Christmas Is Around the Corner and Approaching FAST!

Hard to believe that Christmas will be here soon. Do you have a bottle collector on your shopping list?  Here are some ideas of what to get them. 

Bottle brushes are always a much needed item. This set of three brushes from Lee Valley are great for getting into the hard to reach places on those dirty bottles we find.   http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=10209&cat=2,50560

bottle brushes  8.95

 For those stubborn spots this kit works wonders. Using stainless steel ball bearings and a cleaning agent and a little water can do wonders. Just swirl the ball bearings around the bottle with the cleaning fluid of your choice and it can remove rust spots, grime and some stains. I’ve got one of these kits and it does help a great deal! http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=57618&cat=2,42194,40727

Bottle Washing Kit 22.50

 Now for those stains and grime on the outside of the bottle. I use Bar Keepers Friend to clean ACL or Embossed bottles. Use a sponge, some water, elbow grease and Bar Keepers Friend to clean the bottle up. (Be sure and see my directions in the blog for cleaning ACL bottles with Bar Keepers Friend)  It can be found at most grocery store chains as well as at hardware stores. http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

A good go with would be sponges, one with a soft side and one with an abrasive side, a dish pan to use for bottles only, etc.

 Now that you have the bottles all washed, how do you dry them? Leaving them upright with water in them can leave water spots on the glass. I use a Beer bottle tree, to dry out the bottles upside down, they can drain, won’t leave water spots on the inside of the bottles. Search for a beer bottle drying rack to find other versions on the web. Here are a few listed that you can check out: http://www.amazon.com/Beer-Bottle-Tree-45-Bottles/dp/B000OF8U76/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321363563&sr=8-1

Or on Ebay   http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=bottle+drying+tree&_sacat=0&_odkw=wine+bottle+drying+rack&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

Finally…After 9 Years of Searching….

           When I began to write my book about the history of the Coca-Cola bottle back in 2003, I had no idea so many variations of the returnable bottle had been used.  I began to search for the bottles I would need to illustrate my book. One that proved to be elusive was the 32 ounce Caffeine Free Coca-Cola bottle. I searched at Bottle Shows, Coca-Cola Club Conventions, Antique Stores, Flea Markets, other collectors, etc. 

      Several years ago I came across a Mr Pibb bottle on eBay for sale. In the background I could make out the 32 ounce Caffeine Free Coca-Cola bottle. I asked the seller if he would be listing the bottle anytime soon. He answered with a ‘No’ and couldn’t figure out how in the world I had even seen the bottle in the background.

I had to go to press with my book without the photo of the 32 ounce Caffeine Free Coca-Cola bottle.  I couldn’t wait any longer…holding up printing for a bottle I might not ever find.

Finally….a few weeks ago I came across not one…but two of them!  And earlier this year I had found the correct screw on cap that is marked ‘CAFFEINE FREE” to go on it!

It amazes me that a bottle that would have came out in 1983 (The year Caffeine Free was introduced by Coca-Cola Company) that it would be a relatively easy bottle to find. I can go to a Bottle Show and find Coca-Cola bottles from the early 1900’s with relative ease, but not something less than 30 years old. I think the ‘newer’ bottles will prove to be more difficult to find than a 1915 Coca-Cola bottle.

Well…..now onto the next bottle on my list to find……

Caffeine Free 32 oz Coca-Cola