Geelong Bottle & Collectables Club IncVolume 70 September/October 2009

Triple treatClub stalwarts Joe and Dot Votava and Ern Taylor honoured with life memberships.

REPORT – Page 3

Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club Inc. The club meets on the fourth Monday of each month (excluding December) at the Belmont Park Pavilion, Barrabool Road, under the James Harrison Bridge.

Club postal address: Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club Inc. Box 5049 North Geelong LPO 3215

WHO’S WHOPresident: Dave Smith

Vice-president: Peter Harding

Treasurer: Bob Bauer

Secretary:Tracey Elso

Assistant secretary: Noel Dawson

Librarian: Craig Finegan

Editor: Cam Ward 0430 369 146

Public officer: Kim Johnson

State representative: David Smith

Catering officer: Pam Bauer

Committee members: Tony ParsonsCraig FineganKim JohnsonNoel Dawsonand executives

Hello members,August

was such a busy month for me as I attended not one but three bottle and collectables shows – Murwillumbah (always a nice one-day event), the 2009 national in Penrith (HUGE!) and Maryborough at the end of the month (still Victoria’s biggest annual show). September and October then proved to be quiet – relatively speaking!It has been great to see nearly 20

members attend our past two meetings. The quality and range of latest finds has been “outstanding”, to quote Jim Bell.The new format of running an efficient

30-minute meeting, followed immediately by discussion and presentation of latest finds and displays before voting, supper and staying around to chat seems workable and popular.Butwhile our fellow members talk about

their latest finds/displays, please let’s pay them the respect of listening and keep the

chat and catch-up for supper.And keep the latest finds and

displays coming, folks, we are all enjoying learning about new fields of collecting.We are trying to build the profile

of the club and the next project is to put on a reasonable display at the Bannockburn Collectables fair

in November.Tracy has organised a free display

area for the club, which could take up to three tables. We need to support her coordinating efforts – and the promotion of the club – by: Providing some items, larger photo

displays etc for the display area; andTelling Tracy when you can sit on the

stall to tell potential new members about our great club.For clubs like ours, sometimes the best

find of all is the sight of new members turning up for one of our meetings, lured by the efforts we all put in at events like Bannockburn.

David Smith President

From the desk of the president

Diary datesNovember28/29 – MORWELL (Bottle & gems fair; Kernot Hall, Morwell)

December12 – WANGARATTA (Bottle & Collectables Show)

January23/24/25 – FRYERSTOWN (Annual antique fair)

February7 – BATHURST (Swap meet; Bathurst Showgrounds)14 – SANDHURST (Bottle club swap & sell day; Mckinnon Hall, Showgrounds)14 – BALLARAT (Super Southern Swap Meet; Ballarat Airport)14 – MALDON (Antiques & Collectables fair; Maldon Football Ground)

Trio lays foundations for club’s ongoing success

Life memberships for three of a kindTheir names may be

short but the respect with which they are still

held in the hobby they have loved for decades continues to be immense.

Between them, Dot Votava, Joe Votava and Ernie Taylor have over 100 years’ experience as passionate bottle collectors. They form a bridge from the era when you could drive to a quiet piece of bushland and literally pick up bottles on the ground to the present day. They were still competing at the 2008 State show staged by the Geelong club, putting up displays that would have been the envy of many collectors, not only within the club but also around Australia.

The lengths they have gone to for a prized acquisition is the stuff of legend but at the club’s October meeting the tables were turned: their latest “finds” found them!

The trio, all founding members of the Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club 25 years ago, were each presented with life memberships of the club by president David Smith.

“Their long-time enthusiasm for their hobby of collecting, especially in the areas of Geelong memorabilia and antique bottles, has seen impressive collections gathered,” David said.

“Their passion for the hobby has supported and maintained the club over two and a half decades, with all serving as various office bearers.

“All three are still active

in the hobby, still passionate enough to get up early ‘on the hunt’ at garage sales and markets.

“Congratulations Dot, Joe and Ern. Your life membership is just a token of how your fellow members value your long contribution to the club.”

Dot, Joe and Ern were presented with individual

plaques honouring them as life members. Each plaque is decorated with the club emblem of a seagull hovering over a rubbish dump hoping for that elusive collectable treasure to appear for them to swoop on – in the true spirit of passionate collectors able to have some fun at their own expense.

