A Little Human Interest Story
by Dora Harned
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", July 1972, page 4
No, the pictures aren't of insulators, but they are
made by a man who made insulators for about 15 years in a
factory in Vernon, California, a man whose name is very
familiar to all of us, Mr. William McLaughlin of
McLaughlin insulators, who is now 87 years young. I have
been corresponding with Mr. McLaughlin who made these
novelties and the ones shown on the following page, just
to keep busy. The proceeds from the sales go to his
favorite charities. I think it's marvelous for a man of
his age to be active and interested in the welfare of
others less fortunate than himself. Mr. McLaughlin lost
his wife 6-1/2 years ago and lives alone in his own home,
much to the distress of his children, I understand.
Flower Vases made of stretched out Squirt and Pepsi bottles
I have sent Mr. McLaughlin a few issues of 'Crown Jewels',
and he and his family and friends just can't get over how
many people there are who are Interested in insulators and collect them.
Here are some excerpts from his letters:
.....I made Insulators for about 15 years in a factory in
Vernon, California. It was quite a profitable business. The
Western Electric Co. bought for the Western Union Telegraph,
and they would give me orders for 50,000 at a time. The
Pacific Gas and Electric was a very good customer; they used
19s; Western Electric used all 42s....
Candle Holder and Vase made out
of quart size beer bottles
....I see some of my insulators advertised in the books. The
antique shops around Southern California are selling them at
fancy prices. I made 100's of 1000's of them, but they disappeared. I used to get orders from Western Electric for 50,000 at a time. They did the buying for
Western Union Telegraph. They had to take down all the porcelain, and replace
them with my 42s--the reason--when hunters would go out to
shoot the birds, no birds. So they would shoot at the insulators and break the glaze, and moisture would get in the
insulator and cause the line to hum. So my 42s are from coast to coast....
These are wind chimes. The one on left is made from a
qt. beer bottle; one on right from green wine jug. These are flared on the bottom and really give a nice musical sound. The clapper is made from a plastic orange, and the fern (which is hard to see in this picture) catches
the breezes and makes them ring. They will last a lifetime.
Mr. McLaughlin has been contemplating making commemorative insulators, but hasn't quite made up his
mind yet. If any of you are interested in his novelties, please write to him for prices:
Mr. Wm. McLaughlin
15511 Wilton Place
Gardena, CA 90249
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