottle show was listed on the F.O.H.B.C. web site. Also, I wanted to confirm the location of the West Michigan Antique Bottle Club Show held on February 26^th. By the way, Chuck tells me that the Grand Rapids show was really super! While I was on that web site, I learned that I could renew my membership and even use money in my Pay Pal account to pay for it! I love it when they make it easy for us worn-out dump diggers!

    I was so happy when my January - February issue of Bottles and Extras showed up in the mail! Along with my membership package, there was a nice 'welcome back' letter from June Lowry and a sheet of colored membership business cards . . . they are really sharp! The magazine was a very welcome surprise on a cold winter's day. I was even more surprised to see the Federation's Midwest Regional News by Joe Coulson. He used a large article from our newsletter in his coverage, which I thought was pretty cool! I am not sure how he received it? I guess I better watch my language! Thanks, Joe, for mentioning our club!

    Frankly, I love the bi-monthly Bottles & Extras which is even better then ever, but I had the two publications mixed up. I learned at the last meeting that John is now publisher of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector! I'm good to go; I'm signed up for both magazines and the F.O.H.B.C. once again!

    Here are some important show details that I want to add to the newsletter.

    Friday evening April, 8th from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm we will be hosting our annual Hospitality Suite including a food buffet and beverages at the Best Western Hospitality Inn, 3640 E. Cork Street, Kalamazoo MI. For you GPS users, the zip is 49001-4645

    Phone: 269/381-1900

    The Hospitality Suite will be located in the Best Western's Professional Conference Center. Club members please bring your food items in by 6:30!

    Hotel Information: A terrific group rate of $69.99 + tax for a king bed, or $79.99 for two queen beds has been negotiated with Best Western Hospitality Inn at the same location. This is just five minutes from the show site!

    To reserve this rate, you must call the hotel on, or prior to, Thursday, March 31st. Be sure to tell them that you are with the Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Club. Please do not hesitate to call them; the rooms sell out quickly!

    The Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Show is from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, 2900 Lake Street, Kalamazoo MI 49048. Exit 80, Interstate 94 (I-94)

    PLEASE NOTE! We ask all dealers to remain setup until 3:00 p.m. please!

    Dealer set-up is from 8:00 to 10:00. No dealers will be allowed into the auditorium for set-up before 8:00. Nobody other than dealers, or people who have paid an "Early Bird" admission, will be allowed inside prior to the show opening at 10:00 am.

    Name Tags must be worn in a visible location in order to gain entry at 8:00 am.

    Please note, you must furnish your own table covers. Table covers are no longer provided by the fairgrounds. You must have a table cover!

    Exhibits will be limited to: Antique Bottles, Jars, Flasks, and related glass. Also stoneware, advertising and small table-top antiques are permitted. PLEASE no flea-market items, Avon Bottles, new merchandise, Jim Beam bottles, beer cans, etc.

    I'm learning a lot here as well! Any irradiated bottles or jars must be clearly marked. The whole purpose of this show is for antique bottles and related glass, so pretend you don't see the guy with the metal detectors!

    Speaking of metal detectors, our raffle prize is a new metal detector package again this year! I was going to copy and paste the information from last year's newsletter, but I could not locate it! I didn't realize that I don't have any April newsletters on the club web site! The top prize in the club raffle is a:

    Fisher F2 Visual & Audio Target ID Metal Detector! It is a Versatile Multipurpose High Performance Metal Detector!

FEATURES INCLUDE:

* 8-Segment visual target identification and 4-tone audio I.D.

* Fast, sensitive target response

* 2-digit numeric target value

* One-touch pinpoint with numeric depth readout

* Coin depth indicator in motion search mode

* 8" concentric searchcoil

* Light weight - only 2.6 lbs including batteries

* Ergonomic S-Handle design

* Notch system for accepting or rejecting target categories

* Includes two 9 volt alkaline batteries

* Operating frequency: 5.9 kHz
THE HOT NEW FISHER F-2!!

