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We believe that collecting is in the blood but not necessarily an inherited trait. Jim has always been a collector of something while his parents saved nothing but what was useful. He started out bringing stuff home on his way from school on trash day. From there it lead to a stamp collection, coins, rocks, marbles, toy cars, and eventually into his current passions; bottles, insulators, fruit jars, date nails and a few other minor side interests. |
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About 1963 Jim was hired to clean up an old house and property in Tustin, California. It was here that he discovered a bunch of old bottles from about 1880 to the early 1900s. These were brought home, cleaned up and displayed on windowsills throughout the house. Barb would take them back into the garage a few at a time and when this was discovered Jim would bring them back in. Jim even became bold enough to buy a few bottles. Finally they were allowed to stay when he brought home an Amethyst colored Fruit Jar one day. Barb thought that made a pretty vase so it stayed and of course she couldn't object to the bottles. Each new Fruit Jar acquisition met with her approval. |
| The bottle found under that old house that really caught Jim's imagination and was the beginning of his collection is the WARNER'S SAFE KIDNEY & LIVER CURE pictured here. We have kept that bottle all these years as a reminder of the beginning. The collection became a serious thing when we discovered that other people collected these neat items also. In about 1965 we started a club and it became known as the Antique Bottle Club of Orange County. We had also discovered that collectors hosted shows where displays and sales of these items took place. Our first glimpse of an
Amber! Fruit Jar made us serious Fruit Jar collectors. In 1967 we bought a small but high quality collection of Bitters and Historical Flasks, sold most of the flasks and kept the Bitters. |
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We worked on the Bitters and Fruit Jar collections in earnest until 1972 when we sold the bulk of the collections, keeping only a few of the first pieces found and a few other favorites. We went on to other interests. In 1988, on our way home to Idaho from California, we stopped in a small town in Oregon to get a bite to eat. Next door to the café was a sort of second hand store with some antiques. We went inside just to kill a little time while we worked the kinks out and Jim spotted a DRAKE'S PLANTATION BITTERS on a shelf. He couldn't resist looking at it as it had been years since he had seen one. He had no intention of buying it since finances were a bit tight (read squeaky). Barb asked how much it was; Jim replied, "$125.00." She then asked what it was worth; "$75.00," he said. "Maybe they will take $75.00" says she. "No way, and besides, if we buy that it would just open the flood gates. I would have to start collecting again." Since Jim wouldn't, Barb asked the owner of the store if he "would accept $75.00." Well, like they say, the rest is history. Has it ever been flooding! The high water mark can be seen all over the house. We bought the DRAKE'S. |
| A portion of this site is dedicated to the wonderful hobbies we pursue and hopefully as you wander through you will get the sense of pleasure we have experienced over the years. The most enjoyable part for us is the camaraderie with the folks we have encountered along the way. Without the other collectors sharing our interests it wouldn't have been nearly as worthwhile. Please let us hear from you. |
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last updated 03/02/05
