Collection of bottles are museum pieces

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 4, 26 June 1984, Page 3

Collection of bottles are museum pieces

'If I could save time in a bottle' is the title of a song by the late Jim Croce, an American singer/ songwriter. It could also be the theme song for Mr Bob Gardiner of Arawa St, Ohakune where he and his wife Violet of more than 50 years have resided. Since 1979, Mr Gardiner has been collecting bottles and now his collection has grown to nearly 450 bottles in the last 5 years. His collection consists primarily of various beer bottles which date as far back as the turn of the century. In viewing his impressive collection, it is easy to see the changes. For instance, many of the earlier bottles used a ring top and were then changed to the crown top which is still common today. Still others used a rubber ring and marble as a stop. Mr Gardiner said that the marbles from these bottles themselves are omewhat of a collector's item. The craftsmanship of the older bottles is evident throughout Mr Gardiner's collection. Apparently, bottle makers of yesteryear took great pride in their work and the fancy labels were embossed into the glass rather than just being a piece of paper stuck on haphazardly. These glass labels were masterpieces and were continuously changed from year to year prevent plagiarism. These bottles with 'labels' embossed into the glass were first imported from the UK and then from Australia prior to 1918. At that time New Zealand developed its own facility for manufacturing bottles with embossed labels. To preserve the contents of these early bottles over

the longer transport transition times between the breweries and consumer a 'black' glass was first used. Then a dark green was used to prevent spoiling through sunlight. Today 's brown glass used for beer bottles is for much the same reason. From 1979 to 1982, Mr

Gardiner found many of his bottles in an abandoned army camp. The camp was located south of the present day Linton Army Camp. Mr Gardiner said that this camp supplied him with many priceless bottles which are very difficult to find. But digging in an abandoned army camp

wasn't the only way Mr , Gardiner got hold of his bottles. Many he purchased and many others have been given to him by friends. Bob Gardiner's bottle collection consists of bottles from all over the world but the bulk of them are New Zealand beer bottles. He even has a bottle with the beer still in it. He says the beer has been in there for around 20 years and is probably almost pure sour vinegar. Doesn't sound like

a refreshing drink on a hot summer 's day! However, all of Bob Gardiner's bottles are works of art and glass time-pieces. The garden shed his collection is in is an historical museum and he has certainly managed to save time in a bottle.

Mark

Russell