Old Bottle Magazine - 1971

January 1971:

• A picture of Marlin Glasgow of Holly Hill, FL with his insulator display at the Pioneer Bottle Club's fires annual show in Fairhope, AL. - Page 17
• Larry Rogers and Dale Austin of Bangor, ME show a picture of their display "Insulators - Colored Glass of the Wire" shown at the Dirigo Bottle Collector's first show.
• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 34-38
  • Paul Iverson of Spring Valley, CA who is a lineman for Pacific AT&T has some good recommendations for finding insulators along telephone lines.
  • Jesse Moreland of Colorado Springs, CO announces that the second Annual National Show will be held July 10 & 11 in the city auditorium at Colorado Springs, CO.
  • Jack Kesling of Des Moines, IA reports a CD 158.9 Boston Bottle Works screw top in dark blue.  He also reports he had a yellow green one as well.  It is noted that a lineman remembers a wooden cap being screwed on the glass peg?
  • Marion Milholland reports that they just released a supplement to his last book.  In addition he reports the CD 164 BC DRIP insulator.
  • Hank Wenkel of Pekin, IL reports a CD 132 marked S.T. PAISLEY.  
  • Bill Kuhar of Bethlehem, PA provides a detailed report on how the R-5088 glass bushing insulators were used.
  • Dave Butler of Denver, CO who wrote "Identification For Glass Insulators" has put out a pricing  guide to go with the book.
  • " Fry Glass Insulators " article by Dennis Rogers showing the currently known insulators made by Fry at Rochester, PA.  The styles shown are CD 164.4, CD 299.2 and CD 301.2

February 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 38-43
  • Note that Gerald and Esta Brown of Two Buttes, CO are donating insulators to various small museums in Colorado and to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK.  Plans are being made for the Illinois Bell Museum in Chicago and the Smithsonian Institute. 
  • Jack Tod of Pheonix, AZ indicates he is working on a porcelain book.
  • There is a picture of a giant insulator teepee put together by Floyd Barnes of De Borgia, MT containing about 2500 insulators.
  • C. Jameson of Wyerville, WI reports that the U-188 dry spot insulators are the 6-S496 Autelco Dry Spot made by the Automatic Electric Co. Chicago, IL.
  • Glen Razak of Dodge City, KS offers reprints of a book "Rural Telephone Lines, How to Build Them" originally put out by Mongomery Ward.
  • A letter from James Smaller of Kingman, AZ on the relative rarity of California insulators.  He feels the CD 190/191 is the rarest, followed by the CD 201 green, then the CD 161 with drips (He knows of eight of these, seven of which came from AZ).
  • John Muscovalley of Columbia, KY provided a picture of some metal insulator pins.
  • A picture of Vincent Mollenhoff and his display in the pioneer room of the N. W. Bell Telephone Co. in Des Moines, IA.
  • There is an illustration of the Case transposition bracket that holds four CD 1049 insulators.
  • Earl Wilkes of Baldwin, FL reports a CD 143.5 T-H.E. Co. beehive.
  • Ron Piell of Frenchtown, NJ reports finding three CD 728.8 Boston Bottle Works along with a purple CD 145 B.G.M.Co. and a CD 158 Boston Bottle Works.
  • Detailed article by Joe Fitzgerald "Mexican Insulators".

March 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 38-43
  • Bill Ertman of Pittsburg, KS reports a CD 112 Hawley with Sterling blotted out.
  • Copy of a news paper article on Mary Lou Carlson and Joan Keeney of Southern OR.
  • Greg Everett of Abilene, TX reports a signal marked Pat. App. For//3A in peacock blue.
  • Jim Smaller of Kingman, AZ is trying to compile a list of all Californias and how many of the rare ones exist.
  • Scotty Hancock of Tulsa, OK reports five different styles of Illinois porcelain.
  • A picture of the collection of William Roth of Ocean View, NJ.
  • A short book review of Brent Mills "Porcelain Insulators and How They Grew".
  • There is a full page of drawings of different styles of radio antenna insulators.
  • W Breeden of Millville, NJ reports a CD 221 Whitall Tatum No. 514 in red amber.
  • A. Poeppel of Bridgetown, NJ reports a CD 141.6 Blackburn patent.
  • Bob Pierce of Ludlowville, NY sent a picture of 8 different CD 262 & CD 263 Columbias.
  • Rod Wing of Garden City, MI reports a CD 114.2 Standard Glass Insulator Co.

