FOHBC National, 2006

I ended up bringing a dozen or glasses home with me. In addition to the ones already mentioned, I picked up an Aronson’s and a Jaffe & Co., both from Seattle. I also bought a nice mint Twomey & Miholovitch from San Francisco and from the same dealer, a red-etched Monogram #6. Neither were cheap and I’m not even certain the Monogram is pre-pro (HSG credits it to Bertin & Lepori of San Francisco), but they were difficult to pass by.

My next stop was with Bruce Silva. I’ve been corresponding with Bruce ever since he took over Bob Barnett’s bottle-and-shot business but never had the chance to meet him in person. He seemed busy every time I went past his table, but I took some nice photos to create a store-front for him here at pre-pro.

My final stop was with Jim & Julie Dennis.

The couple have built a substantial Oregon-related glass collection over the years. It was they who had prompted me to bring my photo-documentation equipment with me, specifically to capture some images of Jim's unlisted shots for inclusion in the database.

I set up my tripod, camera and lighting equipment in the space behind their table. It takes time to get everything just so, and the two were most gracious in their efforts to help, especially given that I was making it near impossible for them to attend to potential buyers!

But I did get great shots for the database and it turned out to be one of my more memorable photo-sessions!!

Before saying my goodbyes and leaving at the close of the show, I had to find Ken Schwartz to get directions to his house in northern CA.

You see, my adventures in glass-land were to extend a further two days before I returned to Reno and flew back east. Ken suggested that I come visit him and spend time in his collection room upon our first meeting, and after receiving a CD-ROM containing pictures of his 800+ rare western shots, I knew I had to find a way to get to him sooner or later. This seemed like the perfect opportunity and I had arranged to spend a day with him, but first I need to know where he lived, since all I had was a PO Box.

Ken miraculously appeared from no-where as if on cue, and I promised to be there by 10:30 the next morning.