Letters to the Editor

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", September 1983, page 33

Dear Dora, 

One rainy September afternoon driving north on Route 28 out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I spotted a shop on the other side of the busy four lane highway. I finally got my van stopped and found a place to park. Walking back a narrow aisle in the shop, I spotted a dirty showcase with old bottles, and in the far corner was an insulator I had never seen before. What is it??? I didn't want to stare. So I went on, my heart pounding. WAS IT FOR SALE??? How much would he want for it? I finally walked back and stood in front of the bottles, but my eyes were on the insulator. Through the dirt I could read LIQUID. My heart pounded louder. I knew I had a little over two hundred dollars in my wallet. What if he wanted more?

I went to the elderly man and asked if I could look at his TELEPHONE INSULATOR. He handed it to me, and as I held it tight I asked how much he wanted for it. "Two," he said. I raised my head as if I hadn't heard him. "TWO DOLLARS," he said. I handed him a $10.00 bill and walked to my van while he was still digging for change. I drove for an eternity, about three miles, before I could get out of traffic, to get a good look at it. LIQUID INSULATOR. I stopped three more times before getting home.

Collectors, three are still some sleepers around. 

I hope each one of you has the same feeling some day that I had when finding my Jewel.
Sincerely,
Ora G. Beary, NIA #1715