Hi Bill,

I'm not sure why I didn't use the flash...shoot, that was back in 2003! I think that was the year we first got a digital camera.

We don't use that camera anymore...we have a Canon now. But I seriously miss the Olympus when I want to take a picture in dim lighting...the Olympus used to brighten low-light pictures; the Canon darkens them . (You know...like when you take a picture inside a casino, or if I'm shooting some of our stuff and the flash makes a glare on glass...)

As for the ashtrays...good for you! The more stuff you collect, the more fun you'll have collecting it...!!!

How to display depends on the style of the tray. Years ago I bought some easels that were designed to display shells or fossils! I've also bought small wire easels made to display small plates. IMPORTANT!! When using an easel, I ALWAYS tape the ashtray so it can't slip out!!!! and ALWAYS put the tape on just the glass...NOT on the painted logo.

If you have the stacking trays, with the logo around the outside edge, you can stack them. For extra security I'd advise putting something between them...Tyrus once considered using square beer coasters between his stacking trays (don't know if he did it or not), or squares of foam core board, or plexiglass, or whatever.

A couple of other things I use are small pedestals and risers. One of my favorite pedestals is actually a glass candlestick!

Other trays sit flat and seem to collect dice, or double as coasters for glassware.

(See what I mean...use the flash and there's glare; remove the flash and it's a dark picture )

The Tropicana ashtray is on a candlestick! The mirrored pedestal turns, and it had an ashtray on it right up until we got that very cool Bank Club lighter from a friend

Sometimes ashtrays sit on plexiglass risers...sometimes I use 'em for other stuff. This one is holding up a box of swizzle sticks that any hostess from the 1960's (1950's??) would have been proud to own!!