Who: Bob Duebber, 76, of Covedale, a retired real estate broker who fancies decanters from distillers and liquor producers such as Jim Beam, Lionstone, McCormick and Hoffman.

        On display: Over 1,000 of the colorful and unusually-shaped bottles. Some of his favorites look like trains, cars, fire engines, fish, birds and telephones. Others pay tribute to states, political parties and fraternal organizations.

        Where: In the family room and office of the home he shares with Patricia Nose and their French poodle, Angel. The bottles are on shelves that go completely around the room and reach from floor to ceiling.

        Thanks, boss: Mr. Duebber's interest in decanter bottles began before his retirement five years ago. As the owner of Family Real Estate, he used to buy them to give to employees as Christmas gifts.

        “We used to call them "picture bottles,' ” he says. “I always thought that they were very unusual.”

        Beam me up: Mr. Duebber's favorite bottles were manufactured by Jim Beam. They make up the bulk of his collection.

        Good old days: “They were put out in liquor stores from 1940-1983,” he explains. “But they were discontinued because people were buying liquor for the bottles. The consumption of alcohol was going up because people were buying decanters.”

        “The only ones now are special convention bottles,” he says.

        Bottle chat: Mr. Duebber belongs to a group called the St. Bernard Swinging Beamers. They meet at the St. Bernard Municipal Hall on Vine Street the third Sunday of every month at 2 p.m. He says there are about 40 members and at the meetings they talk about their bottles, sell a few and give away door prizes.

        Running on empty: To put it indelicately, with a collection of over 1,000 bottles, you'd think Mr. Duebber has got a lot of hooch in his house. Right?

        Wrong.

        “Most of them are empty,” he says. “The liquor will go bad over a period of time. Plus, you are not allowed to sell them when they are full. The value is the same, empty or full.”

        On the prowl: Mr. Duebber adds to his collection by attending bottle club shows in Louisville and Indianapolis. He also scouts garage sales and flea markets.

        “When I was still selling real estate,” he says, “Every once in awhile I would see them in people's homes and would offer to buy them.”

        Great find: His most recent purchase was a pair of Hoffman bottles shaped like bulldogs, one large and one small.

        “They are beautiful bottles,” he remarks. “Plus they are done in such fine detail. I'm always finding something new. That's why I enjoy collecting.

        “Plus,” he adds, “It's important to have a hobby when you're retired.”

        Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202, e-mail: marsolete@aol.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.

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