Houston 24 Expo – Texas Hold ‘Em Antique Bottle & Glass Competition

The Cocktail Reception was on the 11th floor of Hotel ZaZa in “Room with a View.” From various windows you could see the Houston Museum District, Rice University area, Central Business District (downtown) and Hermann Park–Texas Medical Center.

Looking south—Texas Medical Center rising behind Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo. The medical center is the largest in the world.

A nice crowd at the Texas Hold ’Em cocktail reception on the 11th floor of Hotel ZaZa in “Room with a View.”

Texas Hold ’Em buffet-style food line at the catered event.

Cheese

Texas Hold ’Em cash bar on the 11th floor of Hotel ZaZa in Room with a View.

Jerr & Helen Forbes (Big Sur, California) talking with Steve Mello from Paso Robles, California. Jerry holding “Cutter.”

Texas Hold ‘Em Cocktail gathering. Elaine & Alan DeMaison (Gainesville, Ohio) talking with Bruce & Coleen Shephard from Tampa, Florida.

The Houston 24 Souvenir Program ad for the Texas Hold ‘Em event.

The check-in and entrant registration process headed up by Brad Dalton, Alice Seeliger and Richard Siri Sr.

Texas Hold ‘Em master of ceremonies, Rick Ciralli from Bristol, Connecticut. Rick does a great job at this important task as he engages the crowd.

An attentive crowd with standing room only at the Houston 24 Texas Hold ‘Em event. Most of the Judges are standing in the background against the wall.

Three paneled judges in the “Best Texas Embossed or Applied Color Label Soda Bottle” category. Left to right: Steve Weber, Casey Roby and Brad Weber.

“Best Texas Soda Bottle” judges in motion in the first round of screening contestants. Left to right: Brad Weber, Casey Roby and Steve Weber.

Left to right: Brad Weber, Casey Roby and Steve Weber closely inspect contestants in the “Best Texas Soda” category.

Finalists in the “Best Texas Embossed or Applied Color Label Soda Bottle” category. Left to right: aqua “Houston Bottling Works John Artos Texas” with a Stewart’s closure, “F.A. Conant Co. Galveston 252 Girod St N.O.” colored blob top soda bottle with an iron pontil, apple green “S. Priester & Bro Houston, Texas” blob top, cornflower blue “Henry Cortes & Son Galveston, Texas” blob top and olive green “J.A. Chumlea Hillsboro” crown top.

Brad Weber inspects a rare “FM Kain Austin, Tex” embossed slug plate Hutch in an apple green-citron color.

Award winners in the “Best Texas Embossed or Applied Color Label Soda Bottle” category. First place: Embossed blue-green aqua “F.A. Conant Co. Galveston 252 Girod St N.O.” colored blob top soda bottle with an iron pontil. Second place: “Houston Bottling Works John Artos Texas.” Third Place: Cornflower blue “Henry Cortes & Son Galveston, Texas” blob top.

Third place cornflower blue “Henry Cortes & Son Galveston, Texas” blob top soda.

Jay Kasper (Shiner, Texas) with his first place entry “F.A. Conant Co. Galveston 252 Girod St N.O.” colored blob top soda.

At the end of each judged group, the audience was allowed to approach the FOHBC custom-built display case to photograph the finalists and winners.

Jay Kasper talking about his first place winning entry “F.A. Conant Co. Galveston 252 Girod St N.O.” colored blob top soda.

Jay Kasper winning first place in the “Best Texas Soda Bottle” category with an embossed blue-green aqua “F.A. Conant Co. Galveston 252 Girod St N.O.” colored blob top soda bottle with an iron pontil.

Brad Dalton, Texas Hold ‘Em event coordinator, announcing and holding the third place winner in the  “Best Texas Soda Bottle” category. Casey Roby (left) holding the award.

Brandon DeWolfe with his second place “Houston Bottling Works John Artos Texas” and embossed on the base “Stewart’s/Pat. Stopper.”  The bottle was found on the banks of Buffalo Bayou by a metal detectorist a few years ago and is the only example known.  The closure was a floating ball style patented in 1885; it is believed that this was Arto’s last bottle before he went out of business. He is also holding his third place blue “Henry Cortes & Son Galveston, Texas” blob top.

The check-in and registering of a “Dansby’s Cotten Patch Bitters” in the “Best Texas Medicine” category.

The three seated judges in the “Best Texas Medicine” category. The initial review of the contestants occurred on a table set up on the stage.

A nice photograph of the audience during the “Best Texas Medicine” segment of the contest.

Contestants not placing in the “Best Texas Medicine” category. Left to right: colorless, square “Von-O-Sula Cuban Tonic The Great Dyspepsia and Kidney Remedy,”  “Dansby’s Cotton-Patch Bitters,” G & F Stresau Courtney, Texas,” and an amber oval “Philips’ Liver Hustler or Liver Tonic Gainesville, Tex.” Great Texas bottles for sure!

Texas Hold ‘Em coordinator Brad Dalton announces the “Best Texas Medicine” category award winners. Houston 24 chair, Ferdinand Meyer V looks on..

First, second and third place winners in the “Best Texas Medicine” category. First place: “Simmons American Hepatic Bitters Navasota, Tx” with four misspellings. Second place: “Texas Blood Purifier & Tonic Bitters San Antonio Tx.,” and third place was a large amber square bottle embossed “Page And Apfels. Kidney And Bladder Cure. Victoria Texas.” 

The crowd allowed to take close-up photographs of the “Best Texas Medicine” bottles and crystal awards.

Kenny Neatherlin (Highlands, Texas) posing with his first and second place “Best Texas Medicine” bottles and crystal awards. First place: “Simmons American Hepatic Bitters Navasota, Tx” with four misspellings. Second place: “Texas Blood Purifier & Tonic Bitters San Antonio Tx.”

Brandon DeWolfe posing with his third place entry and award in the “Best Texas Medicine” category. The amber square is embossed “Page And Apfels. Kidney And Bladder Cure. Victoria Texas.” 

Houston 24 chair and “Best Glass Insulator” judge, Ferdinand Meyer V.

Three judges in the “Best Glass Insulator” category, the third event of the evening. Left to right: Ferdinand Meyer V, Houston, Texas, Richard Siri Sr., Santa Rosa, California and Martin Van Zant, Lebanon, Indiana. James Campiglia, Deadwood, South Dakota (not in picture).

James Campiglia, Deadwood, South Dakota, one of the “Best Glass Insulator” judges.

Judging insulators, Martin Van Zant (left) and Ferdinand Meyer V.

Two contestants in the “Best Glass Insulator” competition.

“Best Glass Insulator” winners. First place was a CD 740, “Foster. Brothers. St. John. C.E. 1858” olive black glass insulator. Second place: CD 123 E.C. & M. CO. S.F.” in rich blue/green aqua with some amber swirling. Third place: CD 121 W.F.G.CO. in lavender.

Second place “Best Glass Insulator” was a “CD 123 E.C. & M. CO. S.F.” in rich blue/green aqua with some amber swirling. This example is a “B” mold, square dome, straight skirt that is 4″ tall. Produced for the Electrical Construction & Maintenance Company of San Francisco. Excellent condition.

Brandon DeWolfe and his first place “Best Glass Insulator” example and award. CD 740, “Foster. Brothers. St. John. C.E. 1858” olive black glass insulator.

Craig Cassetta, Chico, California with his second and third place “Best Glass Insulator” examples and crystal awards.

Insulator authority Chris Renaudo goes over some of the attributes of the insulator entries.