This is the first in a series of articles I am going to be sharing with you concerning the collecting of insulator go-withs. Typically, many insulator collectors have some sort of go-withs that they collect, whether it is porcelain signs (like railroad, telephone, telegraph etc.), commemoratives, advertising, paper ephemera (letterheads, postcards, trade cards, etc.), hardware (pins, brackets) and the like. Each article will focus on a specific area of interest and, hopefully, you will find it both educational and interesting.

Insulator Periodicals 
(Plus Bottle and Antique Magazines with Insulator Stuff)

Usually, among the first items the novice insulator collector buys (and that included me, some 22 years ago), is either a book or a subscription to Crown Jewels of the Wire magazine. In my case, it was both. I bought the current bible of its time, the Bicentennial Edition of Milholland's Most About Glass Insulators, Keatings 1977 Price Guide, and a subscription (second class, because I was frugal back then) to Dora Harned's then Insulators: Crown Jewels of the Wire. I didn't know it then, but I had begun to collect go-withs. Those books and that first year's worth of magazines were the foundation to my collecting books, magazines and periodicals containing insulator history and collecting material. I still have those books and magazines, and a whole slew of others.

I like to research things that interest me, as many others also do, and books on hand make things much easier, so early on, I acquired books about insulators. Naturally, the books I obtained were more of the Tibbitts - Terrell, Saccoman variety, since there really wasn't much in the way of current information available. Since Crown Jewels was the one constant and I could look forward to receiving it once a month, that was my primary early source of new insulator knowledge... and that's what I'll talk about first!

Crown Jewels of the Wire
(and also Insulators: Crown Jewels of the Wire)

I first subscribed to Crown Jewels in 1977, never stopped my subscription, but never started looking for the back issues I was missing until the early 1980's. I gradually filled in my Crown Jewels collection, but I didn't complete my CJs until the 1986 National Show. Insulators: Crown Jewels of the Wire was first published in March, 1969 by Dora Harned, from Chico, California, and was her way of helping her husband, Don, pursue his hobby of ... insulator collecting! Only a relative handful subscribed during the first few months, which is why they are so scarce and expensive today. In all fairness, the 1969 and early 1970 issues (the yellow cover first year issues) did not present much in the way of substance - few show reports, fewer research articles - but for the times, it was a tremendous undertaking.

Crown Jewels was the monthly cure for the insulator doldrums, especially in the winter. Back then, the only way to obtain new insulators for your collection were shows (there weren't all that many of them 20 years ago), by trading (still an occasional event) or by buying through a Crown Jewels ad. In the middle 1970's, major dealers had plenty of CJ ads, with some terrific stuff for sale. Dealers that were regular advertisers included now familiar names (Riesselman, Bowman, MacGillvary, Dutcher, McDougald, Veneziano) and some that are now unfamiliar to most (Dee Willett, Paul McManus, Bill Cosner, Paul Kelly, Bob Wilson). 

Although ads were a primary focus, the articles were also strongly anticipated, as were show reports and show calendars. Some great research was done in the 1970's and 1980's, with some terrific early articles by Ray Klingensmith, Joe Maurath, Grant Salzman and regular contributions by N.R. Woodward, Jack Tod and Marilyn Albers.

When Dora's health deteriorated in the early 1980's, she looked for someone to take over production and, in 1985, she sold the magazine to Carol and John McDougald, then from Olmsted Township, Ohio, and now from St. Charles, Illinois. Dora's last issue was a combined April-May, 1985 magazine, and Carol's newly renamed Crown Jewels of the Wire debuted in June, 1985, just in time for the St. Charles, Illinois National! 

Even in the thirteen years since the magazine's relocation, it has undergone some drastically different looks and feels. For the past several years, the cover has been in glossy color; in 1986, with the first four-page color centerfold issue, color in a magazine was quite a novelty, and certainly technology has made the magazine look as professional as any other hobby publication could want to look! Now, of course, every issue features a full-color glossy cover. In 1993, the annual directory became a separate issue (just because of its size), but not much else has changed. So, except for that one combined issue in 1985, Crown Jewels has been a monthly staple since 1969 -- 29 years straight!

