Fine "go-withs" to show off with your insulator collection are telegrams. And, if you choose to specialize in railroad telegrams, the supply can be almost limitless. (Did I read somewhere that there has been upwards of ten to twelve thousand different railroad companies in the U.S.?) A good number of these companies had their own telegraph systems, and I would think a person in a whole lifetime could not collect all the different examples ever issued. What a challenge! Let's look at a few.

Many railroad buffs collect these old telegrams, concentrating on the railroads that ran through their area, or some of the older, famous or historic lines. Don't overlook the Railroad Artifact Collectors' Shows when looking for these interesting and varied telegrams. A person can put together a sizeable collection with a very small investment, which is a big plus. Most average from 50 cents to $2.00. Many collectors keep their telegrams in binders, but these would also look nice framed and hanging on a wall.

I like this last telegram with the notice to "BE BRIEF" -- someone really got carried away! The O.R.& N. Co. is Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. These railroad telegrams were collected by Ray Klingensmith through attending many types of collector’s shows, and also dealing with collectors who specialize in this type of paper goods. If you have an interest in this collecting field, Ray can probably put you onto some good leads. Thanks, Ray!