April 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 38-43
  • A short review of Gerald Brown's book "Collectible Porcelain Insulators".
  • Joe Maurath of E. Weymouth, MA reports observations that insulators fall the City Fire Alarm and Fall River Police Signal have come from Fall River, MA and are rare.  He talks about the Standard Glass Insulator Co. and feels that they were from around 1894 and possibly involved Samuel Oakman.  He also discusses the possible commonality between the CD 134 Diamond-P insulators, the C.E.L., and the PETTINGILL ANDREWS versions.
  • There are three pictures of birds on insulators including one of a nest in a large Pyrex piece.
  • There is a picture of a portion of Edward L. Mead's collection in Nice, CA.  Included is a picture of the CD 208 Castle.
  • Joe Maurath provided the following pictures:  CD 134 Diamond-P in cobalt, CD 113 Westinghouse No. 4 in clear, CD 134 Fall River police Signal, CD 157.5 Standard Glass Insulator Co. in clear, CD 145.6, CD 158.2, and CD 158 Boston Bottle Works, CD 145 Standard Glass Insulator Co., CD 157.5 Standard Glass Insulator Co. in aqua, CD 138.2 Nat. Insul. Co., two CD 110.5 corkscrews, CD 133 City Fire Alarm, CD 200 Star, CD 134 B.G.M.Co. in purple, CD 134 Pettengill Andrews and CD 134 C.E.L.Co.
  • A reminder for the up-comming National swap meet in Colorado Springs, CO.
  • Greg Everett of Abilene, TX reports that he has a K.G.G.W. also marked FAIRMOUNT.
  • Stuart and Isabella Miller of Rapid City, MI report the CD 138.9 twin pin!  It was found in a dump along a rail road grade in N. Michigan along with fragments of other insulators.
  • Bob Pierce of Ludlowville, NY reports seven styles of Hawley Insulators.
  • Picture of Sandy Reid "World's youngest insulator collector".
  • Included is a reprint of a newspaper article on Robert Pierce, Ludlowville, NY.

May 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 36-41
  • Dorothy Utterback of Leadville, Co reports finding a CD 180 Liquid Insulator  near Lafayette, OR in a dump.
  • Penni and Aubrey Branham of Pennington, NJ report a threadless CD 729.4 Mulford & Biddle in dark aqua.
  • Al Small of Camden, ME reports a CD 145 Standard Glass Insulator Co. beehive.
  • Karen Anderson reports a CD 193.1 Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. transposition top.
  • Arch. Poeppel of Bridgeton, NJ reports the CD 141.6 Blackburn patent.
  • Brent Mills of LeRoy, NY reports that the CD 252 insulators marked M. & E. and E.S.S. stand for Mayer & Englund (a Philadelphia jobber) who was taken over by an organization called Electric Service Supplies.  It is also mentioned that Brent Mills tried to convice John Lapp to publish a book before Brent decided to write one himself called "Porcelain Insulators and How They Grew".
  • A short obituary for Ken Pollard of Alturas, CA
  • Tim Askew of Detroit, MI sent 16 drawings of CD 143 Canadian beehives.
  • A reprint of a newspaper article on the collection of Richard Sharer of Des Moines, IA with pictures of insulators and collecting information.
  • Bob Pierce reports a CD 162.3 Star in purple and a 153 Brookfield.
  • Duane Giarratana had several CD 154 Hemingray-42 insulators in brown amber.
  • Ed Sauldbury of North Platte, NE reports what is probably a CD 145.6 Boston Bottle Works insulator.