Availability: 1969-1972 (Difficult - expect to pay $10 to $30 per issue for the first year issues of March 1969 thru February 1970, probably $5 each for the next two years.) 1972-1985 (Fairly easy - expect to pay $5 to $15 per year set.) March issues through 1985 are all more difficult, since they were the directory issues and tend to be written in, or were discarded. 1985-present (Actually, not that easy. After a few years, Dora Harned had, in some cases, significant amounts of extra issues printed, presumably to sell to new collectors, to replace lost or damaged issues, etc. That extra inventory has since changed hands a few times, and the availability is erratic, depending on the particular issue. When Carol McDougald took over, she had few extra copies made. Expect to pay between $10 and $15 or so per year set, maybe more for the 1985 and 1986 year sets.

Issued dates: 
Insulators: Crown Jewels of the Wire (194 Issues)
1969: 10 Issues (March through December) 
1970-1984: 12 Issues each (January through December) 
1985: 4 Issues (January through March, April-May)
Crown Jewels of the Wire (157 Issues through December, 1997) 
1985: 7 Issues (June through December)
1986-1991: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1992-1997: 13 Issues (January through December), plus separate Directory

Cross Arms

I also began looking for the defunct publication Cross Arms, which, despite being in business only about 3-1/2 years, was a bit difficult to complete. The 1972-1973 Cross Arms had some terrific early research articles and, for the time, was a really outstanding magazine. This magazine began in February, 1972, and was published by Jim Garrity, now of Paxinos, Pennsylvania. While it was billed as the Eastern insulator collectors magazine (remember, Crown Jewels was still in California at the time), it really served as the second insulator magazine for the hobby, and their one directory issued (1974) reflected that. Among the innovative features that Cross Arms began was the CD of the Month, as well as Market News. In March 1975, Cross Arms switched to an 8-1/2" x 11" format, and that began its final decline. By July, the final issue was published, and Mr. Garrity transferred his subscription list to Dora Harned at Crown Jewels.

Availability: (Somewhat difficult, especially for the first three (February thru April, 1972) and last five issues (March thru July, 1975) and, especially for the 1974 subscriber directory. Expect to pay between $5 and $20 per issue for those tougher issues, and, perhaps $2 to $5 per issue for the others.)

Issued Dates:
Cross Arms (43 Issues)
1972: 11 Issues (February through December) 
1973: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1974: 13 Issues (January through December), plus separate Directory 
1975: 7 Issues (January through July)

The Rainbow Riders' Trading Post

In November, 1991, another new monthly magazine hit the streets. Ron and Patty Norton, of Port Hueneme, California, along with Keith Auchter, from Thousand Oaks, California, began publication of The Rainbow Riders' Trading Post, a magazine dedicated to trading insulators. With some interesting articles by Fred Padgett, Jimmy Burns and others, as well as some show reports, several color centerfolds and a monthly calendar of upcoming shows, The Rainbow Riders' had similarities to Crown Jewels, but the emphasis on trading (and the refusal to allow for sale ads for the first five plus years) probably held it back. The Rainbow Riders' had a much smaller subscribership than Crown Jewels and only began to sell ads for items for sale in its last year. The Nortons ceased publication of The Rainbow Riders' Trading Post with the September, 1997 issue.

Availability: (I've never seen one on the market, perhaps because they were so recent. Back issues, except for the first issue, were available from the Nortons for replacements. I assume, based on the small subscribership, that they will prove to be pretty difficult to obtain, unless you subscribed to The Rainbow Riders' in the first place.)

Issued Dates: 
The Rainbow Riders' Trading Post (71 Issues) 
1991: 2 Issues (November through December) 
1992-1996: 12 Issues (January through December)
1997: 9 Issues (January through September)

Canadian Insulator Collector

This was a wonderful magazine - that was spun off from a defunct club newsletter! In 1991, a club for Canadian insulator collectors was formed - and appropriately named the Canadian Insulator Club. Their first newsletter (Canadian Insulator Collector) was sent to their new membership in February, 1991 and the tandem of Graham Catt of King City, Ont. and Steve Goodell of Carleton Place, Ont. did a good job, with articles about early Canadian telegraph lines and railways, calendars and want lists among its inclusions. Unfortunately, after only twelve issues (bimonthly for the two years 1991 and 1992), the club and its newsletter folded.

