Crown Jewels of the Wire - 2003

January 2003:

• Howard and Linda Banks first issue
• Threadless insulator with a similar top to the CD 141.8 Buzby - Page 7-10
• J. F. Busby patent information - Page 9
• Pictures of the CD 148.1 threaded Busby insulator - Page 11
• Columbia VI-BO insulators CD 106 and CD 154 - Page 12 & 13
  • Article mentions Zicme, Telecom, Porcelana Gamma,  and Bogota Columbia
• 2002 Springfield Ohio show report - Pages 14 & 15
  • Report mentions Butch Haltman's CD 207.5 at the show
• CD 123 E.C.& M.Co. Taxonomy - Pages 28-46
  • Article mentions slug plate, embossing, seam line, button, mold styles
  • Detailed definition of A Mold through H mold
  • Detailed definition of J Mold through N Mold considered suspected imitations by the NIA
• 2002 Enchantment Insulator Club Show Report - Pages 49-51
• Eleventh Annual Lone Star Insulator Club Show Report - Pages 53-55
  • Report mentions a quantity of CD 214 7-up green Hemingrays
• CD 123 E.C.& M. Co. in aqua with amber swirls - back of last page

February 2003:

• CD 122 McLaughlin Citroen - Back of front cover
• A letter about railroad signal lanterns covering Corning, Kopp, Macbeth, and General Signals Inc. - Page 4
• PIN article on the U-186 Purkey patent design - Pages 6 & 7
  • The article mentions two Purkey patents and Ohio Brass
• PIN article on an unusual knob marked Murdock Pat. Sep. 17, 1901 - Pages 7-9
  • The article also mentions Fred Locke and Patent No. 682,831.
• PIN article on a probable Locke M-3153 with an iron crown used to carry wall tubes - Page 10
• PIN article on a new Fred Locke marking variation of #0-6 on U-3, U-39, U55, U-220A/B, U-242, and U-330A. - Pages 10 & 11
• The Last Days of the Canadian Porcelain Co. - Pages 15-17
  • Article mentions I.T.E., Hydro Quebec, NEDCO, PTS, Ontario Hydro, Gould Inc., Canadian Ohio Brass, and Lapp.
• How I became Interested in Collecting Insulators - Mindy Michener - Page 21
• Auburn 2002 Show Report - Pages 22-25
  • The show report includes the unveiling of a CD 130.1 Cal. Electric Works mold half.
  • CD 203 Hemingray Provo insulators in a wooden apparatus
• Colorful porcelain pictures including:
  • M-2636 unmarked multipart in a beautiful turquoise glaze, U-183 Ransom Patent, U-599 in robins egg blue - Page 27
  • U-202A in blue, U-149A, and U-529C Fred Locke - Page 28
  • U-792 in green, U-11B in yellow, and a U-217A transposition - Page 29
  • U-246, U-206 in cobalt blue, and U-225A/B - Page 30
• 2002 Tulare Show Report - Pages 33-35
• Collector's worst nightmare and best dream! - Page 39

 March 2003:

• CD 134 1871/1893 dated Hemingray loaded with snow - Back of front cover
• Insulator sidepin profile on David Wiecek - Pages 7-12
  • Article has a picture of a piece of a CD 184 Brookfield Climax
  • Also shown is a CD 152 Hemingray with a heart shaped token embossed on the dome "Frank Malony - Muncie Today"
• Details on the CD numbering system and specifically CD 152.
• Article on Whitall Tatum insulators for export to Australia - Pages 15-18
  • The article also mentions CD 152 Brookfield insulators with Australian threads and a portion of a gingerbread man found at the Brookfield factory site.
• A picture of a deer on the top of a telephone pole - Page 23
• Color pictures of CD 260 California helmets - Pages 30-35
• Eastern Antique Insulator Show Report (Tylersport, PA) - Pages 43-45
  • Report includes display pictures of Guss Stafford, Robert Strezze, and David Weicek.
  • also included is a picture of the rare unmarked Whitall Tatum made CD 234.5
• Backyard display pole picture of David Macky's 

April 2003:

