Dear Howard,
Thank you for the excellent article on EC&M's in the January issue of
Crown Jewels. No wonder Ray got $7,000 for that Arizona Blue. It's that super
rare one of a kind mirror embossed EC&M!
It was nice to hear Chuck Fox
mentioned in your article. I bought my first dark green EC&M from Chuck at
the Second Nat'l in Colorado Springs. Was the upside down embossed that Chuck
bought in '68 the same one that Gerald Brown later had in his collection? I also
remember at the Second Nat'l seeing two style F EC&M's in Arizona Blue. The
guy was on the stage and both insulators were in pretty rough condition. I asked
him why he was asking so much for them, and he said that they were a rare color.
Well, I was a new collector then and at my first insulator show and really
didn't know much about EC&M's so I didn't get one. I also saw a pair of CD
731 Tillotson's in the prettiest sapphire blue. Neither of which I've ever seen
again to this day. They must be in someone's collection?
I've found that styles
A & F were in production at the same time, hence the same colors found, same
styles found on the same lines approximately 1872 - 1875. I've had Arizona blues
in both styles. Also styles B and G/H are found on the same lines and in same
colors. Example: Austin-Battle Mtn 1878 aquas and ambers. Aurora -- Candelaria
1880 aquas, ambers, aurora blue & black glass amber, I'm not sure where
styles C & D fit in... possibly between A & F and B &
G/H.
I
recently had the opportunity to look at a J mold in crystal clear and peacock
blue. Also an L mold in bright green and an M mold in dark green. All appeared
to be in new, unused condition except for the M. It had a wire around it, but
otherwise looked "new". Where as the skirt embossed I mold has the
correct embossing for the style represented; these others (J-M) have the wrong
embossing for the style represented. The J looks to me to be an attempt to copy
the style C. The L mold appears to be made from the upside down style
E; and the
M mold made from the style B. There seemed to be a smell of fish in the air as I
examined these "new" EC&M's. All I can say about these new ones (J
- M) is hecho en Mexico!
Another note about styles B & G/H above: On the
last lines that EC&M's seemed to have been used, these styles were found in
SCA and sage green. Well that's all for now. Keep up the good work with the
Crown Jewels.
Fritz Kettenburg
Riggins, Idaho
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Dear Fritz,
Thank you for the compliment on the January article. Regarding Chuck Fox, it
is great to hear from someone who remembers him. Chuck owned one of the nicest
general collections in the hobby in the early 1970's. To my knowledge, the
upside down embossed EC&M Chuck owned is NOT the same insulator mentioned in
your letter.
Chuck traded his entire collection for a 1936 Cord automobile,
which he hoped to restore someday. He owned several unique and clearly
identifiable insulators. I don't know whatever happened to them. I'm not sure
they've been seen since. In my mind's eye, I picture them still wrapped in 30
year old newspapers and stored under a table in the back of some antique
automobile museum somewhere. Who knows?
Chuck never restored the '36 Cord. He
sold it in order to have enough money for him and his wife to adopt a baby. A
couple of years later, in 1994, Chuck died suddenly and unexpectedly in his
sleep. He was 50 years old.
The negative (reverse) image of the EC&M embossing on the cover of the
January issue was a production error on our part. At first I was extremely
embarrassed by the mistake. But, now, I must say I've enjoyed the teasing over
it.
Howard
To The Editor
First, I'd like to compliment you on your descriptive and educational
portrayal of the E.C. M. Co, insulators. I'm sure it will help the new and
uninformed collectors of the various styles and colors of E.C.&M.'s.
Secondly I'd like to express my disappointment with you and others in the hobby
questioning the authenticity of the "recently found" E.C.& M.'s,
calling them fake, repros or imitations, etc. I have yet to see any concrete
evidence in this regard!
I have been in the hobby since 1968, am past president
of the NIA and feel I have a solid reputation in the hobby. I might not be a so
called expert but do have upwards of 100 E.C.& M.'s in my collection, so I'm
not a novice.
These so called "imitations" were found in the same "toxic
dump" in Sacramento, a city block away from the skirt embossed E.C. &
M.'s. It's odd that the latter were never questioned, and others from the same
site are suspect. Could it be because of who obtained them?