In May of 1994, Mark Lauckner, from Mayne Island, B.C., and assisted by Russell Paton, from Victoria, B.C., restarted the Canadian Insulator Collector - as a bimonthly magazine. Some excellent research was presented, including more historicals on Canadian railways and telegraph lines, show reports from Canadian shows, and just a lot of class. Unfortunately, the Canadian economy and the lack of enough overall support made it a losing proposition and the final issue was published as September-December 1997. Mr. Lauckner transferred his subscribers list to Carol McDougald at Crown Jewels.

Availability: (Like The Rainbow Riders', I assume Canadian Insulator Collector is going to prove to be pretty tough to find in a few years.)

Issued Dates:
Canadian Insulator Collector (21 Issues)
1994: 4 Issues (May, July, September, November) 
1995-1996: 6 Issues (January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October, November-December)
1997: 5 Issues (January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, September-December)

The Crown Point

In September, 1981, Dick and Dottie Daugherty, of Las Vegas, NV, began their monthly newsletter for lightning rod equipment collectors, The Crown Point. While lightning rod balls, pendants, vanes and rods aren't insulators, the two hobbies have enjoyed a great crossover relationship, especially in the mid-western United States. And, of course, there are the Chambers and lightning rod insulators, like Hickock's, Spratt's and Otis' patent insulators, which are highly collectible in BOTH hobbies. So, I consider LRB's part of our hobby! The Daugherty's faithfully published their monthly newsletter for five years, until August, 1986, when the newsletter came under the leadership of Mike Sovereign, then of Wheaton, IL. At that point, The Crown Point became bimonthly, and more like a periodical than a newsletter. The Crown Point was predominantly ads, but more educational and historical articles began to appear. Mike's first issue was October-November 1986, and he held the reins until the end of 1990 (December 1990-January 1991 was his last as Editor), when the publication was transferred to Rod Krupka (Ortonville, MI) and Mike Bruner (then of West Bloomfield, MI). Rod and Mike continued to transform The Crown Point into a full-fledged magazine, and continued the bimonthly format until the end of 1993, when The Crown Point became a quarterly, which it remains today.

Availability: (I don't own many of the Daugherty issues and NONE of the Sovereign issues. The Krupka-Bruner issues are not readily available, either. Obtaining the whole set may prove impossible, even for me.)

Issued Dates:
The Crown Point (120 Issues through December, 1997) 
1981: 4 Issues (September through December)
1982-1985: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1986: 10 Issues (January through August, October-November, December-January) 
1987-1992: 6 Issues (February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September, October-November, December-January) 
1993: 5 Issues (February-March, April-May, June-July, August-September, October-November) 
1994: 4 Issues (January-March, April-June, July-September, October- December)
1995: 5 Issues (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December) plus separate Directory
1996-1997: 4 Issues (January-March, April-June, July - September, October- December)

Bottle, Hobby and Antiques Magazines

I began looking into the older bottle publications, virtually all of which had insulator columns, patent information, show reports, photos of insulator displays and collectors, etc., in them at one time or another, as well as some of the more obscure collecting magazines of yesteryear.

Western Collector

Who? For those that weren't around in the 1960's and early 1970's, and mostly on the West Coast of the United States, few would have ever heard of Western Collector magazine. It was published out of San Francisco, California by Paul F. Evans and was a quality Crown Jewels sized periodical covering a wide range of antiques and collectibles.

Yep, and that included insulators! The first issue of Western Collector to include a contribution by Claire T. McClellan was the May, 1967 issue! (Yes, two years before the first Crown Jewels and one year before the first issue of O.B.X.!) The first few articles were titled "The Insulator Story", and were very well written. Western Collector was sold to Bottle News in 1972.

Availability: (Difficult, especially back east. I obtained most of mine about fifteen years ago from a former paper ephemera dealer in Nevada. If you see one, buy it!)

