Tale Of The Insul-Bug
by Dora Harned
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", September 1972, page 2
Just to set the records straight would like to submit the following information.
This bug was originally designed by Richard York of
Montour, Idaho, and the Insul-Bug sign was designed by
Mrs. Jim York of Emmett, Idaho. It was shown by the Yorks
at the Brewster, Washington show where everyone seemed to
enjoy it, but it was entered too late for the judging.
In January of this year the Yorks and the Insul-Bug
traveled to the Las Vegas, Nevada show, where it won a
first place in its class. At the Pendleton, Oregon show
the Yorks won a second place with it. At the Boise, Idaho
show the Bug won the Crown Jewels Ribbon for uniqueness.
(Somehow Crown Jewels never got a picture or notice of
this.)
The first we were aware of such a creature was in May at
the Dos Palos show. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Zuspan had seen the
bug at the Las Vegas show and made up one the same, except
for the tail which is a different insulator. They thought
it would be a nice greeting for the collectors and
visitors to their show in Dos Palos, and it was displayed
by the guest book at the front door. Of course, myself
being a porcelain collector, I fell in love with it. And
the sign is so true of all insulator collectors. Mrs.
Zuspan told me at the time that they were not the
originators of the bug or sign and didn't want any credit
or publicity on it until they could find out who had it at
the Las Vegas show, so proper credit could be given. True
to her word, Mrs. Zuspan came up to me at the Kansas City
National show and said she had found out that Richard York
of Idaho was the originator of the bug and was the one who
had displayed it at the Las Vegas show.
Since that time I have been contacted by the Yorks with
the information and pictures of the original Insul-Bug
shown here. They are to be congratulated on their creative
ability and originality. As it has often been said, "to be
imitated is an honor." I say: May the Bug live forever and
the fever never die.
On the page following is a picture of the original
Insul-Bug and a copy of the legend that accompanies it.
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