• CD 127 W.U.P. in sapphire blue - Back of front cover
• Letter from Fritz Kettenburg on the E.C.& M. Taxonomy article - Page 3
• Letter from Pat Patocka in support of Ron Souza - Pages 5 & 6
• Article "The Iron Horse and the Talking Wire" - Pages 11-18
  • Discussion of the Pacific Railroad and related history
  • Insulator hunting CD 131.4 LGT, CD 731's
• Memoriam to Grant Salzman - Page 21
• Details and pictures of CD 145 POSTAL beehives - Pages 30-34
• Information on Am. Tel, & Tel. marked insulators including CD 121 - Page 35
• PIN article on dry process insulators and porcelain insulators for export - Pages 38-43
  • An early catalog page with probable Thomas export styles including a gingerbread man.
  • Pictures of a twist lock Thomas style U-143 and U-143A
• Foreign insulators article on Electro-Verre -- Pages 45-49
  • Pictures of an unusual "Secondary line aerial fuse insulator"
  • Discussion of numerous CD's pictured in the catalog
•  

• color picture of a CD 106 Star full of snow - Back of front cover
• Article by Howard Banks "Making a Magazine" - Pages 3-6
• Kids Korner insulator art - Pages 7-10
• Foreign Insulators - Finding the Russian CD 570.2 - Pages 12 & 13
  • The article also mentions CD 540 and CD 541 both of Russia
  • The embossing of Mapneu which is translated to Mareetz is mentioned
• Article by Howard Banks - "Insulator Hunting in Cambodia" - Page 14
• 2003 Chico Show Report - Pages 16-19
  • Color pictures of a CD 133 California & CD 115 McLaughlin in Citrine - Page 17
  • Color pictures of a CD 130.1 Cobalt Cal. Electric Works, a CD 120 Cobalt CEW, A yellow CD 121 California, and a yellow CD 161 California - Page 18
• Article by Howard Banks "World Class Insulators" - Pages 30-33
  • Color pictures of a CD 151 purple smooth base H.G.Co. and a red amber unembossed CD 151 - Page 31
  • Color pictures of a Cobalt blue CD 151 NATCO & a green with amber swirled CD 151 smooth base H.G. Co. - Page 32
  • Color pictures of a milky CD 151 H.G.Co. and a light aqua CD 151 H.G.Co. with an amber swirl. - Page 33
• 2003 Yuma Tailgater Show Report - pages 40-43
  • Combined exhibit of glass from "South of the Border" bu Roger Nagel, Dwayne Anthony, David LeForge, and David Hall.
  • Unusual insulators included a white milkglass capacitor bushing.
• Story by Bill Winters "The Perfect Tramp" - Pages 44-47
  • Color picture of a milky CD 196 H.G.Co. Transposition

June 2003:

• Color picture of a green CD 102 So. Mass. Tel. Co. - Back of front cover
• Article by N.R. Woodward on the Postal Telegraph Company - Pages 5 & 6
• Article by Ed Hollar "Boston Bottle Find" CD 158.2 Boston Bottle Works - Page 7
• Article on the H & H Electric CD 269 baby Jumbo Commemoratives - Pages 14 & 15
• 2003 Metroplex Insulator Show Report by Ross Baird - Pages 20 & 21
• Interesting picture of a ring pole used for telephone distribution - Page 22
• Article "Sumpter Valley Railway" pictures of steam engines - Pages 23-25
• 2003 St. Joseph Insulator/Bottle Show & Sale Report by Jeanne Weber - Pages 26 & 27 
• World Class Insulators (continued) by Howard Banks - Pages 30-35
  • Color pictures of a light aqua with purple swirls CD 151 H.G.Co. and a two tone green smooth base CD 151 H.G.Co. - Page 31
  • Color pictures of a CE 151 smooth base H.G.Co. in depression glass green and a dark amber smooth base CD 151 H.G.Co. - Page 32
  • Color picture of a milky peacock blue CD 151 NATCO and a silver with purple swirled CD 151 H.G.Co. - Page 33
  • Color pictures of a green swirled and a deep cornflower blue smooth base CD 151 H.G.Co. 