Issued Dates:
Western Collector (30 Issues) 
1967: 2 Issues (May through June)
1968: 10 Issues (March through December) 
1969: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1970: 5 Issues (January-February, March, June, July-August, October) 
1971: 1 Issue (December)

Old Bottle Magazine (O.B.X)

No bottle magazine bears greater interest than Old Bottle Magazine, affectionately known as O.B.X. Published by the late Shirley and Ken Asher, from Bend, Oregon, O.B.X. was the bottle hobby's mainstay for nearly 30 years. The first issue with an insulator feature was in May, 1968 (the publication's fourth!), with some terrific articles, Q&A' s and new information and new finds. The insulator columns (Insulator By-Lines) were edited first by the late Francis Terrill and, later by Joe Maurath, Jr. O.B.X. was a tremendous boost for the hobby of insulator collecting in its early days, and features some fine reading, to boot! The last issue with significant insulator material was the June, 1981 issue. O.B.X. was sold to Jim Hagenbuch and Antique Bottle & Glass Collector in the late 1980' s.

Availability: (Actually, they are pretty easy to get, although exceptions do exist especially some of the later issues of the 1980's. Fortunately, insulator collectors won't want any issues after June, 1981. Expect to pay about $3 to $5 per issue for the 1968 thru 1970 O.B.X. issues, perhaps $1 to $2 each for the others.)

Issued Dates:
Old Bottle Magazine (155 Issues) 
1968: 8 Issues (May through December) 
1969: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1970: 11 Issues (January, March through December) (NOTE: There was no February issue) 
1971-1975: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1976: 11 Issues (January through June, August through December)
1977-1980: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1981: 5 Issues (January, February-March, April through June)

Antique Bottle World

Antique Bottle World was my favorite bottle magazine. It was first published by Jerry & Barbara Jones out of Dayton, Ohio in 1974, was sold in the late 1970's to Jerry McCann out of Chicago, Illinois, and finally was sold again to Jim Hagenbuch in 1984, who merged it into Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. Three familiar names contributed as insulator editors to A.B. W. Curtis Boster, Carol McDougald and Paul Mohrs. Paul Mohrs work featured excellent patent research and the magazine was just nice to read. Be careful when looking for the March, 1976 issue; it is misidentified as March, 1975 on the cover - you need to look inside the jacket to determine which issue it is!

Availability: (Erratic. It is not as plentiful as O.B.X., but it isn't scarce either. Prepare to pay between $1 and $3 per issue, perhaps a little more for the 1975 issues.)

Issued Dates: 
Antique Bottle World (31 Issues)
1975: 11 Issues (February through December)
1976: 8 Issues (January through April, July through August, October through November)
1977: 7 Issues (January, March, May-June, July through September, November) 
1978: 2 Issues (September, November) 
1979: 2 Issues (January, June) 
1980: 1 Issue (June)

Bottle News

Bottle News was published by Frank B. Knight, out of Kermit, Texas. It was an 8- 1/2" x 11" newsprint periodical and actually gained quite a large subscribership, since one of the avenues of distribution was scholastic magazine sales. The very first issue, March-April of 1972 included a spotlight on insulator collectors Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Foster, from Greenville, Illinois. Later issues featured contributions by A.L. Rash. After Knight passed away, FBG Enterprises, Inc. continued to publish it. The magazine folded in 1979.

Availability: (Erratic, due to strange distribution and the brittle paper doesn't help, either. The early issues are tougher than the later issues.)

Issued Dates:
Bottle News (40 Issues) 
1972: 5 Issues (March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October, November-December) 
1973: 6 Issues (January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, October, November) 
1974: 5 Issues (March, April, September, October, November) 
1975: 8 Issues (January, April, June through August, September-October, November, December) 
1976: 9 Issues (January through September)
1978: 2 Issues (November through December) 
1979: 5 Issues (April through August)

The National Bottle Gazette

Here's a challenge - try and find 'em! The National Bottle Gazette was another newsprint issue (8" X 10"), and only lasted 25 issues. The first three issues (from 1968) were more of the newsletter style. The first publisher was John C. Fountain, and, in 1972, it was sold to Frank R. Knight, where it was merged into Bottle News after the August/September, 1973 issue. Some fine insulator articles by both Gary Cranfill and Frank Saccoman.

Availability: (Difficult; for the first three issues, what's worse than difficult?)

