2003 >> May >> The Annual Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club Show  

The Annual Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club Show
By Claude Wambold

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", May 2003, page 24

On Saturday morning, March 1, 2003, 3:50 a.m. Steve Bobb pulls in our driveway and we quickly load his boxes of insulators, (I loaded mine the day before) We are on the road by 4:00 a.m. and headed South on Rt. 100 to Rt. 23. As we turn onto Rt. 23 we see the first snow flake and saw many, many more in the next two hours heading to York, PA. Steve remarked how over the years, we have made this trip in rain, fog, very cold and some warm times, but this is the first trip in the snow. Will we turn back? Are you kidding? And miss the first show of the season. We make our usual stop at Denny's in York for breakfast and then on to State Line, MD. As we unload, we see many familiar faces and some we haven't seen in awhile. As it turned out, we had dealers from CT, DE, MD, MN, IL, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA and WV. This was the largest number of states ever represented at this show.

By the time the doors opened, it was easy to see this was going to be a good show with an excellent selection of insulators in both glass and porcelain to choose from. Some of the club members were worried what the weather might do to the attendance, but by noon time it was easy to see there was no need to worry. There were more than a few new collectors in attendance and it was nice to put faces with names we had seen on ICON and E-Bay. 

Some of the more notable insulators that showed up and changed hands were a CD102 Pennycuick in S.C.A. a CD164 B.G.M. CO. in a light Yellowish (Yes it is real), and a CD145 American in a good green. There was a killer Hemingray CD257 in a brilliant Peacock Blue and loaded with milk. This one, however, was not for sale but it was great to be able to see it. There were hourly drawings for prizes and the Fire Company has good food for all at reasonable prices. Most dealers reported good sales and I noticed a lot of people going out the door carrying bags of insulators. All too soon, it was time to pack what was not sold and look forward to the next show.


Chip McElwee and Larry Novak


A yellowish CD 164 B.G.M. finds a new owner.


Peter Abbott and his daughter, Emily, just made a sale!



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