A Commemorative in Porcelain
by Addie Tasem

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", June 1975, page 4

At the April 2nd meeting of the Insulator Collectors Club, San Diego County, Dick Alumbaugh of Anaheim was the guest speaker, who unfolded the following story.

The idea of a porcelain commemorative came to Dick while in the hospital in May, 1974. The Cutter was his first choice, so he called Max Cutter in June and received approval for mold use. Now came the hardest part - a manufacturer. Al Gladding of San Jose referred Dick to Lloyd Sissell in El Monte, who agreed to give it a try.

At the Western Regional in August, Dick requested permission of the N.I.A. After a lot of talk and debate, Ernie gave approval. You'd think it was all set, but in late September Max Cutter backed out. Dick inquired about the cost of making a dry hot press of his own. Estimates were over $8,000. Dick was very disgusted with everyone by now.

In December, Maury and Addie Tasem inquired about the progress. The porcelain commemorative was still a great IDEA, as porcelain collectors, as well as all collectors, could have a keepsake of the Nationals. So after the holidays, Dick started all over again. Over nine companies turned him down. Then a company that makes Dresden fine china seemed interested. The first mold just didn't turn out and was broken. A new mold was made, and two samples were turned out. After comments from several collectors, all felt the final product should be glazed. Well, the company refused to glaze Dresden. So ended U393A, except for the two samples that are embossed.

So again the looking. About a mile from Sissell, Dick found the H.P.C. Co. who agreed to give it a try. A mold maker in Glendale and Dick picked U390. Since Dick didn't have this insulator, Dee Willett of Bakersfield loaned him one so a mold could be made from it. Then to Pasadena, where a 72 year old engraver was found. After several trips to see all these people, the first insulator was made, but it came out disfigured. But setting that aside, it didn't look bad; so another was made in white. This one looked great, except embossing was washed out. A beige one was made, and again was not right; but they were getting somewhere. So a harvest gold one was made and approved by those who were asked.

The porcelain commemorative insulator is gold in color and about 12% smaller than the original. There are no internal threads, as it is just a pour hole. It is embossed with raised letters: on front - 6th NIA CONVENTION, SAN DIEGO, CA JULY 11-13, 1975; and on back - SERIAL NUMBER --- of 500. Yes, each insulator will be serialized, be registered to each getting one, and will have a certificate with it. Only one insulator will be made with that number.

Two insulators (1 of 500, and 500 of 500) will be kept by Dick. The next series to 21 were given as special gifts to special people. Three of these numbers will change yearly, as they are post positions. After hours of talking, it was decided that letters of the alphabet will be used with these three numbers (3A, 3B, etc.). At the ICCSDC meeting, we had the list of names of those who were to get the free ones, and we had a drawing, to be fair to those individuals. An ICCSDC and NIA member, Dennis Kotan, was blindfolded and drew the numbers for each individual who will be given an insulator. Dennis was given a blue signal porcelain insulator for his assistance.

Drawing of numbers. Dick Alumbaugh, left; Dennis Kotan, center; Maury Tasem, right.

Dick announced that the porcelain commemorative was now being made. None will be sold until July 11. Numbers will be given in order, and no special number request will be honored. The price is $8.00. Mail requests will be accepted after the Convention, with $1.50 extra for mailing and handling. Address requests to: R. E. Alumbaugh, 611 Jambolaya, Anaheim, CA 92806.

Your serial number is yours for as long as you want it. Each year you will be notified when you can purchase the new commemorative. Your serial number collection will grow in value. If ever sold, the new owner should notify Dick, showing a copy of the bill of sale, so his records (kept at Wells Fargo Bank) can be changed to the new owner.

An idea from a hospital bed took eleven months of disappointments, problems, hard work and money to produce an insulator that is an asset to any collection. The first porcelain commemorative came into being at the right time.

Serial numbers assigned are as follows: 001, Dick Alumbaugh; 002, NIA President; 003, Convention Show Hosts; 004, Marion & Evelyn Milholland; 005, Cross Arms Magazine; 006, Crown Jewels Magazine; 007, Gary Cranfill; 008, Reserved; 009, Brent Mills; 010, Reserved; 011, Old Bottle Magazine; 012, J. Tibbets; 013, Frank & Frances Peters; 014, N. R. Woodward; 015, Jack Tod; 016, Gerald Brown; 017, Frances Terrill; 018, Greg Kareofelas; 019, Donated for NIA drawing; 020, Retained for donation to any NIA Museum. Serial numbers 021 of 500 through 499 of 500 will be offered to public.