WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – For collectors of old bottles and glassware, the Antique Bottle and Collectibles Show in Williams was the place to be last weekend.
While the fourth annual event was free to the public on Saturday, serious collectors paid and admission fee of $20 just to get first crack at what treasures showed up this year inside the Old Gym at the Sacramento Valley Museum on Friday.
“I came first thing,” said Dean Ripley, of Elk Grove. “I’m always looking for something unique to add to my collection. A lot of the time, people who collect antiques and bottles have an eye for the same things.”
The bottle show is a spinoff of the decades-running Williams Antique Show and is held for the same purpose: to raise money to keep the Sacramento Valley Museum operational.
While the primary focus of the show is old and rare bottles, visitors had a large selection of historical photographs, glassware, old coins, and other treasures from the mid 1800s to the early 20th century to choose from.
Joe Gentiliumo, of Rippon, has been a vendor at the bottle show since the Museum revamped the former event into something new and exciting that attracts a lot of collectors.
“I’ve been collecting since I was a kid,” he said.
Gentiliumo had a variety of items for sale, including old tins and coins, but his passion was in collecting vintage advertising, which he had in abundance.
“I always loved all the different artwork,” said Gentiliumo, who sold off a lot of his collection Friday at a discount to other vendors.
Museum President Arno Martini said the annual Bottle Show is a good fit for Williams and the museum because there is always something new for just about every collector.
The Antique Bottle Show was organized by Slim and Christy Edwards, and the museum was open for the duration of the event. Admission to the museum is always free, but donations of any amount are encouraged and accepted.H