2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention | Augusta, Georgia | Sweet Georgia Peaches Bottle Competition

Thursday, 01 August 2019 | 7:00 to 10:00 pm | Augusta Marriott Lamar Ballroom

07 September 2019

Our power opening day already started out with the 8:00 am- noon FOHBC Board Meeting followed by the early afternoon Mike & Julie Newman Open House. We spent our late afternoon at the Augusta Museum of History Reception. This left the evening for our next event.

It seems like bottle competitions, also known in some circles as ‘shootouts,’ originated out west. Maybe it is because of the stereotype western. I heard some say it started in the northeast where competitions at shows revolved around individuals trying to top another with a better bottle, on and on, one at a time, like playing a card game. It really doesn’t matter because we decided to hold another competition in Augusta. We didn’t like any reference to violence associated with guns so we decided to call our event the Sweet Georgia Peaches Bottle Competition.

This event was held on Thursday evening, August 1st, 2019 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in the Augusta Marriott Lamar Ballroom. The entrant registration was at 6:00 pm in the same room. You were asked to bring you contestant entry (maximum five) with the Application Form filled out for each. There were pre-selected paneled judges for each category.

We were extremely pleased to have Mike Newman as our host and coordinator for this epic event. Helping Mike was John Fifer who hails from Medina, Ohio. He is also our Midwestern Region Director.

The event consisted of three categories, with the competitions taking place in the following order: Best Southern Pottery (11 entries), Best Georgia Bottle (5 entries), and Best Southern Soda (22 entries). Each category was judged by three experienced and knowledgeable collectors. The resulting winners are shown in photographs below along with details of their winning entry.

Best Southern Pottery 

Best Georgia Bottle

Best Southern Soda

Excellent stoneware! Great Georgia bottles! Wide selection of entries for the Southern Soda contest. I felt privileged to be asked to judge with the likes of two icons like Bobby Hinely and Jamie Westendorff for the soda contest

Tom Lines – Indian Springs, Alabama

Chip Cable and Tom Masiarik, down from Pennsylvania, filmed and projected each contestant entry so the entire audience could see. They have done this before and we thank the pair.

John Pastor of Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, and American Glass Gallery donated the awards. We also thank John.

We thought we would share a few pictures taken by our event photographer, Elizabeth Lacy who is also our Public Relations officer.

Read more about the 2019 FOHBC 50th Anniversary National Antique Bottle Convention in Augusta, Georgia

FOHBC Board Meeting • Mike & Julie Newman Open House • Augusta Museum of History Reception • Membership Breakfast • Educational Seminars • Ribbon Cutting • Banquet • Youth Corner • On the Tables • Augusta Educational Displays • People on the Showroom Floor • Augusta Prizes and Drawings • Augusta Souvenir Program.

REGISTRATION

Bottle registration team. Julie Newman, Bill Johnson, John Fifer, Mark White and Joyce Johnson.

Bottle competition registration started at 6:00 pm. Each entrant had to be inspected and registered in the correct category. Mark White and Joyce Johnson.

The Sweet Georgia Peaches Bottle Competition was headed up by Mike Newman from Team Augusta. Julie Newman was at the registration desk helping, of course!

John Fifer, FOHBC Midwest Director assisted Mike Newman with the event.

THE BALLROOM

Right before the judging started, FOHBC president Matt Lacy called the event to order

One of quite a few audience pictures taken by Elizabeth Lacy.

Team Augusta’s Marty Vollmer seems aghast, or he is falling asleep. Marty, along with Eric Warren (not pictured) had the responsibility of making sure all dealer tables, chairs and covers, along with a myriad of other things were complete on the showroom floor.

Tom and Mabel Hicks on front row end.

FOHBC First Vice President, Louis Fifer, and FOHBC president Matt Lacy chilling out.

It sure looks like everyone was enjoying the competition.

Matt Lacy, Mark Vuono and Andrew Vuono look closely at some of the winners which were displayed in the FOHBC light cabinet.

The FOHBC light cabinet was used to display bottle entrants. The audience is always invited up to take their own pictures.

In many cases, the entrants were so rare that you might never see another example in person.

Like any event in a large room, the trouble-makers congregate in back corners.

