When I recently read the first issue of Crown Jewels of the Wire, I was surprised to hear about the insulators called CD 119 W. Brookfield - O'Brien's Patent, since a local collector, who is a friend of mine, has one of these insulators. When I asked him about it he could only tell me that these were very rare indeed, and that the chances of ever finding another one anywhere was very remote. 

I am very curious about these and would like to find out some more information about them if possible. Now, to get to the point of my story.

It all began when I was on a trip with some friends up in the north of New South Wales, on the Northern Tablelands to be exact. We had passed many Old Wares shops which were too expensive for buying insulators, or if they did have any insulators they would only be very common ones (at high prices). This time we were traveling inland and soon after leaving the nearest town I spotted some old telegraph poles running parallel with the road. These were erected by Telecom and had a variety of old glass insulators mounted on the cross arms. Mostly these were CD 422,423,430 and an occasional CD 490. I looked really hard for some old insulators in the trees and other scrub. Just when I thought that my luck was going to run out, I noticed some insulators on the ground which were easily accessible from the road. I stopped the car and within an easy climb over a small barbed wire fence secured my find which comprised of some glass insulators and a single porcelain one, which turned out to be a common U-1502, in mint condition! The other glass insulators were mainly CD 430 ("Babies Bottles") in a light green color with markings in mint condition, and all the insulators came with wooden screwed-in spindles.

I believe that one of these insulators that I found dates back to the early 1900's and will one day be worth something. I did also find a number of other glass insulators in SCA, light green, clear and sage which were all in VVVNM condition! And all with wooden spindles. 

The only disappointment was that I could not find any CD 121's at all. The CD 121 seems to be the most difficult to find insulator style. They can be found in colors such as sage, light green, SCA to royal purple, clear, straw and even in amber. 

Still I was satisfied with what I had gotten and hope to be up that way soon again.

I can only say that this is sure the best hobby that I have ever taken up!!