VALE CLIFF LOVEDAYAnother club founding member, Cliff Loveday, has died after a long fight with cancer. Cliff gathered together an impressive collection. His passion for collecting and the hunt and his easy likeable manner will be missed by all who knew himOur thoughts are with his family and friends.

GOING STRONG: Dot Votava, left, in a photo from the Feb-Mar 1978 issue of the Australian Bottle Review and, right, holding court during October’s latest finds discussions.

Alan took us back in time in September with this winning 1888 view of Geelong from the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia.

Tony showed this sparkling St Arnaud ginger beer with an unusual green glaze top.

This Gouda vase may have looked pretty but Tracey told us it was fake.

Joe and Dot’s Aboriginal doll.

A classic MacRobertson’s tin helped give Ern second place in Septem-ber’s latest finds.

Geelong mermaid sighting sparks auction frenzyThe colour counter sign,

measuring approximately 230mm x 360mm was made by Griffiths Huse Advertising Melbourne and featured a mermaid in a cave with a man looking in, and the Mermaid salt products down the side.

Despite displaying some minor edge wear and brown spotting on the back, collectors loved it. After a bidding war between no less than five bidders, it was eventually sold for a handsome $354.99.

Plenty of collectors were no doubt saving up for November’s two-day

Graham Lancaster auction at Flowerdale. But some rare pieces have still changed hands for big money.

More on perhaps the biggest of them all – the JJ Trait Majolica barrel – next edition but among the eye-catching pieces in eBay recently was a counter sign for Mermaid Table Salt, one of the brands of Geelong’s own Cheetham Salt.

LEFT: This classic Cheetham Salt cardboard advertising sign proved a smash on eBay. INSET: Close-up detail of one corner of the sign.

Strong showing meansWarrnambool is backAnother early Friday

morning found me on the road again, this

time the Warrnambool show was my goal. I made it to Tony’s by 7am, loaded his few boxes and display stand and then it was out onto the Princes Highway to Warrnambool.

We got there just as the Mill opened and a quick lap inside discovered a rare old collectable – in the shape of Noel Dawson!

We also turned up a really

nice early green English chemist jar (with an “M” base that didn’t look like it was made in Melbourne). Jim Bell informed us later of its English origins.

Next it was off to Maillors Flat demolitions and collectables. By then it was time to go and help instead of looking for more shops.

I’m really glad Tony and I, plus Noel and later Craig, did make the trek. The South Western Club really needed the

extra pairs of hands in its set-up.

That said, the Warrnambool show was in a great, no, a fantastic venue: two rooms at the showgrounds/greyhound track (similar to Maryborough); catering in between the rooms; carpeted and a lot of trestles and chairs (used as barriers) included in the venue hire!

In all, there were about 300 feet of swap/sell space and 300 feet of displays in the other room.

The varied displays were fantastic quality and really well presented. It was not a good show to sell at but great buying was had by many!

Certainly the club would have learnt much from this, its first show in too many years. And it was a promising start.

I hope that the bi-annual show, alternating with us on the same last weekend in October, builds up. I for one look forward to returning to Warrnambool in 2011. – DAVE SMITH

minutes

August monthly meetingAugust 24, 2009

Meeting opened: 8pm

Apologies Chris Russell, Anne & Darrell

Minutes of previous meetingMoved: Kim JohnsonSeconded: Peter HardingBusiness arising from minutes NilCorrespondenceThank-you card from Dot & Joe VotavaNotice from Back to Stieglitz Festival October 25, 2009Treasurer’s reportTerm Deposit $2498Cash Tin $ Tea Tin $30Swap & Sell tin $Moved: Craig FineganSeconded: Robyn General businessDrinking at club – Dave discussed responsible drinking after meeting and at supper.Keyrings – To be distributed to members who didn’t get one at the show.Warrnambool Show – Discussed about getting the Geelong club members to turn up at show and to give a hand and support Warrnambool club as it is a new club.Geelong show 2010 Oct 22/23– Dave has booked the Show-grounds hall, and is underway with getting things organisedMeeting Closed at: 8.25pmBest acquired1st: Dave Smith Geelong thermometer2nd: Alan Snowden Bengal Gin Tiger statue3rd: Tracey Elso Uranium green vase

HOT STUFF: Dave Smith’s advertis-ing thermometer raised plenty of interest at the August meeting.

TOTALLY WILD: Alan captured plenty of attention with this striking Bengal Gin advertising statue.

