Let's go to southern California this time and interview Bruce Young of El Cajon. For you non-natives, El Cajon is pronounced "Ell Ca-hone" and not "Ell Ca-john" or "Al Capone" (as we often hear it from newcomers). El Cajon is Spanish for "the big box" (in this case referring to a valley), and the town is nestled in the valley, located about twenty miles east of San Diego.

Bruce is a retired Navy man, having served twenty-six years. He retired as a Senior Chief Operations Specialist, which means he supervised the C. I. C. (Combat Information Center) on carriers and destroyers. He was the Leading Chief on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), the USS Tarawa (LHA-1), and the USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066). After retirement, Bruce began working as a Senior Software Analyst for UNISYS. He works primarily with digital data systems, and commutes each week to Valencia, CA.

Bruce has been married to Margie Ann since July, 1963, after a whirlwind courtship. (They met at a dance in San Diego the previous April). They have a son, Michael, who is nineteen, and who "collects nothing", according to Bruce. Margie is not an insulator fan; she tolerates Bruce's insulators. She collects San Diego milk bottles, old coffee tins, rug beaters, and other early collectables. She and Bruce love cats, and she also has many cat collectables.

Bruce was born in Jamestown, NY, on 20 December 1940. He spent his first nineteen years in Jamestown and then joined the Navy. He's lived in El Cajon for the most part since then, when he wasn't on a ship somewhere.

Colorful window display numbering 281 pieces.

It was in 1968 or 1969 when Bruce first became interested in insulators. He says, "I found some when I was teaching "small arms" (recruits how to shoot) at old Camp Elliott, about ten miles northeast of San Diego. I found some Whitall Tatum #1's in SCA lying on the ground and in the bushes. I thought they were neat -- took some to the swapmeet to sell. There I met Paul Iverson, a very early collector, and was invited to his house, where I saw a carnival glass insulator and some dark greens. After that I was 'hooked', and off and running. My first show was in Las Vegas in January of 1970. Ever since then I have thoroughly enjoyed the shows, especially the Las Vegas bottle show."

Bruce specializes in color and power glass. As for what color he goes for, he says he collects "what I like". This guy changes specialties, however, like some people change their socks. He started out with CD 121 tolls -- got just about every color there was to get, then sold them to buy Californias. After a while, he sold his Cals and collected helmets, keeping his Cals in peach, SCA, sage, a "funny light green sage", and a pinched ear aqua. During his helmet era he had CD 259's, 260's, and Columbias. He sold some of his helmets and cables and got into CD 102 Canadian Diamond ponies, and presently has a very colorful collection of them numbering forty-five. He lists his CD 102's and power glass as sub-specialties, with color being his main insulator love. He has forty-six power pieces and three-hundred fifty-one in his general glass collection.

Part of the power glass collection. 
Note Floy (Row 1 #3), Boston/Knowles (Row 1 #4),
 wide-groove Columbia (Row 2 #4), and med. SCA Locke (Row 3 #8).

Bruce in front of power glass and some E. C. & M.'s. 
(Note original pole top). Bruce holds two foreign pieces; 
a green CD 658 and a bright green CD 642 large Gingerbread Man.

Five of Bruce's very favorites. All are mint. (See story for descriptions).

Bruce also collects early San Diego bottles; Hutchinson sodas, milk bottles (with Margie), whiskies, drug store, etc. He also collects Navy memorabilia, which consists of ship-related items like coffee cups, ash trays, and spoons. He has one-hundred cups and ash trays all together.

His ponies and general glass is displayed on shelves he built in the living room window. And, since it faces west, in the afternoon it is quite a colorful show on sunny days. He also made a beautiful cabinet for his general glass favorites which is back-lighted, and really shows off the variety of color he has there.

Hand-made cabinet with 70 colorful
general glass favorites.

I asked Bruce this question; if your house was on fire and you could only carry out two insulators, which ones would you grab? His answer was, "I'd probably burn up trying to decide!" But he finally chose five that he considers "favorites"; a CD 640 Ginger-bread Man in a gorgeous medium golden amber, a CD 123 E. C. & M. in cobalt blue, a CD 257 Mickey Mouse in peacock blue, a CD 125 WU in yellowish green, and a CD 162 H. G. Co. with patent date in medium SCA. All five are mint. Bruce 5 main "want" right now is a dark SCA Cal helmet in mint condition.

Bruce is an old hand at displaying, having set up various times at the San Diego Antique Bottle Club show, where he's won many trophies, CROWN JEWELS ribbons, Dealer's Choice once, and People's Choice twice. (Winning Dealer's Choice at a bottle show is quite a feather in an insulator collector's cap!) He has also hosted several shows in the Masonic Temple in El Cajon back in the days when the local insulator club was in operation.

Bruce and Margie are extremely hospitable people; it is always a pleasure to go to their house. Their very clean home is tastefully decorated and looks warm and friendly; a reflection of Bruce and Margie themselves. We have enjoyed their friendship for many years and always look forward to seeing them... it means good times and lots of fond memories.

Bruce and his San Diego bottles.