About Me

Hello! I’m Roger Thomas, and I buy, sell, and trade antique New York State milk bottles.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Baldwinsville, NY, I first began my collection at 12 years old when I stumbled upon some of my grandfather’s milk bottles. I loved learning about the rich history of these milk bottles, and the stories they told about our family farm. Flash forward to 2022, and I still have the same passion for preserving the history of these milk bottles, and of the the dairy farms that were once abundant in New York State. Since I began professionally collecting NYS milk bottles nearly 25 years ago, my collection has grown to over 10,000. Just don’t tell my wife!

My favorite thing about collecting milk bottles is when I am contacted by people looking to find their families bottles and caps. It is a great feeling knowing that I have been able to reconnect them with a piece of their old family farm. I also enjoy meeting fellow collectors and exchanging stories, and maybe even a few bottles!

I love taking my collection on the road with me have several places around Upstate NY in which my milk bottles are on display. Every year, my collecting partner, Ken, and I have a tent at Madison-Bouckville Antiques Show. Additionally, I have displays at the NYS Fair and at Cornell University.

I am a proud member of the National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors, and have created extensive resources on NYS milk bottles available on request.

Site photos provided by: Katrina Tulloch, syracuse.com