This 98-year-old Stock and Station Journal was the standout in a collection of calendars that helped make Peter an obvious winner of October’s finds.

The smallest find of the month was Cam’s sample hot water bottle.

Craig’s goldfields classic: the reg-istered Robert Thin “Leaf” vinegar.

Members couldn’t split this brandy sign and tobacco statue for second place in October but that didn’t bother Alan; they’re both his.

Among Tony’s latest haul of 18 ceramic labels were these two rate examples of the Geelong TV brand.

latest finds

SeptemberDavid Advertising milk – Kinkarra Ted Promotional jam jar – Taylor, Brisbane

Alan 1888 – three-volume picturesque atlas of Australasia FIRST Round Brownie Downing picture Squirrel Confections tin

Pam Two children’s tea sets

Cam Brownlow Crown Lager 3 milk bottles AFL Port

Tony Manallack St Arnaud ginger beer F Steward codd Four Geelong bottles

Jan and Ron 2009 AFL Grand Final ticket Collection of keys Scales

Ern MacRobertson’s tin and Ampol tin THIRD

Noel Fly paper Scent bottle

Dot and Joe Grocery ad Australian doll Old tool

Craig 1850s goldfields era pickles – Large B&A Pickle shield/small registered ribbed pickle/arched pickle/olive leaf vine pickle/ unusual 1850s pickle SECOND Japanese Modern Toy Co. Model T Ford Ford tinplate car

Tracey Gouda vase (fake) Davidson’s “slag glass” vase Walther violet cloud glass vase

Jack Four pocket knives

latest finds

OctoberCam Corio Whiskey ash tray Sample hot water bottle Two 1920s Geelong Regatta badges Three labels – Chas Cole, All Saints, Apri Brandy

David Ceramic label bottle Chas Cole 13oz Acme Reliance patent codd Green chemist jar

Tony 18 ceramic labels THIRD

Jason Two Beatles cards in frame

Neil JW Ferguson Half Way House bottle (English)

Elsie & Bruce Mystery object

Dot & Joe Mickey Mouse book Cobalt Mexican Hair Restorer bottle Bottle opener

Peter 1911 calendar/variety 1950s calendars FIRST

Craig Robert Thin vinegar (registered 1858) 1880s Ridgeways chamber pot

Jack Four pocket knives

Alan Wills Pirate Shag Tobacco advertising statue (1930s) =SECOND Duncasses Brandy embossed tin sign (1900s) =SECOND

Tracey Geelong view ware White Chookie

SCHOOL’S IN: Members have appreciated know-ing more about the latest monthly finds before they cast their votes.

CLASSIFIEDSNotices

Need to e-mail a photo?Like to post a photo on the internet to

sell an item?Have a lend of the club’s digital

camera.ASK PETER FOR DETAILS

Wanted to buyAnything to do with Jim Beam, Coca Cola, ceramic Garfields

and Ned Kelly. Collectables collector.

Phone Len Ellmer on 5224 1469.

Royal Doulton whisky flasksKingsware/Old electric jugs

Blowtorches, clean or dirty and any spares.

Phone JIM HUNTER on 5127 6420. Member of the Gippsland club.

SINGER SEWING MACHINESAnything to do with Singer.

Phone Bruce or Elsie on 5275 5450.

Matchboxes, labels, vesta boxes, match grips and Meakin china.

Phone 5276 1267.

Any old newspapers and documents.Prefer Geelong and areas but will

consider anything.Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

Geelong street guides and business directories.Phone 5266 1126.

Milk glass Vegemite/Marmite jars.Also screw top metal lids, any size.

Phone Bruce on 0408 527 741.

Wanted to buy

Pre-1956 telephone directories.Geelong & District or MelbournePhone Cam on 0430 369 146.

Any old newspapers and documents.Prefer Geelong and areas but will

consider anything.Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

Victa logo plateFor original model

Phone Alan on 5255 4773 or 0403 160 336.

Embassy branded items.The old GJ Coles home brand.

Will BUY anything.Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

For salePhotographic record of 2008 State

Bottle and Collectables Show.All category winners and selected

individual bottles on one CD. Suitable for enlargements.

$10 per copy.Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.

Any Scouting memorabilia.Phone Shane on 5229 6469.

Aussie fruit/preserving/jam jars Geelong bottles

Ceramic label milks and soft drinks David 0419 434 306/5243 4306