We buy, consign and sell antique bottles in our online auction - including old whiskey, bitters, sodas, water,

beers, inks, flasks, spirit, medicine, historical, fruit and pickle jars, utility, barber, gin, Dutch onion, nippers and more!

Your Online Connection to the World of Antique Bottles

800-806-7722     Email: info@americanbottle.com

2523 J Street Suite 203,  Sacramento, CA 95816

____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

About Jeff Wichmann

- Owner and Founder of American Bottle Auctions -

Jeff Wichmann's interests include golf and bonsai collecting, but his long-time interest in antique bottles is what concerns us here.

Jeff has been collecting antique bottles for over 30 years. He founded Pacific Glass Auctions in 1990.  Pacific Glass Auctions changed its name to American Bottle Auctions in 2001.  American Bottle Auctions specializes in appraisal, brokering, consigning and auctioning of antique bottles and glass. Over the past 16 years, Jeff has personally researched the history, evaluated the condition, and estimated the value of tens of thousands of items. Aside from his auction-related duties, he is often called upon to appraise the value of antique bottles and glass for private individuals and businesses.

In 1999, Mr. Wichmann published a 132-page, hard cover book entitled The Best of the West - Antique Western Bitters Bottles which has been handled by major literary distributors and book stores, as well as public and private libraries. This book is now considered to be one of the top resources for researching the history, and value of, antique bitters bottles.

Jeff has been a trailblazer in the antique bottle collecting hobby.  His was the first bottle auction house to provide full-color, glossy catalogs.  This was a major benefit to collectors, because the true color of an antique bottle is a key factor in accessing its value.  Before this, auctioneers relied on black and white photos and tried to describe bottle colors in the text of their catalogs.

Next, he launched the first online antique bottle auction.  This changed the face of bottle auctions forever.  Again, the collectors benefited, because more complete descriptions, and larger photos, could be included online.  This was not possible in print because of the tremendous expense involved.  Also, even with the best monitoring, colors sometimes changed as the photos changed hands from publisher to printer to press.  Now, competitors have followed his lead and offer their own online auctions.

Then,  instead of continuing to use outside webmasters, he started publishing americanbottle.com in-house.  As a result of this hands-on, direct control, the website has become a vital, interactive center for the world of bottle collectors and related organizations.  It's packed with features and news to inform and entertain all of those interested in the hobby.  Furthermore, collectors are able to communicate and interact with each other through the site.

Jeff's accomplishments also include auctioning a "Bryant's Stomach Bitters" for $67,500, the most ever paid for an antique bottle at auction.  This was big news and was carried by many networks, including CNN.  He has also appeared on a number of television programs and been the guest speaker at many occasions.

Jeff's bottle photography is considered by most to be the best in the business.  His photographs have been published in many national publications, including Kovel's Antique Bottle Price Guide.  His inventive photographic techniques continue to produce the most beautiful and detailed images seen anywhere.

Jeff Wichmann's influence on the world of antique bottle collecting has been innovative, creative and constructive.  One could continue on to list many more positive contributions that he has made.  Suffice it to say, that the hobby is in a much better place because of his continued presence.