National Show Commemoratives

History of the National Show Commemoratives

The National Insulator Show commemoratives were started by Frank Miller of Tulsa, Oklahoma. After the First National Insulator Meet in New Castle, Indiana (1970) he decided to make something to help collectors remember the national meets. After months of struggling, he managed to have an insulator mold made. Frank said it was often referred to as "Frank's Last Folly" since he retired from teaching shortly thereafter. He also said it was worth the struggle. The commemorative insulator he designed replicated the early threadless "pilgrim hat" (CD 736) and is almost 4 inches high and is 3 1/4 inches across at the base. Since 1970, the glass commemorative has marked the national show event with new embossing for the location and a new color of glass.

1970-1978: Frank Miller produced the commemoratives for nine years. The first two years were dome embossed and in 1972 the embossing was moved to the base.

1979-2009: John and Carol McDougald took over production and continued for 31 years! Additional dome embossing was added in 1988 and has continued since.

2010-Present: The NIA took over production after the McDougalds donated the mold and production rights.

Note that a limited number of solid pours were available for most years. Solid pours are made by filling the mold with glass, but not plunging so you get a much thicker and heavier glass with no base embossing. Many collectors enjoy having a standard and a solid pour representative for each year.

Most of the photos and information shown here were provided by Wesley Lirette and used with his permission. http://www.myinsulators.com/dukeboo/nia.htm
Additional information was provided by John & Carol McDougald and used with their permission.
Additional solid pour pictures were enabled by Dennis Weber and Jacque Linscott Barns

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Note: Click on each insulator for larger pictures and more information!