2014 FOHBC National Antique Bottle Show Progress Report

Lexington, Kentucky

The final preparations for the 2014 FOHBC National Antique Bottle Show in Lexington, Kentucky are now under way. Show Co-chairs, Randee Kaiser and Sheldon Baugh, along with Conventions Director Tom Phillips have just returned from Lexington where they again met with key local officials to work out final details ahead of the August 1st opening date. According to Tom Phillips, this show will have a variety of new and traditional events that will make the 2014 show truly unique and entertaining.

For instance, this year’s display area will include a “live” demonstration of the three dimensional photographic technology being used for exhibits in the up-coming FOHBC Virtual Museum. Attendees will be able to observe the 3-D photographing of bottles to be included in the museum.

Another feature of this year’s show will be an appraisal table that (in the true Antiques Roadshow tradition) will offer free appraisals for anyone who comes through the door. This table will be manned throughout the day on Sunday and will be staffed by veteran collectors.

Our host state will be featured in the single bottle display with premier examples of Kentucky glass on display in the newly constructed back-lit cabinet. This cabinet will also be used on Friday night to enhance the Bottle Competition “The Run for the Roses” bottle competition event. The contestants will all be placed in the cabinet and then shown on a large video screen, thus affording a clear and unobstructed view for everyone in the audience.

There are a number of drawings to look forward to this year. During the banquet there will be a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to be used during the show. At the “The Run For the Roses” bottle competition, there will be a drawing for a beautiful Kentucky scroll flask (see the picture at FOHBC.org). The show Co-chairs were very pleased to receive a generous $500 donation this week from an anonymous donor. This will fund a drawing for gift certificates during the show on Sunday.

Tom Phillips and the Co-chairs have noted that Lexington officials have been rolling out the red carpet for this year’s Federation show. This is a friendly city with many great places to eat and sights to see in and around Lexington. Most of all, the Co-chairs and the many volunteers will be doing everything possible to make this an enjoyable and memorable bottle show.

The 2014 show preparations are now coming into the “club house turn” so it is time to be sending in those contracts for tables or early buyers as soon as possible. Our host hotel, The Hyatt, is holding a block of rooms at a substantially discounted rate. So, it is important to contact them soon to take advantage of the rate and the convenience the host hotel provides. The most up-to-date information about the 2014 show will always be posted on the Federation website (FOHBC.org).