2002 >> August >> Show Report Part B  

Show Report - Part B

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", August 2002, page 28

NIA First Place - Color
Best Use of CDs
- Dixie Jewels Insulator Club in memory of Jim Overstreet presented by Keith Roloson
Best Use of Eastern Insulators - Capital District Insulator Club presented by Kevin Lawless 
BEST OF SHOW - Triple Ridge Insulator Club presented by Al Perry 


Large Image (405 Kb)

 

CD 244.5
GREELEY/N.Y.
CD 139.8 
No Embossing, amber

Ron Yuhas (Helena, MT) took top honors with his terrific color display. The center panel featured two unique insulators, the CD 244.5 and CD 139.8 (above). Competing for color honors were the Blues vs. Greens. Amid a beautiful array of blues, one found a peacock CD 257 and a bright peacock blue CD 287.1 Locke. (Pictured below)

Catapulting to the top of the pile were the green CD 268 Crown and a new acquisition from an eBay auction -- the bright green CD 287.1 Locke. The amber CD 287.1 (center panel of display) rounds out the colorful trio of Lockes.


The Crown


CD 287.1



Trevor and Christenza Lager (Aurora, CO) are fourth generation collectors. (Father and Grandfather are pictured.) They collect, baby signals.



Ronald and Sharrol Haglund
(Montrose, CO) put together a houseful of playful amber lightning rod balls in a wide variety of patterns. However, the rare cobalt Burgoon on the roof top pleads "I'm so blue up here -- no one to play with!



Bill Ostrander (Ashland, OR) brought an extra passenger with him (Mr. McLaughlin) to include with his display of McLaughlin insulators and historic pictures of the family and production items.



Grooviest display of CD 147s and ALL the variations was assembled by Jim Sinsley (Coeur d'Alene, ID). Also specializing in other styles that go "around and down" or "around and up", Jim included examples of CD 110 and CD 150 and the small and large corkscrew styles (CD 110.5 and CD 110.6).



A framed picture, computer slide show, display of insulators recently found while walking the lines and the history of the "Oregon Trail" accompanied this colorful display by Mike Green (Lakewood, CO).



Ray Curiel's (Littleton, CO) specialty collection of Hemingray products was clearly evident in his display of both rare and beautiful colors found in a variety of CD styles.



Circles, squares and rectangles -- lids, bottles and jars! 
All of these were nicely displayed as parts of antique acid battery 
systems collected by Alan Hohnhorst (Ross, OR).



For this display, Curtis Erickson (Royal Oak, MI) searched through his insulator collection to find the complete alphabet and the numbers "0" through" 10". "I wanted the embossing letter or number to be the first marking on each insulator; however, several letters were hard to find -- the most difficult being "Q" (Duquesne) and "Y" (Pyrex). The numbers were quite easy to find."



Recent explorations and digging at the Fairmount, IN factory site of the King City Glass Works by Arlen Rienstra (Crown Point, IN) sketch a history of the 1890-1897 glasshouse.



The watthour meter has played a key role in the development of to day's electric transmission and distribution system. Before meters caught on, some early utilities charged a flat rate which was excessive if the customer used only a little electricity or was unfair to the utility if the customer used a lot. Installing meters allowed companies to bill for the exact amount of electricity used. Metered electricity is now the most accurately measured commodity. The basics, evolution, description of over two dozen items displayed and a meter value guide were all a part of David Dahle's (Sioux Falls, SD) extensive research.



Ross Baird (Fort Worth, TX) brought a non-competitive display which caused most of us to "sing the blues" looking at his tremendous collection of cobalt, sapphire, peacock and cornflower rarities. Crowd favorites were the unembossed CD 120 double threaded cobalt from Canada (top shelf); medium cobalt CD 140.5 "blob" and CD 127 W.U.P in cobalt (third shelf); and the CD 151 sapphire H.G.CO. Petticoat smooth base (bottom shelf).



A reunion of eleven CD 106 unembossed teal and oxblood swirled Zicmes from Colombia, S.A. was held. The pieces were introduced to the hobby by Caleb Thimell a decade ago.


Stories - - -


Cornflower 124 purchased in a bucket of dirty bottles sold at show.


Dave Croft found this American in a gopher's hole about 18" below grade. He still has all his fingers!


One of two known 138.2 Lawrence Gray sold for big bucks!


Promise me, you will let me know if you ever want to sell the piece...they kept their promise! Honey amber 134.4!


Taken down from a pole in "The Amanas" (Iowa) circa 1969-70, Larry Whitlock wondered what color it really is? Pea-licious!!



Charles Bibb, author of "Hunting Insulators in the Mississippi Mud", won Crown Jewels People's Choice Award.


Dick and Ev Bowman (in absentia???) were presented the Leonard Linscott Pioneer Award. Dick, still a bit stiff at this point, is recovering from recent back surgery. Graham and Jacque Linscott Barnes were unable to attend to make the presentation, so the McDougalds substituted.


Marco Schmitz-Lehanne, Krefeld, Germany attended his eighth straight NIA convention.


Mike Gaudy (left) received a set of "End of an Era" CD 262 commemoratives donated by Larry and Mary Beth Veneziano in memory of Lon Holy for his assistance to co-host Mike Bliss.


Steve Marks, out-going National Insulator Association President, receives his placque and congratulations from the new NIA president Tom Katonak.


Howard Banks (Merlin, OR) receives the 2002 NIA Outstanding Service award from President Tom Katonak for his initiation of the "Insulators for Kids" program. 


Mike Gaudy
and Mike Bliss receive the show hosts placque from Dudley and Sandy Ellis, 2001 NIA show hosts.



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