Granny's Attic - 05/11/2012

Granny's Attic coming to national bottle show & sale in Ballston Spa

Those attending the antique bottle show and sale sponsored by the National Bottle Museum at Ballston Spa High School from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 are invited to bring along old bottles to be identified by experts at a brand new booth called Granny’s Attic. “People are welcome to bring in vintage bottles they have either inherited, received as gifts, dug up or found in old buildings,” said NBM Trustee Roy Topka, who will be overseeing the new attraction at the 2012 show. Other than the price of admission ($3 for adults; $1 for children), there is no cost for the bottle identification service. With more than 40 years of bottle digging and collecting experience to his credit, Topka – who is a longtime bottle researcher for the National Bottle Museum and the author of Old Schenectady Bottles – said he is looking forward to examining “old bottles people may have had lying around for years or bottles that perhaps have been sitting in the window with flowers inside of them or were simply stashed away in an ancestor’s attic.” Topka recommends people with items for Granny’s Attic arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. in order to ensure sufficient time for the bottle identification process to be completed. Individuals who may have large accumulations of bottles are advised to bring in representative examples of the different types if they have similar pieces. Asked how clean the bottles need to be when brought in for identification, Topka responded: “It’s important that they be free of loose dirt. Bottles with any kind of contents should NOT be brought to this show If people have bottles with contents they can bring a picture – one of the front will do -- with a brief description of embossing.” Although National Bottle Museum representatives do NOT provide appraisals, Topka said “we will provide basic bottle information and history if we know it or can find it. People will be advised somewhat on rarity or if the bottle is well represented.” Topka, who is planning to set-up a bottle basics table, with some bottles and terminology, perhaps a mold and a blowpipe, added that those attending the show and sale are welcome to check with the dealers regarding bottle values. Other attractions at the 2012 show will include live flameworking demonstrations by internationally acclaimed scientific glassblower Sally Prasch, National Bottle Museum Acting Director Larry Rutland and NBM Museum Glassworks Director Lisa Daigle. Hand-crafted glass gift items will be on sale at the flameworking exhibit along with books and a variety of souvenir items. Information on classes at the Museum Glassworks in Ballston Spa will also be available. To learn more, please call 518.885.7589 or visit www.nationalbotlemuseum.org.