It is interesting to set up at the Houston Show. It is so small and there are so few, if any of the things I look for.
From talking to the old-timers here such as Barbara Puckett (Show Organizer), Tom and Alicia Booth, Alton Neatherlin, Neil and Linda Buso & Ed Letard, I understand that Houston used to be a mega show with the likes of Dr. Sam Greer, Bob & Beka Mebane, Norm Heckler, Bill Agee, Dr. Richard Cannon and many others in regular attendance.
I did meet quite a few new collectors, signed up a number of new FOHBC members, turned many newbies on to the digital revolution in bottles with the bottle web sites and bottle blogs (I always have my laptop with me) and of course…. got some GREAT LEADS on some sleeper Bitters Bottles that have been tucked away for decades. THAT IS WHY I GO TO SHOWS!
I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim Schmidt (noted Civil War author and blogger) and his wife. Visit: Civil War Medicine and looking at some of Dan Cowman’s massive Bitters Ephemera duplicates. WOW! Dan also mentioned that he purchased only the second know original large Roback’s Stomach Bitters bar picture on eBay recently for 5k. The other known picture is in the Library of Congress.
Anyway, the pictures…. (by the way…you can see my table photographs by clicking Meyer Table)
Special Message for Jeff, Bob and Bill who were hitting the Reno Show (Bitters on Dan’s Table: Kelly’s, Old Homestead, Pocahontas, Un-Embossed Blue Barrel, H.P. Herb, Drakes, Label Under Glass Herb Bitters and two Castilians (to name a few)
Some Killer Bitters Bottles - Dan Cowman Table
3 Rivers Glass Factory Bottles (Really Big Here)
Lots of Cool Painted Label Sodas
Painted Label Sodas Laying out like Fish at a Fish Market
Nice Display of Painted Label Sodas
Cool Beer Signs (Breweriana Big Here in Texas)
Chocolate Molds on the Cowman Table
Fruit Jar Rubbers - Cowman Table
Patent Medicines - Cowman Table
Lots and Lots (and Lots) of Texas Bottles
Ferdinand,
Looks like the Cowman table had some good quality bitters at your small show. Out west (Reno) several collectors of bitters bottles were able to acquire some good bitters as well, such as a large size Rosenbaums Bitters, Dr. Boerhaave’s Stomach Bitters, (two) yellow National Bitters, (two) Old Homestead Wild Cherry Bitters (lightish amber with crudity), various barrel bitters, overall many early western glob top fifths changed hands also. A fire sale at the Wichmann (American Bottle Auction) table attracted a mob scene that was 3 rows deep as usual. This seems to be a tradition with this show. Each year ABA unloads boxes of bottles acquired over the year since the last show giving collectors incredible buys. This event is always looked forward to at the Reno bottle show.
Mr. Meyer,
It was nice to meet you at the show this weekend. My name is Brad by the way. We discussed some of the Texas bitters I have seen. I am looking for my list of known Texas bitters bottles with descriptions, but alas I have not found it yet. When I was at the show I was told from a very reputable source about a Robertson’s Tonic Stomach Bitters Austin Texas in amber that is in a collection in Austin. It is not one of pontiled variants, but is very early. Texas patent meds are my passion, and if I get any info on it’s real whereabouts I will pass the info to you.
If I do not find that bitters listing I will get it from a friend of mine who also has one. I will get it to you either way.
Brad
I have been setting up at the Houston bottle show since 1974. Yes, it used to be a great show and still is, just smaller. Barbara Puckett is to be commended for continuing to operate this annual show even though the Houston bottle club has disbanded. This is the only regular bottle show in Texas and for Texas bottles is the best around.
Mr Meyer, I was honored to meet you at the National Bottle Show in Memphis this year and good to see you again so soon in Houston. You will be seeing more of me and Mary at bottle shows and antique shows around the country because I just retired from my engineering job and will now have more time to spend on our antique/collectibles business. We will be set up at the National Sports Collectors show in Chicago next week and then shopping at Brimfield, Ma in Sept and then set up at Roundtop in the Arbor Antique Show in late Sept. Will add some bottle shows as the schedule permits. Hope to see you around.
Jay