Bottle Show Report - North Alabama Bottle & Advertising Show a Success!

From our Inbox, here's Mike Elling's show report:

 

 

 

Show Chairman Robert Sledge with Ad Signs

Third Annual North Alabama Antique Bottle and Advertising Collectors Show was a success in Florence, Alabama.  It was held in brilliant October sunlight and mild temperatures, on Saturday, October 8, 2011.  Dealers had the option of Friday night setup at the Underwood-Petersville Community Center just north of Florence at 840 County Road 7.  The third time is a charm they say, and this show is well on its way to becoming a tradition.  Organizers Robert and Timberly Sledge were somewhat disappointed at a lower turn out by the general public, who still enjoy free admission to the event.  "But perhaps it is the economy, or perhaps people are doing outside things to make up for the long hot summer we have recently gone through," Timberly lamented.

 

Thirty dealers filled up 43 tables with remarkably nice examples of advertising items, 17th through 20th century soda and apothecary, fruit jars, Civil War relics, and coins.  I was able to find a very illusive Chero Soda Water pyramid points bottle from Decatur, Alabama.  It is a dug bottle, circa 1924, but very hard to find and tagged at $30.00.  The bargain of the day was a Meadville, Pennsylvania NEHI embossed stocking bottle tagged at only $2.00!

 

Because traffic was light, I got to enjoy an impromptu seminar by Ed Provine, of Memphis, who discussed the time when Elvis first began recording with RCA Victor, and sang a song LOVE ME in 1956.  Ed found a piano rendition of it in near mint condition which he proudly revealed.

Photo Captions:  The show Chairman exhibited an extensive variety of 20th century porcelain and enameled tin signs in near-mint to mint condition.

 

Today, all grey-haired men from Memphis are Elvis experts!  Here, Ed Provine a Memphis native, gives impromptu seminar on an early RCA/Elvis Presley song that made the Hit Parade in mid-1950s.

 

Stanley Word, of Tennessee, offers top quality bottles of national brands to collectors.  Stan says now is the time to be buying these city bottler products while still available!

 

Popular eBay soda and Civil War artifact dealer, Bob Barnes of Henderson, Tennessee, discusses modern travail with hard working digger, Jerry McCarn of Cullman, Alabama.

 

James Smith of Birmingham with some of his 18th and 19th century bottles.

 

David and Edith Hardeman of Graysville, Tennessee, with wide variety of top quality advertising pieces.  --MichaelEllingPhotos