Issued Dates:
The National Bottle Gazette (23 Issues)
Volume 1: 11 Issues (No.2 through No. 12) (Approximately 1968 through 1970) 
Volume 2: 11 Issues (No.1 through No.8, No. 10 through No. 12) (Approximately 1971 through 1973) 
Volume 3: 1 Issue (No. 1) (September, 1973)

The Bottle Trader

This is another one of those obscure bottle magazines, this one published by Neil S. Wood, out of Gas City, Indiana. It was 8-1/2" x 11 ", and represented the mid-western United States in content and advertising. Rodney Wing contributed both insulator and lightning rod equipment articles, and there were several show reports, as well. The Bottle Trader was merged into Bottle News in September, 1973.

Availability: (Difficult)

Issued Dates: 
The Bottle Trader (21 Issues) 
1971: 3 Issues (October through December) 
1972: 12 Issues (January through December) 
1973: 6 Issues (February through April, June through August)

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector

Antique Bottle & Glass Collector is the bottle magazine giant - the O.B.X., as it were, for the 1980's and 1990's. It is published by Jim Hagenbuch, from East Greenville, Pennsylvania, and he uses it most effectively to promote his bottle and glassware auction business, as well. Ray Klingensmith was an early contributor, with several excellent articles, but nothing has been contributed in several years.

Availability: (Not that difficult, if you look hard enough. The first couple of years might be tougher. Plan on $1 to $5 per issue, depending on the issue.)

Issued Dates: 
Antique Bottle & Glass Collector (42 Issues through December, 1997)
1984: 5 Issues (August through December) 
1985: 11 Issues (January through May, July through December) 
1986: 10 Issues (January through April, June through August, October through December) |
1987: 8 Issues (January, March through May, July through September, November)
1988: 1 Issue (June) 
1989: 1 Issue (May) 
1993: 2 Issues (April, November)
1994: 2 Issues (January, October)
1995: 2 Issues (January, October)

Bottles and Extras

Bottles and Extras was a newcomer magazine, started in March, 1990 by Scott Grandstaff, from Happy Camp, California. It was an alternative to Antique Bottle & Glass Collector, possibly trying to fill the void in the West Coast created by the departure of O.B.X. a few years earlier. There were a couple of articles, with one by Dick Bowman very well written and received. After only a little more than a couple of years, the magazine was sold to the Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors, out of Longwood, Florida, and it is now their official newsletter/magazine.

Availability: (I've got the only three issues I wanted by subscribing to the magazine. Current copies are available, but there hasn't been any significant insulator stuff here published here in 6 years.)

Issued Dates: 
Bottles and Extras (3 Issues) 
1990: 2 Issues (April, July) 
1992: 1 Issue (April)

Long John Latham's Bottles and Relic/Bottles and Relics

I have to admit that I don't know much about this periodical, other than there are seven issues with articles on insulators and related collectibles. It was published by John H. Latham and Collector's World Publishing Company, Inc. out of Conroe, Texas. In the mid-1970's, it was sold to FBG Enterprises, from Kermit, Texas. My recollection is that this magazine, The Bottle Trader and The National Bottle Gazette all merged into one. An excellent issue is the June-July, 1971 issue, with a good spread on insulators by Steve Auburn.

Availability: (I rarely see these, except by accident and usually in antique shops or co-ops.)

Issued Dates: 
Long John Latham's Bottles and Relics (8 Issues)
1970: 1 Issue (October-November) 
1971: 3 Issues (April-May, June-July, October-November)
1972: 4 Issues (February-March, June-July, September, October- November)

Long John Latham's Collector's World/Collector's World

These were the same publishers as Bottles and Relics. The September-October, 1970 issue had an article on date nails, if that's your cup of tea. The February, 1975 issue had an article on insulator hunting by Gerry Erberich.

Availability: (I rarely see these, either.)

Issued Dates:
Long John Latham's Collector's World (1 Issue) 
1970: 1 Issue (September-October)
Collector's World (1 Issue)
1975: 1 Issue (February)

Today's Collector and Warman's Today's Collector

This was the antique publishing conglomerate Krause Publications' (lola, Wisconsin) big foray into general antiquing. It was begun in 1993, is a 10" x 14" monthly and chock full of articles, ads, show reports, calendars, and lots of good stuff. Everything you ever wanted to know about lunch boxes, Tom Mix, Beanie Babies and ... insulators! The July, 1995 issue featured an excellent four page spread as promotion for the Marlborough, Massachusetts National, and was submitted by Bill & Jill Meier and Kevin Lawless, with photographs from the collections of Dick Bowman and Bob Berry. The name was changed in 1996 when Krause Publications acquired Warman's Antique Guide and added it to their already impressive arsenal.

