Collector Profile
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", June 2005, page 34
Name?: Joe Egerer, age 68
Occupation?: Retired school teacher
Began Collecting?: 1970
Started?: I found insulators in trees; when I learned people collected them I
began saving them myself.
Favorite insulator? I love them all, but do favor cobalt blues, ambers,
streaks and leaners.
Most valued jewel?: My wife!
Other hobbies?: Joe's daughter-in-law, Lorie, writes, "His other passion
is making toys out of junk. He makes really neat cars, trucks, etc out of old
wood, sardine cans, lids, rolls from adding machine tape, and scotch tape, you
name it. He gives them to the children at the VA hospital, and to the law
enforcement agencies to give to kids in cars that are wearing their seat belts,
etc. He also makes beautiful "Indian" beaded jewelry that he sells
when there is an artist show in the area. He is a pretty good cook making a mean
pot of menu do, and all of the neighbors come around with their jars when he
makes his "Fire on the Mouth Salsa." It's good, but HOT. Everyone
loves it. He loves to tinker, and being a retired teacher, he spends time with
his grandchildren teaching them neat things.
Editor's Note: Joe was featured as "Collector of the Month" in the
November, 1978 issue of Crown Jewels. The article was a reprint of an item in a
school district publication. Joe kept a collection of insulators in his class
room, and used them in teaching history to his students. Kids who showed extra
effort in their homework occasionally would be rewarded with the gift of an
insulator from their teacher. Joe, no doubt, started a few collectors along the
way.
Regarding Inky, the Raccoon
Collector Joe Egerer drew our attention to Inky, the Raccoon when he used an
image on an envelope to renew his subscription to Crown Jewels (page 32). Linda
wanted to use Inky as a mascot for the magazine, and wrote Joe for permission
and to see if he'd do more artwork.
Turned out that Joe's images were created by a hand stamp sold by a
professional artist. So, Linda put the idea aside for a while. That is, until
another letter came from Joe with yet another image. Linda then found the
website for artist Terry Morin and began writing to him about his artistic
creations. And as the discussions progressed, Terry suggested we feature Joe
himself. Great idea.
You can learn more about Joe on page 35. And read about Terry on page 38.
(pages 34 and 35)
Joe Egerer's
Insulator Museum
Ukiah,
California
Photos by Lorie Egerer
(pages 36 and 37)
TERRAPIN
Cartoonist Terry Morin began drawing Terrapin images in 1997
for dental appointment reminder cards.
He has since created more than five dozen Terrapin images
ranging from holiday greetings, birthday cards and note cards. He has also added
mugs, t-shirts, note pads, stationery, mouse pads, coloring books, magnets, key
chains, and rubber stamps.
And now Terry can add Crown Jewels magazine to his portfolio. Linda and I
really want to express our appreciation to Terry for donating his time, labor
and artistic talents to this month's issue of the magazine. We initially asked
permission simply to print the images Joe Egerer used on envelopes when he would
write us. But Terry went one better and graciously volunteered to create this
month's cover.
Linda expressed her thoughts about the Terrapin images as follows:
Wow! What an awesome offer! Inky the Raccoon and his
friends
captured my heart right away when I first saw the envelopes Joe Egerer sent.
The images with Joe's captions (pages 32-34)
express the feelings of many of our readers.
This cover Terry designed for this month's issue is
particular meaningful to me. As I sit working on the CJ layout,
my window overlooks the creek behind our house.
It could almost be a cartoon version of what I see.
I enjoy catching glimpses of deer, fox, or squirrels nearly daily;
and raccoons and possums hunting for pet food on our deck on summer nights.
At Terry's website, he has a full line of cards, rubber stamps, magnets
and other goodies that capture the antics of his characters.
Check them out at:
www.terrapininc.com
(page 38)
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