July 2003:

• Color picture of a CD 162 Brookfield signal full of gunk and swirls - Back of front cover
• Ian Macky letter describing distribution circles - page 4
• Article by Mark McGuire "Third Time is a Charm" on hunting CD 151 insulators - Pages 7 & 8
• Crescent City Swap - Insulators by the Bay Show Report (home of Carl Scott) - Pages 9 & 10
• PIN article on porcelain made in the US for the foreign market - Pages 13-17
  • Styles made by Thomas and Locke are mentioned including catalog pages 
  • Pictures of four different twist lock insulators including Thomas and Ohio Brass made units
• Reprint of a Harper's Weekly 1865 article on the Collins Overland Telegraph Line - Pages 21-36
  • Line construction details in Siberia, Amoor River, and the Behring Straights.
  • Insulators mentioned include CD 736, CD 735, Glass blocks, and wood block ramshorns 

August 2003:

• Color picture if a CD 718 in swirled emerald green - Back of front cover
• Letter of thanks to the National Show attendees by Steve Blair, Glenn Drummond, and Alan Hohnhorst - Page 3
• Picture of Glenn & Sandra Drummond and Steve & Lois Blair receiving their NIA Lifetime Membership Award - Page 4
• 2003 NIA Convention Show Report in color - Pages 21-44
• Ask Woody, By N.R. Woodward article on CD 121, specifically Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. "Denver" molds - Page 45
• Color picture of Jason Townsend and an odd U-299 porcelain insulator - Inside back page

September 2003:

• Color picture of a CD 214 Telegrafos Nacionales in amber with a huge graphite filled bubble - back of front cover
• Announcement that Mike and Ruthann Doyle will be replacing Dwayne Anthony as the West Coast Correspondent - Page 4
• Article by Dwayne Anthony "Hitting the 2003 California Spring Show Circuit" - Pages 14-17
  • Includes a picture of a CD 259 cable with an interesting metal bracket 
  • Mike Spadafora 7 Mike Doyle with a M-2795 with pole and pin
  • Bob Merzoian's star display from the Cayucos Show
  • Richard Dawson's Gamewell bettery exhibit
• PIN article on the newly discovered Thomas M-4710 along with it's Lima counterpart as well as the Thomas, Victor, and New Lexington M-4800 insulators from Carver Mead's display - Pages 20-23
• Kansas City Show Report by Brian Riecker - Page 25
  • Includes a picture of the ponds insulator with original wire
• Foreign Insulators by Calib Thimell - Pages 26 & 27
  • Announcement that Calib will be the new foreign insulator editor
  • Details on the rare CD 630 Bright's Insulator
• Opinion - NIA board's report to the general membership regarding the results of its investigation into imitation EC&M insulators - Pages 28-36
  • Significant data and pictures on suspect CD 123 insulators
  • Data includes two insulator molds and many insulators
• Article by Arlen Rienstra "Digging at Fairmont" on digging at the KCGW factory site - Pages 41-43
  • Glass shards matching the following CD's were uncovered: CD 102.3, 106, 120, 124, 133.3, 134, 145, 151, 160, 162, 163.2, 164, and 1105.
• Pictures from Howard Bank's backyard swap - Page 44
• Article by H.G. "Bea" Hyve "Soozie" includes pictures of CD 145 H.G.Co. Petticoat Beehives - Pages 63 & 64

October 2003:

• Color picture of a CD 102.4 with an enormous bubble - Back of front cover
• Harloes out West?  Description of the recent discovery of CD 206.5 Harloes in Salt Lake City, UT - Page 7
• Article on Star insulators by Bob Merzoian - Pages 10 & 11
  • Includes pictures of  CD 145, CD 260, and CD 102 insulators
  • Mentions Brookfield, Sterling, Harloe, and Novelty glass companies as makers
• Twelfth Annual Lone Star insulator Club Show & Sale Report by Bob Machann - Pages 14-17
  • Includes pictures of Elton Gish's wall tube display
  • Chris Sistrunk's display of CD 136 B & O styles
  • A picture of Jack Roach's amber American CD 145 beehive
• Arlen Rienstra's article "King City Glass Works - Fairmount, IN" - Pages 20-26
  • History, maps, and information on the KCGW factory
• 2003 NIA Western Regional Show Report - Pages 29-37
  • Colin Jung's porcelain fogbowl display - Page 30
  • Richard Dawson's battery rest display - Page 30
  • Dwayne Anthony's "Poor quality control" display - Page 31
  • Ron Yuhas display "All Ears" of cable insulators - Page 32
  • Dave Elliot's display of CD 121 tolls - Page 33
  • Larry Shumaker display of CD 162 signals - Page 34
  • Combined CD 123 EC&M display - Page 34
  • Picture of a raspberry CD 700.1 threadless egg that was a show walk in - Page 34
  • Dave Hall's display of Mexican insulators - Page 35
  • Lou Hall's display of insulator related hardware - Page 35
  • Bob Hendrick's display of McLaughlin Insulators, bottles, and go withs - Page 36
  • Eloise Haltman's display of clear glass insulators "Clearly Beautiful" - Page 37
• The Eighth Annual Tristate Insulator Show Report - Page 38
• Foreign Insulators by Calib Teimell - Pages 46 & 47
  • Discussion of CD 578 marked Folembray 218
• Color picture of a CD 265 Fisher insulator - inside back cover

