| History in the pits
A lowly trash heap in McKeesport transformed Tim Tokosh into an obsessed urban archaeologist driven to collect rare, antique bottles brimming with 150 years of the region's history. Rain had carved ravines into the piles of dirt and trash, exposing hand-blown glass bottles of strange shapes, hues and brands that inspired Tokosh in 1987 to begin a quest for rare bottles that tell the histories of medicines, liquors, poisons and even famous products such as those made by H.J. Heinz Co. To grow his cache of bottles beyond those of armchair collectors, Tokosh, 40, turned to one of the only places to discover old bottles: long-buried outhouse pits -- or privy holes, as collectors call them. Tokosh, a contractor from Elizabeth Township, has pulled more than 100,000 antique bottles from the depths of 19th century outhouses -- often in the backyards of Pittsburgh homeowners who live in the city's oldest neighborhoods.
Antique Roadshow to help Cheese Museum
CUBA - Building on its success in 2006, at the end of this month the Cuba Cheese Museum is hosting its 2nd Annual Antique Roadshow for the appraisal of antiques.One year ago, Vincent van Zwanenberg and Gary Hollamby of the Country Gentleman Antiques in Olean appraised close to 400 objects, everything from old road signs to exquisite china. Just like on the television program from which organizers drew their inspiration, after the first event some people were pleasantly surprised, while others put their prized processions back in their bag for another generation to treasure. However the Cuba event is in no way related to the popular Antiques Roadshow (they dropped the s).But just like the show, they will be giving people an idea of the market value of their antiques and collectibles. .
Vintage gambling items seized
WHITEFISH - Antique gambling equipment, including a roulette wheel dating to the 1880s, was seized from an antique store by state agents under a state law prohibiting the possession of unlicensed gambling equipment."Some of these things are over 100 years old," said Ron Turner, owner of the Cowboy Cabin. "These are not gambling devices. These are antiques. It's a historical collection. This never is, nor will be, a gambling establishment."Those arguments failed to convince three agents with the state Department of Justice Gambling Control Division who showed up at the store on Jan. 31.Turner, 65, called his son-in-law for advice. His son-in-law called police to make sure the state agents were who they said they were. .
Owner hopes for good sign
The sign that indicates a popular stop for antique buffs is receiving an inspection only an antique lover may appreciate. The owner of the building that houses Cabbages and Kings Antique Mall brought in a Lafayette company Friday to look at the sign, which is estimated to be about 50 years old. "We're just looking at our options," Dick Howell said. "The sign is grandfathered in to the newer sign ordinance. So we have to be careful what we do." There is a hole in the bottom of the classic vertical structure outside the business at 124 South Washington St., caused by an electric transformer that fell through recently. That caused city officials to get involved. "I certainly have sympathy toward the Cabbages and Kings folks to have such a visible sign," Mayor John Zumer said at this week's Board of Works and Public Safety meeting.
|