Availability: (I don't ever see them for sale.)

Issued Dates: 
Today's Collector (1 Issue) 
1995: 1 Issue (July)

Popular Handicraft & Hobbies

This magazine had me stumped. I glanced at this craftwork periodical in some antique shop's basement and what did I find? You guessed it an article about insulator collecting, featuring the collection of "Polecat" Winston Sims, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I know nothing else about the magazine, except that it was edited by Barbara Hall Pedersen out of Seabrook, New Hampshire.

Availability: (Are you kidding? Start looking now!)

Issued Dates: 
Popular Handicraft & Hobbies (1 Issue)
1975: 1 Issue (January)

Collector Magazine

This is a one-timer, I believe. The periodical is a monthly, published by Frank Donadee out of Pomona, California, for the Southern California Collector's Association. The November, 1994 issue had an outstanding six-page article by Dwayne Anthony. I know nothing else about the magazine, except that it looked pretty good.

Availability: (Who knows?)

Issued Dates:
Collector Magazine (1 Issue)
1994: 1 Issue (November)

Collector's Digest

This one looks like a one-timer, as well. This periodical is (or was) a bimonthly, published by Rick Muncie (how's that for a moniker for insulator buffs?), out of Banning, California. The October-November, 1994 issue had an excellent article by Dwayne Anthony, including a nice photo of the "Ram's Head" insulator. The magazine itself was pretty thin.

Availability: (Doubtful that it's good.)

Issued Dates:
Collector's Digest (1 Issue) 
1994: 1 Issue (October-November)

Relics

This old magazine was published by Joe Small and Western Publications, Inc. out of Austin, Texas. I assume it is long-gone. Other than this issue, I have never seen another. The December, 1969 issue had a 2-1/2 page article on insulators by Jim Woodard.

Availability: (Unknown.)

Issued Dates: 
Relics (1 Issue) 
1969: 1 Issue (December)

Spinning Wheel

This is (or was) the publication of the American Antiques & Crafts Society, out of Hanover, Pennsylvania. I believe the magazine began publication in the 1940' s. The March, 1977 issue had a very nice article by Judy Wade on lightning rod balls and pendants, including a full-color cover photo of a white ceramic staircase on a rod with a cow vane. Very nice!

Issued Dates:
Spinning Wheel (1 Issue) 
1977: 1 Issue (March)

The Antiques Journal

This is a two-shot periodical for the insulator historian. This magazine picked up the rights to the name Western Collector in either 1973 or 1974 and was also known as The American Antiques Journal, and was published out of Dubuque, Iowa. I believe that it has since been folded into The Antique Trader Weekly. The February, 1969 issue has an insulator article and the September, 1974 issue has an article by Elizabeth Baroody on weather vanes, with photos of some real beauties.

Availability: (Unknown)

Issued Dates: 
The Antiques Journal (2 Issues) 
1969: 1 Issue (February) 
1974: 1 Issue (September)

The Antique Trader Price Guide to Antiques

I only included this bimonthly, published by the Antique Trader out of Dubuque, Iowa, because they sporadically include insulator or lightning rod ball prices in them. The information contained therein are straight out of Tibbitts and are laughable (how about $35.00 for an Armstrong's in amber?) They aren't that collectible, but I've got a few of them, anyway.

Availability: (I've seen a few, and they're bordering on "who cares", anyway!)

Issued Dates:
The Antique Trader Price Guide to Antiques (4 Issues - or more) 
1971: 1 Issue (Fall) 
1983: 1 Issue (Spring) 
1987: 2 Issues (February, December)

The Westward Collector Quarterly

This was a nifty bottle magazine out of Nanaimo, British Columbia, edited by George Watson. It began in late 1973, and two issues have insulator articles by Bill Patterson. The Spring, 1974 issue includes a photo of a CD 740 blackglass threadless! I don't believe this magazine lasted very long, which is too bad, because the couple I've seen are pretty well done.