For those not informed, a large swamp or lagoon extended from the Sacramento
River to Sutter's Fort, a total of 28 city blocks. When it was decided to enlarge
the city by filling in this area, everything imaginable was used;
locomotives, boilers, electrical junction boxes, and insulators, you name it.
It is known that the C.P.R.R. and S.P. railroads had a glass house for the
production of windows, lantern globes and I believe insulators. In the glass
trade, almost every color except aqua is known as "sick glass". Not
able to with stand real stress problems. Therefore, large quantities were never
put in use, but did help to fill up the lagoon. I for one believe these
"imitations" are real and I am proud to have them in my collection.
My next gripe has to do with what I call "character assassination",
which started about seven years ago with the discovery of the glass blocks. A
prominent individual in the hobby tried to buy them all, was told no and
suddenly they became fake. Since that time, everything discovered, except the
skirt embossed E.C. & M.'s have been called suspicious, fake, or what have
you. WHY?
I have known Ron Souza since the first insulator swap meet in
Woodland, CA in 1968. In all the intervening years, I have gone on many
"hunts" with him and others and have participated in some of the finds
that are now suspected.
A sample of every "late find" was submitted to
the "authentication & classification" committee for evaluation.
The findings came back, unable to confirm one way or the other, strange!
The
tree ring count in re: the glass block was another experiment gone bad! I
personally viewed this tree and found the insulator's position in the normal 18
to 20 foot high position. The tree sample taken was from a portion of the tree
above that broken off in a wind storm. Common sense tells you, you can't tell a
tree's age that high up. This cedar tree is a good 2 foot or better in diameter
at the base.
My biggest disappointment in the NIA Board of Directors and others
involved was the decision to "black ball" the Souzas! The hobby as a
whole needs to know and have PUBLISHED the criteria they based their decision
on. No supposition or whatever; but documented evidence. To me, the whole thing
reeks of a witch-hunt, McCarthyism or whatever. I know of at least six other
reputable collectors who have been in on the discovery and acquisition of these
so called "imitations". Why aren't we also singled out?
It would seem
there is a clique or group within the hobby who want to control what's real or
not, what or not to collect and what it's worth. It's not a hobby anymore,
strictly a business for making money! What a far cry from when I was President.
Just as in anything "newly" discovered there are rightfully questions
about authenticity, but there doesn't seem to be any proof, just negative
rejection lacking as much documentation as the "find" is accused of
not having. Who are the "judges" and where is their solidly proven
documentation! Ron Souza has spent over 35 years researching the history and
location of western Telegraph Companies and their lines. He has recently put all
of his findings in book form that is available to all with a genuine interest.
Ron certainly would not jeopardize the value of this knowledge by
participating in an irresponsible stupid act! I have contacted several other
prominent collectors and as a whole, we are totally disappointed and
disenchanted with the NIA and the track they are taking.
Pat Patocka, NIA#140
Penryn, CA
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Dear Pat,
Thank you for your letter. You opinion is respected, and your
courage to express it is appreciated.
Howard
Dear Howard,
I am thoroughly enjoying my CJW under your editorship. I can't speak to the
story of the yellow California helmets being found in a California lumber mill,
but I know a number of these colored California insulators were introduced into
the hobby by Richard and Brenda Musante, currently living in Cotati, Ca.
The story goes that back in the 1970's, the Musantes were selling at a local
Cupertino antique show. They did their customary walk through of the other
dealer's tables, and spotted a sage green Cal helmet on one dealer's table. When
they asked if he had more, the dealer pulled a box of concrete coated Cal
helmets from under the table. The transaction was consummated, and after some
heavy-duty cleaning, the Musantes ended up with a bunch of yellow helmets.
The dealer was a scavenger of sorts who was always looking for all kinds of
things to sell. He located the California helmets on an abandoned power line
that led to an old concrete plant somewhere in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the
coast. Apparently the insulators were coated with concrete dust, which combined
with the moisture in the air to form a protective coating from the solar
radiation that would have turned the insulators purple. I believe all of the
helmets were sold to local collectors, but enough time has passed for the
helmets to have exchange hands a number of times.
Colin Jung
Sunnyvale, CA
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