Writings

Welcome to Joe's Pre-Pro Glasses!

Your Subtitle text

Writings

About four years ago, I was watching my favorite show on HBO, Deadwood. After watching "Al Swearingen" serve several people shots of whiskey at the Gem Saloon, I thought...Hey! I want a shot glass from way back then. So, the first place I decided to look was on EBay. After buying a few old glasses, I received a email from Robin Preston, telling me about his pre-pro.com website. I rushed over to view it. Found several wonderful shot glasses for sale, and after dropping several hundred dollars, buying just about every shot on his site, I was hooked. "Glass Fever" the old time collectors call it! As the shots arrived, I wanted MORE, and MORE! I was humbled on EBay in several Auction's, until I bit the Bullet, and paid for a "Sniper Service". Slowly, I started to learn what glasses to go for, which one's were common, overpaying for some, getting some for a bargin. Now my collection numbers around 300 shot glasses, and about 175 Beer, and Souvenir Glasses. I have case after case hanging in my living room. And every day, I pray the old New Madrid Fault doesnt shake everything off the walls, and turn my collection into rubble!

Here is where I would like to thank the people who helped me get started in this hobby. Mr Robin Preston was my tutor. He showed me which glasses to buy, which ones to avoid, how to always buy the perfect glass, and to avoid the dinged up ones. He provided me books to show me the rare glasses, and he scolded me when I paid too much. In August of 2007, I finally met Mr Preston at the National Bottle Show in Collinsville, IL. We had a great time at the show, while enjoying a product of his native land, Newcastle Brown Ale! Thanks Robin, my retirement stash is $1000's lighter thanks to you!

Other great people in this hobby I know, and one in particular is Mr Dick Bales of Chicago. He writes a regular piece on Robin's web site. A must read for the collector. He and his wife are the nicest people you will ever meet. Mr Paul VanVactor of Louisville KY is a Pre-pro legend. His many sales on EBay and at the Bottle Show's make sure you always add another excellent glass to your collection. A real saint of a person, Mr VanVactor dates back to when Barbara Edmondson wrote her two books about the Pre Pro glasses. He's known as a "Founding Father" of the hobby.

Other people I want to mention are Bruce Silva of Oregon. Many glasses in my collection are from his sales pages. Another saint of a guy, Mr Silva comes up with some rare western glasses out there. Jim and Julie Dennis offer great glasses on their sales listings too. Their glasses have found a way into my collection over the past few years.

Collectors on ebay that I have made friendship with include Clint/Rye2be and his wife, Mr. Bill Anderson/Junkmoney is a great guy to learn from, he's been collecting for some time now. Rich Lucchesi out in California has been nice enough to sell me some very rare San Francisco shots, I really appreciate him. David Wade, another legend of the hobby, a few of his cast-off shots are now on my wall. Mike Deppen, who's family ran Deppen Brewery up in Reading Pa. is a really nice guy, and has a great set of photo's from his family's old Brewery. Mr Ralph VanBrocklin is a major source of great information too. He lives out in Tennessee, and we saw him on the Food Channel just the other night, showing off his collection of Flask's.

THANKS TO YOU ALL, and apologies to anyone I've left out! Email me and I'll include you, make you more famous:)