Editorial

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", March 1982, page 3

With the February 1982 issue, our 13th year of publishing is past history. We start our 14th year with this annual directory of Crown Jewels subscribers and National Insulator Association memberships.

Our 13th year was a good year, with some really worthwhile articles, pictures and information. The National Show and Convention in Sacramento, California, was an outstanding event. Many Thanks to Grant Salzman and his helpers.

We are looking forward in 1982 for another great year for Crown Jewels magazine, and another wonderful National to be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in July, sponsored by Larry Whitlock of Marion, Iowa. We hope to see you all there.

1981 was not without its usual problems -- slow mail service, raised postage rates, undelivered magazines -- same old problems that make me want to beat my head against a stone wall (while my ulcer churns). If you will bear with me and let me know when you don't receive an issue, I'll do my best to remedy the problem by sending you another copy. Occasionally my mail is so heavy that I don't get all the letters answered, because I work alone now (no more girl Friday -- an economic measure, so I don't have to raise subscription prices again).

Now, for the edification of new (and old) subscribers, I will try an answer a few questions that have arisen during the past year. Crown Jewels was started March of 1969 by our printers (The Scharffenbergs) and myself. No, there was not a predecessor. Crown Jewels was the first magazine devoted entirely to Insulators and Insulator Collectors. I, personally, have never been involved with any other publication. This was a brand new experience for me, and even with its problems, I love it!

There is no book that covers CD #'s for both glass and porcelain. Consolidated Design numbers (CD #'s) were created by N. R. Woodward and listed in his book The Glass Insulator in America. CD #'s are also used in Milholland's book Most About Glass Insulators. Universal Style Chart #'s (U #'s) were created by Jack Tod for identifying porcelain insulators and are listed in his book Porcelain Insulators Guide for Collectors. These books and many more are always advertised in Crown Jewels' classified section.

Anyone who is interested in collecting insulators needs every book he can possibly get. Each book adds to the knowledge of the collector and gives you a better understanding of what you are collecting.

Well, I could go on and on. But the March issue is always a big issue, and I don't want to take up more space. However, I do want to thank each and every contributor for sharing information with other collectors every month. The collectors are the heart of the hobby, and Crown Jewels supplies the blood to keep it going (I hope).

Thanks to all of you out there. I hope someday to meet you (subscribers and contributors) and personally say "Thanks for everything!"

Dora

PS. We have endeavored to make this directory error free. If you find that we have listed your name, address, or phone number incorrectly, please let us know right away, and we will make it right in a future issue of Crown Jewels.