Retail value $ 249.00!!

This would make a great detector for coin hunting, relic hunting, beach hunting and even for shallow water hunting! This detector even will come with padded headphones that have a volume controls for each ear!

    We had a small turnout for the last meeting, and that is why I stress the need for you to be at this meeting. At the meeting we saw the smiling faces of: Scott Hendrichsen, Ed Nickerson, Jeff Chase, Kevin Seigfried, Chuck Parker, John Pastor, Mary Hamilton and me. Those are the people who signed in. I could have sworn Wayne Marvin was there . . . did he forget to sign in ???

    Our meeting theme was Patent Medicines and if you missed it, you missed a real mini bottle show right at the meeting! Of course patent medicines are right up Chuck Parker's alley! He had the makings of an 1890's drugstore with him! Come to think of it, its a wonder we weren't all arrested . . . who really knows what is in those bottles?

    One of my favorites was;

DOCTOR MIXER'S CANCER AND SCROFULA SYRUP

The picture on the label shows a picture of a bearded Dr. Mixer looking healthy, wealthy and wise! Around the picture of the Doctor it says;

"Doctor Mixer's condition after cured by this remedy!"

7-1/2% Alcohol.

The Great Blood Purifier and Family Medicine. Here is the kicker! Manufactured by Mixer Medicine Co. Hastings, Mich.!

Judge me by my works

POOR MAN'S

FAMILY BITTERS

A Mild And Pleasant Tonic Alterative & Stimulant

These Bitters are superior to any other medicine with which we are acquainted for the cure of Dyspepsia, Liver Complaint, Jaundice, Loss of Appetite, Debility, Giddiness, Nervous Diseases, Piles, and all Diseases Arising From A Disordered Condition of the Stomach and Liver.

They Cleanse the Blood, Strengthen the Stomach and Bowels, Equalize the Circulation, Obviate Costiveness and Restore the System to a Healthy Action. They will be Found Invaluable as a Preventive for Fever and Ague, remitted and Intermitted Fevers, and all Other Diseases Peculiar to a Malarious Elimate.

Manufactured by

Poor Man's Bitters Company

Oswego, NY.

       That really says it all! One of the key words is "Preventive" when you want to keep the cash flow going make them know what it will prevent!

      Also notice they start out by pointing to one of the teachings of Jesus found in Matthew 7:20

       "Wherefore by their works you will know them."

Have you wondered about some of the ailments?

SCROFULA

A form of tuberculosis affecting the lymph nodes, especially of the neck, that is most common in children and is usually spread by unpasteurized milk from infected cows.

DYSPEPSIA

Upset stomach and bowel pain. Feeling full sooner than expected.

AGUE

A fever that is marked by paroxysms of chills, fever and sweating recurring regular intervals. Also, a fit of shivering from a chill. Ague can refer to both chills and fevers.

Ed Nickerson showed this unusual Dr. Sykes' Sure Cure For Catarra

Here is a shot from the last meeting: On the left and closest, Scott Hendrichsen, to his left Ed Nickerson, Jeff Chase, Kevin Seigfried, Chuck Parker, John Pastor and just out of view is Mary Hamilton.


A rare little bottle that Scott brought in to the meeting!


Scott just picked this up on his delivery route! Warner's Tippecanoe bottle! I love them!

 
Just a few great labeled bottles from  Colonel Chuck Parker's awesome collection!


A Dutch Case Gin from a shipwreck off from the tip of South Africa. Al Holden Collection


Another shot of Scott's Tippecanoe!


Another shipwreck bottle, a Dutch Onion! Learned the bottle dates to 1720!  Al Holden Collection

MOST UNUSUAL DUG ITEMS!
Here is a chance to show off those breast pump parts, clay pipes, doll heads. I can't wait to see what walks into the meeting!

MEETING IS  MARCH 8th . MEETINGS ARE IN MAIN DOWNTOWN LIBRARY, 315 SOUTH ROSE, KALAMAZOO MI.