Dear Howard,

Thank you for the excellent article on EC&M's in the January issue of Crown Jewels. No wonder Ray got $7,000 for that Arizona Blue. It's that super rare one of a kind mirror embossed EC&M!

It was nice to hear Chuck Fox mentioned in your article. I bought my first dark green EC&M from Chuck at the Second Nat'l in Colorado Springs. Was the upside down embossed that Chuck bought in '68 the same one that Gerald Brown later had in his collection? I also remember at the Second Nat'l seeing two style F  EC&M's in Arizona Blue. The guy was on the stage and both insulators were in pretty rough condition. I asked him why he was asking so much for them, and he said that they were a rare color. Well, I was a new collector then and at my first insulator show and really didn't know much about EC&M's so I didn't get one. I also saw a pair of CD 731 Tillotson's in the prettiest sapphire blue. Neither of which I've ever seen again to this day. They must be in someone's collection?

I've found that styles A & F were in production at the same time, hence the same colors found, same styles found on the same lines approximately 1872 - 1875. I've had Arizona blues in both styles. Also styles B and G/H are found on the same lines and in same colors. Example: Austin-Battle Mtn 1878 aquas and ambers. Aurora -- Candelaria 1880 aquas, ambers, aurora blue & black glass amber, I'm not sure where styles C & D fit in... possibly between A & F and B & G/H.

I recently had the opportunity to look at a J mold in crystal clear and peacock blue. Also an L mold in bright green and an M mold in dark green. All appeared to be in new, unused condition except for the M. It had a wire around it, but otherwise looked "new". Where as the skirt embossed I mold has the correct embossing for the style represented; these others (J-M) have the wrong embossing for the style represented. The J looks to me to be an attempt to copy the style C. The L mold appears to be made from the upside down style E; and the M mold made from the style B. There seemed to be a smell of fish in the air as I examined these "new" EC&M's. All I can say about these new ones (J - M) is hecho en Mexico! 

Another note about styles B & G/H above: On the last lines that EC&M's seemed to have been used, these styles were found in SCA and sage green. Well that's all for now. Keep up the good work with the Crown Jewels.

Fritz Kettenburg 
Riggins, Idaho

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Dear Fritz,

Thank you for the compliment on the January article. Regarding Chuck Fox, it is great to hear from someone who remembers him. Chuck owned one of the nicest general collections in the hobby in the early 1970's. To my knowledge, the upside down embossed EC&M Chuck owned is NOT the same insulator mentioned in your letter. 

Chuck traded his entire collection for a 1936 Cord automobile, which he hoped to restore someday. He owned several unique and clearly identifiable insulators. I don't know whatever happened to them. I'm not sure they've been seen since. In my mind's eye, I picture them still wrapped in 30 year old newspapers and stored under a table in the back of some antique automobile museum somewhere. Who knows? 

Chuck never restored the '36 Cord. He sold it in order to have enough money for him and his wife to adopt a baby. A couple of years later, in 1994, Chuck died suddenly and unexpectedly in his sleep. He was 50 years old.

The negative (reverse) image of the EC&M embossing on the cover of the January issue was a production error on our part. At first I was extremely embarrassed by the mistake. But, now, I must say I've enjoyed the teasing over it.

Howard

To The Editor

First, I'd like to compliment you on your descriptive and educational portrayal of the E.C. M. Co, insulators. I'm sure it will help the new and uninformed collectors of the various styles and colors of E.C.&M.'s.

Secondly I'd like to express my disappointment with you and others in the hobby questioning the authenticity of the "recently found" E.C.& M.'s, calling them fake, repros or imitations, etc. I have yet to see any concrete evidence in this regard!

I have been in the hobby since 1968, am past president of the NIA and feel I have a solid reputation in the hobby. I might not be a so called expert but do have upwards of 100 E.C.& M.'s in my collection, so I'm not a novice.

These so called "imitations" were found in the same "toxic dump" in Sacramento, a city block away from the skirt embossed E.C. & M.'s. It's odd that the latter were never questioned, and others from the same site are suspect. Could it be because of who obtained them?

