Andy and Vi Brown

“Bea Lines” is proud this time to be interviewing two of the most pleasant people in the insulator hobby, Andy and Vi Brown of Redmond, Washington. This amiable couple has done so much toward promoting this hobby of ours, and it’s always a pleasure to be with them.

Anderson “Andy” Brown was born on May 12, 1923, in Condon, Oregon, but moved to Stanfield when he was still a baby. Violet was born in Hot Springs, Idaho, on February 1, 1925. She and Andy met at a dance in Stanfield in October 1941. He had graduated from high school the previous May, and Vi was a senior, her folks having moved there that summer from Sunnyside, Washington. Dances were being held six nights a week in the upstairs part of the store building. The Umatilla ordinance depot was being built just before the war, and the tiny town of Stanfield was booming. Andy and Vi were married November 24, 1942, in Walla Walla, Washington. In February 1943 Andy went into the Army, where he served just over three years. After being discharged, he joined the pile-drivers union and was in construction until retirement in 1980. During those years he worked on several of the major dams and bridges in the northwest, as well as on freeways and other projects. They moved from The Dalles, Oregon, to the Seattle area in 1961. Vi has worked for Safeway in California and Oregon, and has had several bookkeeping jobs, as well as being a switchboard operator. Andy and Vi have three daughters; Judy in Woodinville, Washington, who has two sons and one granddaughter, Karen of Gold Beach, Oregon, who has two daughters, and Laurie, who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Andy and Vi receiving their Lifetime Membership awards from
Mike Guthrie at Bakersfield, November 1990.

Vi served two years as executive director for the NIA from 1980 to 1982, as show awards chairman for two years from 1982 to 1984, and she served three years as western regional vice president from 1984 to 1987. At the Allentown, Pennsylvania, national in 1989, Andy and Vi were awarded lifetime memberships in the NIA, and these cards were presented to them by Mike Guthrie at the Bakersfield, California, show in November 1990, a ceremony a bit delayed, but that certainly didn’t detract from the high honor of being chosen for those awards! Another event way up there on the list of their achievements was hosting the national in Tacoma, Washington, in 1984 (one of the most beautiful settings for any national we’ve attended, as far as scenery goes.) In addition to the spectacular view of Mt. Ranier and other mountains Tacoma was a great national in every way.

Another event hosted by the Browns (with a little help from Jeanne and Joe Bridges) is the Enumclaw, Washington, show. This show has been the western regional at least four times, and is held every year, usually in May. (Mr. Hyve and I are determined to attend this show one day; it is a goal of ours. We’ve heard nothing but good reports about it!) The Browns have also hosted several shows in Redmond, as well as many tailgaters on Snoqualamie Pass, Washington. Vi has written over a dozen show reports for Crown Jewels, and several times just before their show, she’s written articles on insulators for various antique publications. In addition, their collection was featured on a local TV show a few years ago, prompting a lot of calls and interest. So it’s plain to see that this couple has worked very hard for many years, promoting the hobby of insulator collecting.

But what started their interest in insulators? I’m going to let Vi tell you that herself. “Andy and I first became aware of insulators in the fall of 1969 during deer hunting season, while hunting with friends on Blewett Pass, Washington. Larry decided to go down in a canyon while we went uphill, and when he came out, every pocket was filled with those beautiful blue aqua Hemingray 44s. He gave us several, and said many more were scattered around on the ground, some in different colors and styles, where an old line had gone down the bottom of the canyon. But it was a year and a half later before we returned with our daughter and son-in-law to check it out. We carried out everything we could find; Hemingray 42, Pyrex, Whitall Tatum. Not knowing what drip points were, we would call out, ‘Here’s one with I ruffles’. Our son -in-law was immediately interested in our finds, and was soon scrounging the flea markets and junk shops, where he found several.

Two very sweet ladies.
Vi Brown and Evelyn Milholland, 90 when this was taken.
March 15, 1994

“It took a while for Andy’s interest to really develop, and he once commented, ‘I wouldn’t give a nickel for a carload’. [Famous last words, Andy!] That changed, and now we have several truckloads! From then on for many years we all spent most of our free time digging on Stampede Pass, Washington, along the railroad where the line had been changed several times. The first year we found about 70 California crosstops which were excellent traders and sellers. Then we discovered other people who were collectors, and also shows where we could buy insulators. It wasn’t long before we were introduced to Crown Jewels, so we never traveled without the directory, and were able to stop and visit and trade with many early collectors.

Some of the shelves in the insulator room.

“In 1972 we decided to try having a show, and we had ten tables in a small Grange hall in Redmond. When we outgrew the Grange hall after three shows, we moved to a community center with 27 tables, and finally to the fairgrounds in Enumclaw, where our show has been held for 17 years with 110-135 tables each year.

“Both of us like insulators including porcelain, which we pick up if we see an unusual piece. Andy really likes Mickey Mouses and has quite a few different ones. He likes phones almost as well as insulators, and has many different kinds of both candlesticks and wall phones. One of his favorites is a large wall phone we were told came from a hotel in Montana. It has a slot for silver dollars, 50, 25, 10, and 5 cent pieces. Go-withs too, seem to have a way of coming home with us, so we have a few lightning rod balls, signs, and various railroad items. I have a collection of open salts, restaurant creamers, and I have old soaps and washboards in the bathroom.

“My favorite insulators are my Chester, of course, and a beautiful amber Tillotson, also from B.C., a purple California keg I took off a pole near an old gold mine in Oregon, and a weather-beaten Star pony with peg which was found in the Nevada desert. One of Andy’s favorites is a Brookfield signal he paid 50¢ for, which is full of milky swirls. He likes all the ones that have ‘junk’ in the glass, or that are lopsided or defective. We’ve never counted the number in our collection, but there are shelves and shelves in the bedroom used as a display area.

“As for other hobbies, we used to hunt and fish quite a bit, but as we’ve gotten older, the canyons seem deeper and hills steeper, so we don’t go as often. Andy enjoys working with the phones, and he also does a lot of yard work. We do ten to twelve antique and collectible shows each year, so that keeps us busy. Going to yard sales and flea markets is part of the fun, too. You never know what you’ll find.

Vi and Andy at the Fresno national, July 1987

“Probably my greatest thrill in collecting insulators was about ten years ago, when our friend Bert Kirkland of 100 Mile House, B.C. took us digging on the old Collins Line. The first morning out, I found a beautiful Chester that is full of tiny bubbles. A bit later and just a few feet from the Chester, I found one half of a deep blue Tillotson. In a few minutes Andy found the other half, and since there was no glass missing, they fit together perfectly. When we got back, Bert glued the two pieces together and it’s a beautiful insulator. Then I dug for three more days and never found another piece of glass! (One part of my first day out was a bit unpleasant, however. It’s hard digging in the roots, grass, and rocks, so you need a break once in a while. I spotted a board along the road edge, so I sat down on it for a rest. It didn’t take long to discover that a colony of ants were living under the board. Needless to say, I soon moved on!)

“To us, the best part of this great hobby is not only the shows which are so much fun and entertainment, but also knowing the nicest, friendliest people who collect insulators.”

Those of us who know and love Andy and Vi feel the very same way about them. This busy, hardworking couple has contributed so much to our hobby, and they continue to do so. (And, Mr. Hyve and I will make Enumclaw yet!)

Andy Brown recently underwent some serious surgery and the hobby wishes him a speedy recovery! Your cards and well wishes may be sent to: Andy Brown, 7049 243rd Ave. N.E., Redmond, Washington 98053-8619