25 years of collecting, we've heard a lot of these: "Most everybody who passed my humble setup made some comment..."

Although I have been collecting insulators for over five years, it was only recently that I set up a table to sell insulators at a "trader" show in McAllen, Texas. I displayed mainly glass insulators representing over 24 different consolidated designs and over two dozen color variations. I was the only insulator "dealer" in the show. 

A large number of people attended the show. Most of the people were what we call Winter Texans. They are usually from out of state, and being retirees, reside in South Texas during the winter months.

During the three days of selling, I have to admit I was not overwhelmed by large numbers of buyers, but I did manage to sell a few pieces. I sold enough to pay for the table and keep my ego intact. However, one thing became perfectly clear. Most everybody who passed my humble setup made some comment(s) about insulators. Everybody seemed to have a story to tell and/or knowledge to share. And they were willing to impart their perceptions and wisdom to the dealer (me) whether he (I) asked for it or not! Most of the comments would usually begin with "I used to work for..." or "I have (bushels, barrels, baskets or boxes) of ... ". 

During the first day of the show I found myself mildly impressed with what some people shared. In fact, I did learn a lot from several experienced collectors. Nevertheless, by the end of the day my patience began to diminish; especially toward those I felt were trying to impress me too much with their "pearls of wisdom". 

By the second day of selling, two things became apparent to me. First, I had developed an attitude problem and blamed it on turning fifty years of age three weeks earlier. So, get a grip, dude! Second, I did find a lot of what was said humorous. So, I began to reason: why not record some of the comments the people were making about insulators and write an article for publication in Crown Jewels of the Wire. An idea was born! The last two days of the sale I listened, talked, recorded and sold a few insulators, too. By the end of the trader show I had transcribed several pages of commentary. Listed below are samples of statements shared; and, occasionally, my personal remarks or thoughts. I have categorized the commentaries under the headings of "I have...", "Past-timing", and "Others". 

"I have ... 

...a 30-gallon barrel full of those at home." 
...a whole basement full of 'em.
...2 bushels of these back home." 
...some, I'll have to dig mine out." 
...boxes and boxes of these things" 
...some. If you're running low on inventory, I have hundreds of them in Minnesota."
...boxes and boxes and boxes that I took down off of poles 15 years ago."
...found bunches of them in a dump." 
...found dated one from the 1800's buried under the rabbit cage." 
...walked along the road and picked them up. They were free."
...crackled them", a lady commented.

Past-timing... 

"I used to work for Bell."
"Worked for the power company in Kansas. Used to take them off of houses. Got boxes at home." 
"I used to shoot them with a slingshot as a kid." 
One person commenting to his friend, "As a kid, how many of those did we shoot up?" 
"They took out the ol' railroad lines near the house. Stole the poles and left the wire and insulators. I took some of the ol' Hemingrays." "We use to throw them into the river, then dive in to find them."
"I used a twenty-two to shoot them off the poles at a long distance."
"Went to a farm auction once. Bought boxes of 'em for a dollar. Then set them up along the roadside and sold 'em for fifty cents. I think we did OK."

Others... 

"I take the green ones, turn them upside down onto wooden legs and put in a candle." I held up a cobalt blue Hemingray . (CD 162) and responded, "I don't think you would want to make a candle holder out of this one." Once she saw the marked price for that piece, she agreed.

"I drill holes in them to make chimes" ( He holds up a Hemi 42.) "I better save the five boxes I have left in the basement." 

"They knocked an ol' line set up in the 20's. They were on our property. You were told to get as many of them as you wanted."

"I could have picked up a whole pickup load of 'em. They were just piled along the side of the road. I waited too long ... They don't make 'em anymore...You can find them along the back roads." (My thought: Why can't I find these roads?!)

"I have a brother who used to collect. Had a whole' room full. Gave 'em all away." My response was, "Why didn't I know your brother?"

One person walked up to the table, shook his head and said, "My God!" He then walked away still shaking his head. Quien sabe?

"I would have never imagined that people would collect these things," a tall young man said to his wheel-chaired mother. 

"I was reading a woman's magazine. They take these to make hat racks and door knobs." 

One dialogue went like this:
"Did you climb the poles to get them?" 
"No.", I answered. "This is as high off the ground as I get!"
"Oh.", he said. "Actually", I said, "I knocked the poles down to get these insulators."
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" 

"I used to see guys shoot at them on the poles ... I asked this guy one time, don't you realize that you could shoot someone in one of those houses on the hill...I went hunting one time ... Almost shot my friend who was flushing a deer out of the bushes...I haven't hunted in 30 years." (I guess events in our lives are connected more than we may realize.)

Although setting up for the trader show was a lot of work, I did manage to make contact with other collectors from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. I am looking forward to setting up next year to extend my network of new friends and insulator enthusiasts.