Wet Weather Turns to Collectors Fun!
December 2012 started wet and wild for collectors headed for the Auburn Antique Bottle Show this year at the Auburn Fairgrounds. Apparently the five inches of rain and up to 50 mph winds on Saturday did nothing to damper collectors spirits as they headed up Highway 80 to check out bottles, insulators, marbles and an assortment of other goodies from the past. This year was a little special as it was the final venue for this historic event after 35 years of bottle shows being held there for well over three decades. Talking to collectors, it sounded like most did well selling their bottles and other items despite the off and on downpours that flooded parking lots and kept road crews busy around town.
The show included a display of Cundurango and Rosenbaum Bitters as well as an incredible display of soda and mineral water bottles presented by Mike Henness. It was a great time for everybody as the doors opened around noon on Friday and ended an hour early on Saturday for those having to travel the wet roads home. People came from as far away as Texas and Alaska and from what we could tell there were no regrets. Ferdinand Meyer, the FOHBC President flew in and said he had a great time. Some major pieces changed hands as well as a lot of various pieces from all categories of collecting. Attendees were given a chance at winning prizes and cash including a shot at three cash prizes of $200, $300 and the $500 grand prize won by the very happy Chuck Gilday (he’s the one with the big smile and handful of hundred dollar bills.
The show will be staging a new venue next year somewhere in Roseville, a little closer to Sacramento and purportedly an upgrade to the well-liked but aging Fairgrounds of Auburn. We will certainly be giving you all the information you’ll need for next year’s show as it promises to be a new start for a thriving and popular hobby.
P.S. Sorry we didn’t get more people in. Also, we wanted to include names but our software doesn’t allow a gallery to have each picture captioned. But you know who you are. Some of the pictures either didn’t turn out or you wouldn’t want them posted. You don’t see any of me do you?
by Jeff Wichmann
We had a great time Jeff ! It was a pleasure to catch up with you and Dennis. Barbara and I love this show as we get to meet up with all our friends
Great story Jeff. Pictures tell it all. I keep saying, I have to make Auburn one of these days. Who knows, maybe next year. Hope you, Dennis and Ken Salazar had a great time and did not tell too many stories. Best, Zang
Some of the best looking chins in the west!
Tammy-
Just another reason I’m not in there, I don’t have one. But there are some pretty good looking people, I like the girls myself.
Thanks for checking it out!
Jeff