November 2003:

• Color picture of a CD 724 Wade insulator in clambroth gray marked CHESTER, NY - Back of front cover
• Insulator Collecting 101:  The 257 Mickey Mouse insulator - Page 7
• Additional information on distribution rings from Gene Condon and Elton Gish - Page 10
• General Electric catalog picture of a pole seat - Page 11
• Rod Wing's request to the Jim Beam Company to make a commemorative insulator whisky bottle - Page 11
• Chiloquin Swap Meet Report (hosted by Mid Norris) - Pages 12 & 13
• Molds, Molds, and More Molds!  Article on slug plates to personalize bottle molds - Pages 14-16
• Nance Briscoe opinion on suspect EC&M molds - Pages 16 & 17
• Locke Insulator Company porcelain dogs - pages 18 & 19
• Hemingray 42 42:  Shows a CD 154 Hemingray-42 with a mold number also #42 - Page 20
• Left Coast Lines by Mike Doyle: Detailed report on west coast shows - Pages 22-24
• Collecting Insulator Related Advertisements - Pages 27-29
• Just Shopping Around...  by Mike McGuire - Finding citrine CD 164 McLaughlin's - Pages 37-39
• Article on CD 134 California insulators including a great color picture - Pages 40-42

December 2003:

• Color picture of a smooth base CD 151 in vivid green with amber - Back of front cover
• PIN by Elton Gish on unusual porcelain insulator markings - Pages 6-11
  • U-447 with a LOCKE embossing with an upside down L as well as a reversed 2 in the rest of the embossing.
  • U-3 and U-65 with a LOCKE incuse marking surrounded by two dots
  • Pittsburg U-202B with an incuse 356 on the dome
  • Underglaze markings on U-880A and U-735
  • Double PP and KNOX markings on U-425B, U-488, U-490, U-649, U-666, U-735, and U-737
  • Unusual Lapp marking on a U-310
  • U-94 spool with both the O.B. and square-D markings
  • White U-267 incuse marked ILLINOIS/1953
  • U-368 with a RE skirt embossing of OB
  • U-179 with a large incuse P.R.R. marking
• Insulators 101: Most Frequently Asked Insulator Question on the Corning Pyrex carnival glass suspension insulators.
• Dave Kurns "Tree Topper" article on working for the Union Pacific Railroad - Pages 15-18
  • Includes color photographs of a green CD 151 H.G.Co. smooth base and a milk filled CD 145 H.G.Co. beehive.
• The Fourth Annual Merzoian Brothers Tailgater Report
• Cambodian Connection showing  insulators brought back by Kris and Mary Ann Young who are missionaries in Cambodia - Pages 29 & 30
  • Insulators pictured are CD 690, CD 640, and CD 642.  
  • CD 531, CD 541, and CD 557 are also mentioned
• Lightning Rod Insulators article by Howard Banks - Pages 38 -41
  • Color pictures of Hickcok's patent, Spratt and Weston and CD 132.4 Chamber's
  • Also pictures of CD 257 and CD 252 insulators used as LRI's!
• Yankee Polcat Insulator Club meeting at Larry and Mary Emmons Report - Pages 42 & 43
• Color picture of sunsed in Columbia River Gorge - Inside back cover

Return to the National Insulator Association Home page