June 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 15-21
  • Al Richert of Green Bay, WI reports good luck finding insulators with a metal detector - Shown is a CD 125 Hemingray W.U. No. 5
  • Harry Clements of Millville, NJ reports a CD 128 KERR CSC.
  • Pictures of the Miami Insulator Club Show included Ruby Bryant of Miami, FL porcelain display (Third place)
  • Don Bryant of Miami, FL display of glass insulators (First Place)
  • Harold Pont of Miami, FL general display of glass and porcelain.
  • Ruth Kidder of Punta Gorda, FL general display of glass and porcelain
  • Alan Rogers of Miami, FL general display of glass and porcelain (Second place)
  • A short show report indicated that there was a CD 176 clear Whitall Tatum mushroom for $1000, a CD 303/310 Muncie for $50, a CD 194/195 Hemingray 45A/B for $75 and a CD 127 Brookes for $100.
  • Vi Smith of Victoria, BC - Canada reports several Irish porcelain insulators (Drawings shown)
  • Picture from the 3rd annual Insulator Swap and Sale in Denison, IA. Show organizers were Warren Olson and T.P. Fedderson both of Denison, IA.
  • John Baumgardner of Orlando, FL sends drawings of eight Brookfield beehives.
  • Article "Canadian Insulator History" - The article mentions the British American Glass Works and the Montreal Glass Co. who both made telegraph insulators.  Also mentioned is the Foster Brothers Glass Works.  More recently mantion is made of Ontario Hydro using glass insulators made by Pinkington Glass in Britain.
  • Ken Ricketts reports eight styles of E.S.A. glass insulators.

July 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill- Pages 35-39
  • Information from N.R. Woodward on CD numbers and specifically the CD 143 and CD 144 styles.
  • Marvin Huff of Springfield, OH reports a signal that appears to be CD 170.1
  • Colin McIntosh reports a white porcelain exchange style marked with a S in a diamond.
  • Mrs. J. Baird of Cle Elum, WA reports a composition and metal trolley insulator marked GE Co. CAT. No. 16925.
  • Pictures from the Collection of Edward L. Mead of Nice, CA including a Brookes Ramshorn, a glass cutter and three threadless (CD 735, CD 740, and CD 742)
  • Bernard Parks reports a CD 735 threadess and a CD 700 magnetic egg.
  • There are twelve photos from the Arizona Insulator Swap Meet held April 25th, 1971.
  • A picture of the collection of June Boswell of  Irving, TX taken by her hometown newspaper.
  • Mention is made of the CD 138.9 twin pin that was reported in the April issue.  Francis hopes that this will become known as "The Miller's Twin Pin".
  • Margaret Oveson of Grafton, MA provides some information on the T-H.E. and G.E. insulator markings as well as the Southern Mass. Tel. Co. 

August 1971:

• Advertisement for a commemorative cobalt blue insulator figural bottle by First Lady Perfumes of Kermit, TX which appears to be unmarked and shaped like a CD 102 with a widely flared skirt - Page 6
• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 16-18
  • Vivian Jones of Ottumwa reports a dealer at a local show having colored and aqua Hemingray miniature insulators - He indicated that most of the aqua's were genuine and the colors reproductions and how to tell the difference by the quality of the drip points.
  • Marshall Eiserer reports what appears to be a CD 102.3 KCGW style marked with just a glass dot.
  • Drawn pictures of the CD 206.5 Harloe claw and it's embossing.
  • Ed Howard of Platte, NE reports a CD 162.3 Star signal with wedge drip points.
  • Ron Piell of Frenchtown, NJ reports a CD 134 American that has OAKMAN blotted out on the base.
  • J.W. Morris of Hardaway, AL reports an odd December 19, 1871 insulator which appears threadless in the drawing and does not match known styles.
  • Floyd Hamilton of Sherman, NY reports  threadless styles CD 738 in black glass and CD 735.6 in aqua, and a CD 718.
  • There is an article in CD 160 baby signals has drawings of the various markings including two very odd markings.  One is a SS&Co. Mfg's/Chicago/No.40 shown with sharp drip points in clear glass!  a second one shows a base embossing AM. INSR. Co./PATD SEPT. 13, 1871 - The drawing matches the CD 160 profile.    