For those not informed, a large swamp or lagoon extended from the Sacramento River to Sutter's Fort, a total of 28 city blocks. When it was decided to enlarge the city by filling in this area, everything imaginable was used; locomotives, boilers, electrical junction boxes, and insulators, you name it.

It is known that the C.P.R.R. and S.P. railroads had a glass house for the production of windows, lantern globes and I believe insulators. In the glass trade, almost every color except aqua is known as "sick glass". Not able to with stand real stress problems. Therefore, large quantities were never put in use, but did help to fill up the lagoon. I for one believe these "imitations" are real and I am proud to have them in my collection.

My next gripe has to do with what I call "character assassination", which started about seven years ago with the discovery of the glass blocks. A prominent individual in the hobby tried to buy them all, was told no and suddenly they became fake. Since that time, everything discovered, except the skirt embossed E.C. & M.'s have been called suspicious, fake, or what have you. WHY?

I have known Ron Souza since the first insulator swap meet in Woodland, CA in 1968. In all the intervening years, I have gone on many "hunts" with him and others and have participated in some of the finds that are now suspected.

A sample of every "late find" was submitted to the "authentication & classification" committee for evaluation. The findings came back, unable to confirm one way or the other, strange! 

The tree ring count in re: the glass block was another experiment gone bad! I personally viewed this tree and found the insulator's position in the normal 18 to 20 foot high position. The tree sample taken was from a portion of the tree above that broken off in a wind storm. Common sense tells you, you can't tell a tree's age that high up. This cedar tree is a good 2 foot or better in diameter at the base.

My biggest disappointment in the NIA Board of Directors and others involved was the decision to "black ball" the Souzas! The hobby as a whole needs to know and have PUBLISHED the criteria they based their decision on. No supposition or whatever; but documented evidence. To me, the whole thing reeks of a witch-hunt, McCarthyism or whatever. I know of at least six other reputable collectors who have been in on the discovery and acquisition of these so called "imitations". Why aren't we also singled out?

It would seem there is a clique or group within the hobby who want to control what's real or not, what or not to collect and what it's worth. It's not a hobby anymore, strictly a business for making money! What a far cry from when I was President.

Just as in anything "newly" discovered there are rightfully questions about authenticity, but there doesn't seem to be any proof, just negative rejection lacking as much documentation as the "find" is accused of not having. Who are the "judges" and where is their solidly proven documentation! Ron Souza has spent over 35 years researching the history and location of western Telegraph Companies and their lines. He has recently put all of his findings in book form that is available to all with a genuine interest. 

Ron certainly would not jeopardize the value of this knowledge by participating in an irresponsible stupid act! I have contacted several other prominent collectors and as a whole, we are totally disappointed and disenchanted with the NIA and the track they are taking.

Pat Patocka, NIA#140
Penryn, CA

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Dear Pat, 

Thank you for your letter. You opinion is respected, and your courage to express it is appreciated.

Howard

Dear Howard,

I am thoroughly enjoying my CJW under your editorship. I can't speak to the story of the yellow California helmets being found in a California lumber mill, but I know a number of these colored California insulators were introduced into the hobby by Richard and Brenda Musante, currently living in Cotati, Ca.

The story goes that back in the 1970's, the Musantes were selling at a local Cupertino antique show. They did their customary walk through of the other dealer's tables, and spotted a sage green Cal helmet on one dealer's table. When they asked if he had more, the dealer pulled a box of concrete coated Cal helmets from under the table. The transaction was consummated, and after some heavy-duty cleaning, the Musantes ended up with a bunch of yellow helmets.

The dealer was a scavenger of sorts who was always looking for all kinds of things to sell. He located the California helmets on an abandoned power line that led to an old concrete plant somewhere in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the coast. Apparently the insulators were coated with concrete dust, which combined with the moisture in the air to form a protective coating from the solar radiation that would have turned the insulators purple. I believe all of the helmets were sold to local collectors, but enough time has passed for the helmets to have exchange hands a number of times.

Colin Jung 
Sunnyvale, CA