Availability: (Probably pretty scarce.)

Issued Dates: 
The Westward Collector Quarterly (2 Issues) 
1974: 2 Issues (Spring Summer)

American Collector

I can't tell you a thing about the magazine, other than my rumor mill says there was at least one issue with an insulator article in it. I believe it was published out of Texas. Can anyone help out?

Availability: (I haven't ever seen one, only heard about it)

Issued Dates: 
American Collector (Unknown)

Antique & Collectibles Trader

This is a bimonthly magazine out of Toronto, Ontario. I believe that they reprinted an article that originally appeared in The Upper Canadian.

Availability: (I don't own one. 'Nuff said?)

Issued Dates: 
Antique & Collectibles Trader (1 Issue) 
1995: 1 Issue (June-July)

Canadian Bottle & Stoneware Collector

This was a nice little bottle magazine, published by Phil and Rhonda Culhane out of Nepean, Ontario. They sold the magazine to Peter Austin, from Burnaby, Ontario, who, unfortunately, folded it in September, 1997. There were some excellent articles by both Steve Goodell and Mark Lauckner.

Availability: (Probably not that tough yet.)

Issued Dates: 
Canadian Bottle & Stoneware Collector (8 Issues)
1993: 2 Issues (July, October)
1994: 3 Issues (January, April, July)
1995: 3 Issues (January, April, July-September)

The Collector

I can't tell you a thing about this magazine, either. I believe this may be related to American Collector, which means it may have been published out of Texas. Can anyone help out?

Availability: (I haven't ever seen one, only heard about it.)

Issued Dates: 
The Collector (Unknown)

Collectrix

Believe it or not, this was a booklet that sold reviews about - books! The publisher was Alida Roochvarg out of Hempstead, New York, and the only reason this makes the list is because they published an article about insulator collecting that I wrote and sent in as a promo for the Saratoga Springs, New York National Show!

Availability: (Probably really scarce.)

Issued Dates:
Collectrix (1 Issue) 
1986: 1 Issue (Spring-Summer)

Linn's Stamp News

This is the weekly newspaper for philatelists (stamp collectors!). Why is this on the list? Because the February 24, 1997 issue includes an article by Jill Meier about insulators on postage stamps.

Availability: (I don't know.)

Issued Dates:
Linn's Stamp News (1 Issue) 
1997: 1 Issue (February 24)

Rarities

This was a brief foray by the publishers of Yankee Magazine into the world of antiques. I don't think it lasted very long. In any case, there are two issues with articles by Joe Maurath.

Issued Dates: 
Rarities (2 Issues) 
1981: 1 Issue (Summer)
1983: 1 Issue (March-April)

The Upper Canadian

This is a very nice monthly publication for Canadian antiquers, out of Smiths Falls, Ontario. It is published out of York, Ontario. The May/June, 1995 issue has an insulator article.

Availability: (Scarce - I don't own either one.)

Issued Dates: 
The Upper Canadian (1 Issue)
1995: 1 Issue (May-June)

Forbes

Forbes, the biweekly financial publication out of New York City, did a feature article on insulator collecting and Butch and Eloise Haltman, with full color photographs. The hobby hasn't been the same since!

Availability: (I really don't know. Is there a market for old issues of Forbes?)

Issued Dates: 
Forbes ( 1 Issue) 
1993: 1 Issue (July 19)

Yankee

Yankee magazine is a staple for New Englanders, with wonderful stories, photo spreads of New England homes, swap pages, and the like. It is still published out of Dublin, New Hampshire. The January, 1971 issue had a pretty nice insulator article.

Availability: (I can't find one for me!)

Issued Dates: 
Yankee (1 Issue)
1971: 1 Issue (January)

welcomes Kevin Lawless of Schenectady, New York as its newest editor. Kevin will be sharing with readers his vast knowledge about many collectibles related to the insulator hobby. Over my years as editor, I have called upon Kevin, who has been willing to share show reports, photographs and insulator stories, on numerous occasions. He is one of the most dedicated leaders and participants in the hobby. It is a pleasure to greet him as the newest contributing editor.