September 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 32-36
  • N.R. Woodward reports that Sediver of France is still making CD 106 and CD 154 to American standards and some additional threaded types to German standards.
  • Questions for Brent Mills of LeRoy, NY about what made a good insulator.
  • Update on Jack Tod's research for his upcoming book travelling 5,626 miles to visit insulator plants.
  • A table provided by Bill Rankin of Hoppeston, IL on dating Brookfield insulators.
  • A short review of the new book "Most About Glass Insulators" by Marion and Evelyn Milholland.
  • Rod Laubhan of Hereford, TX who prints "The Insulator Pricing Guide"  reports four men being fined for swapping insulators.
  • Quite a bit of battery rest and related information is provided.
  • Dee Willet of Vidalia, GA reports an odd dark aqua insulator with an inner skirt (Drawing shown) - Not sure of the CD on this one..
  • Bob Moss of Millville, NJ reports a CD 272 Whitall Tatum No. 62 in dark red amber.

October 1971:

• A picture of Dale Austin's insulator display at the Dirigo Bottle Collector's Club, Bangor, ME.
• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 42-46
  • Mr. Lynn Georgia of Columbus, OH reports that the Telephone Pioneer's Commemorative insulators are being made to raise money for carpeting and acoustical ceiling for teh Ohio State School for the Hard of Hearing.  The price and quantities made are discussed.
  • William Dilkes of Towson, MD reports a CD 40 battery rest insulator.
  • Paul Dombrowski of Schenectady, NY and Bob Pierce of Ludlowville, OH reports several markings on CD 110.5 National corkscrew insulators.
  • Francis Terrill saw a broken standard she had never seen before and he tried to draw - Note that her drawing looks nothing like any known Standard CD's.
  • Don Wentzel of Millville, NJ reports that Kerr has run six different insulator styles again.  We assume these included CD 122, CD 128, CD 129, CD 155, CD 203.  He also discusses Armstrong miniature paperweights and maybe making a 1/5th scale CD 203 TW.
  • Jack Tod of Pheonix, AZ reported that the Second  National show was really great.  There were complaints about Friday trading that left out the buyers on Saturday.
  • Bob Bowers of Manteca, CA reports a lavender CD 126 Brookfield.
  • There is a full page of drawings of the known markings on CD 160 baby signals.
  •  

November 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 34-39
  • Ken Pollard reports a number of British porcelain insulators sent from Warwick, England including several dry spot styles.
  • Bob Cranes of Elizabeth, ME reports a CD 731 Brookfield threadless marked with the Cauvet Patent.
  • A picture of James O. Dennis (Pete) display shown at the Dalles-Wasco County Library
  • John Woodward of Sedonia, AZ reports an unembossed cobalt CD 102 pony - I recall a report that similar pieces were identified as imitations with very poor threading.
  • Paul Dombrowski of Schenectady, NY reports a CD 110.6 large National corkscrew.
  • A small note on N.R. Woodward.
  • Picture of insulator collectors at "This Old House" in Garibaldi, OR.

December 1971:

• Insulator By-Lines by Frances Terrill - Pages 38-41
  • Dorothy Nelson of Reno, NV reports having part of a light purple CD 123 E.C.& M.Co.
  • James Dennis of The Dalles, OR reports a sting of purple Cochrane bells.
  • Lewis Garmen of Orland, IN reports an unusual item marked Pat. 11-29-10.
  • Bob Townsend of Jessup, GA reports a CD 126 RD 149959 in green milk glass.
  • Rudy Jones of Durant, MS reports a CD 135 base embossed Chicago Insulating Co.
• Picture of the display "Insulators" by Mr. & Mrs Bob Pierce of Ludlowville, NY shown at the Finger Lakes Bottle Collector's Association of NY. - Page 48
•  Merwin Appell of Branford, CT insulator table at the So. Connecticut American Bottle Collector's Association show. - Page 49
• Tom Wolfe's sales table at the Minnesota Show. - Page 51

Return to the National Insulator Association Home page