BEST SOUTHERN POTTERY

[Judges: John Joiner, Vern Huffstetler and John Lafoy]

1st Place – John LaFoy from Greenville, South Carolina

Three Gallon Storage Jar, Silhouette of Buggy Driver on Obverse, Two Color Flower on Reverse, Attributed to Collin Rhodes, Edgefield, South Carolina District

2nd Place – Jay and Heli Shelley from Ridgeway, South Carolina

Four Gallon Jug, Exceptionally Drippy Glaze, Attributed to Stork/Landrum of Columbia, South Carolina Vicinity

3rd Place – Marty Vollmer from Lexington, South Carolina

One Gallon Decorated Jug, Attributed to Collin Rhodes, Edgefield, South Carolina District

John Joiner, one of three esteemed pottery judges, handles an entrant. Joining John was Vern Huffstetler (center) and John LaFoy.

Chip Cable and Tom Masiarik videotaping and projecting each pottery entrant. A truely professional approach.

John LaFoy inspecting a small face jug.

Great pottery examples of varying sizes

Truly exquisite pieces.

The three judges narrowing down the group to the eventual award winners.

Discussing the merits and attributes of each piece.

Looks like they are getting closer to some decisions.

The lineup of pottery entrants.

3rd Place – Marty Vollmer from Lexington, South Carolinawith his  One Gallon Decorated Jug, Attributed to Collin Rhodes, Edgefield, South Carolina District

2nd Place – Jay and Heli Shelley from Ridgeway, South Carolina with their Four Gallon Jug, Exceptionally Drippy Glaze, Attributed to Stork/Landrum of Columbia, South Carolina Vicinity

1st Place – John LaFoy from Greenville, South Carolina with his Three Gallon Storage Jar, Silhouette of Buggy Driver on Obverse, Two Color Flower on Reverse, Attributed to Collin Rhodes, Edgefield, South Carolina District

BEST GEORGIA BOTTLE

[Judges: Jack Hewitt, Jimmy Bray and Butch Alley,

Tom Hicks serving as honorary judge]

1st Place – Jack Hewitt from Big Canoe, Georgia

Dr. G. Harral Druggist, Savannah, Georgia, Embossed in Applied Seal, Blackglass

2nd Place – Paul Chance from Savannah, Georgia

Charles Axt Catawba (Wine), Base Embossed Hock Wine

3rd Place – Mike Newman from Martinez, Georgia

Straight Sided Coca Cola Crowntop, Savannah, Georgia, Unique in True Yellow Color

Judges Jack Hewitt, Jimmy Bray and Butch Alley inspect a Charles Axt Catawba (based embossed Hock wine)

Some serious concentration.

Chip Cable and Tom Masiarik videotaping a super-rare one.

Tom Hicks serving as honorary judge.

Five finalist, each so different.

3rd Place – Mike Newman from Martinez, Georgia with his Straight Sided Coca Cola Crowntop, Savannah, Georgia, Unique in true yellow color. Presented by John Fifer.

2nd Place – Paul Chance from Savannah, Georgia with his Charles Axt Catawba (Wine), Base Embossed Hock Wine

1st Place – Jack Hewitt from Big Canoe, Georgia with his Dr. G. Harral Druggist, Savannah, Georgia, Embossed in Applied Seal, Blackglass

BEST SOUTHERN SODA

[Judges: Bobby Hinely, Jamie Westendorf and Tom Lines]

1st Place – Jamie Westendorff from Charleston, South Carolina

Finley & Phin (Charleston, South Carolina), Teardrop Shape, Deep Olive Green

2nd Place – Mike Newman from Martinez, Georgia

John Ryan, XX Porter & Ale (Savannah, Georgia), Collared Top, Iron Pontil, Rich Rose Pink

3rd Place – Steve Holland from Springfield, Alabama

The Star Bottling Works, Montgomery, Alabama, Lime Green Hutchinson

Judges: Bobby Hinely, Jamie Westendorf and Tom Lines

Judges: Bobby Hinely, Jamie Westendorf and Tom Lines (looking at the entrant)

Tom Lines explaining how the judges reacted to and judged the entrants. The FOHBC light bow looks great with the new glass shelves.

Close-up of Best Southern Soda submissions. Look at all those shapes and colors!

Detail 1st shelf

Detail 2nd shelf

Detail 3rd shelf

Detail bottom shelf

3rd Place – Steve Holland from Springfield, Alabama with his The Star Bottling Works, Montgomery, Alabama, Lime Green Hutchinson

2nd Place – Mike Newman from Martinez, Georgia with his John Ryan, XX Porter & Ale (Savannah, Georgia), Collared Top, Iron Pontil, Rich Rose Pink. Presented by John Fifer

1st Place – Jamie Westendorff from Charleston, South Carolina with his Finley & Phin (Charleston, South Carolina), Teardrop Shape, Deep Olive Green