From the ICE AQUA mounds of Muncie, Indiana

Nothing super rare about these two oddities from Indiana, just an interesting first-time entry and re-entry into the hobby of two unusual looking ice aqua insulators. As my two-year-old grandson Owen would say, "It meIls, Grandad" --- like HEMINGRAY for both of these pieces. 

A RE-ENTRY: The first is an unusual spool (CD 1057) that was noted in Milholland's Most About Glass Insulators, 4th Revision, 1976, page 429. It was attributed to Kenneth Nettles of BargerviIle, Indiana. This spring Ken contacted me about purchasing his collection and Carol stopped to pick up the insulators on her way to the Smithsonian Institution/N.I.A. March marathon. Ken was proud that his insulator had been featured in the 1976 reference books, and rightfully so. To my knowledge, I have only heard rumors of two similar spools currently in collections.

Fortunately Elton Gish never leaves home without his shadow profile kit (what that guy can do with a flashlight and a piece of clear glass), so his services were enlisted to draw the spool when Carol saw him in Washington, D.C. 

Ken Nettles knew that he had gotten the spool from some of the "Muncie dump boys" in the early 70's. So, he was quite sure it was a product of Hemingray. I am in agreement. 

The "upper body" of the spool is similar to the more common Hemingray CD 1052 spool. However, there is a skirt that adds 7/8" of depth and there is a slotted base below the "arm" and at 180° from the "arm".

The Milholland photo didn't depict the size of the spool or the slotted base, so the photos and the new shadow profile are most helpful in making it a recognizable style.

Base of CD 1057 showing the two slots in front of the
 "arm" and at 180° from the "arm."

(Left) Showing the slots on the base while resting 
on the "top" of the spool, "arm" in front.
(Right) Showing the slots on the base while resting on 
the base photographed from the "un-armed" side.

A FIRST-TIME ENTRY: This interesting piece was traded for by Rick Soller on his way to the Mansfield Bottle Show in May. Carol was set up next to Rick at the show, and he indicated he had gotten a "neat piece" from a bottle collector in Muncie on his way to the show.

When he pulled out the insulator, Mrs. Mac nearly died. She can really get excited about the good fortune of another collector. So much so, that when she called me to report on the show, the first thing she said was, "You should see Rick Soller's strain!" Of course, I pictured crutches, bandages, or the very worst traction!! 

Well, Rick has a great looking guy wire strain in ice blue aqua. And, the fact that he came out of a collection in Muncie would make me believe that it, too, is a product of Hemingray. As grandson Owen would say, "It mells, grandad!" 

Carol put together a crude drawing of the piece and took some pictures to share with me so I could see what kind of "strain" Rick really had! Believe It Or Not!

A strain with no pain -- a gain!