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Club factoid: Mike's two boys Jake and Danny sometimes go diggin with dad... and TEAR IT UP!
| A safire mug-based blobtop soda from Newark, NJ |
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| Mike tells us that this is his favorite bottle that he has dug to date. |
Mike has so many bottles in his collection that its difficult to determine which is his favorite. I will try to show the vast
collection in the next several photos. Its apparently a close toss-up between a beautiful saffire blue, mug-based soda from
Newark, NJ and another bottle that he dug this past summer.
| a beautiful cabinet full of bottles |
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With 33 years of digging and various other methods of amassing his collection of bottles, the 44 year-old has put together
quite a full spectrum catalogue. The cabinets above and below are only two of many in his home.
| labelled appothecaries and go-withs |
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Mike and Abbie share a love of antiques, their house itself being of 1890s vintage. The cabinets that Mike keeps his bottles
and other collectibles in are antiques as well. The cabinets actually have a "northwind" theme that reoccures through-out
the house. Its quite facinating and gorgeous.
Much like Thadd, the previous feature, Mike is a generous club member. He enjoys bringing other club members along on his
digs and seems as excited by others good fortune as his own. Mike has asked me on several digs with him and I have done well
on most of these outings. Mike always shares the stories of his digs with the club at our meetings and oftentimes will bring
examples of his finds to show us.
| A pair of tavern bottles of mid 1700s vintage |
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| The painted hunting scenes that encircle the bottles are believed to be of authentic vintage |
Mike has many interests as well as the bottles and he gains these many items through various methods including; digging (first
and foremost), trading, gifts, and purchase to name a few. I know that some things find their way to him through his business.
There is a sign up that states "I buy old bottles"!
Club factoid: Mike has a classic 1969 Firebird Convertible
Mike does have alot of bottles and amazingly enough he does actually focus on one point of interest now... Newark, N.J. based
bottles. His collection of Newark items range from sodas and beers through milks to whiskeys and even medicines! Mike also
has many stoneware crocks, jugs and bottles from his beloved Newark.
| Various points and ivory that Mike has found |
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| One of the stranger things Mike has found! |
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| This specimen jar with snake still coiled inside is possibly the strangest thing found yet. |
| a nice photo of various items Mike dug up |
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| These were found at different times in different locations in NJ |
| Mike and Abbie Safer |
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Thanx Mike! We'll see ya at the next meeting!
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