Editor's note: Lee Brewer prepared this report for Crown Jewels. Lee is going to be the Eastern Region Correspondent for the magazine, reporting on shows that he attends. We appreciate his volunteering to fill this important function for us. Lee has also become all important ambassador of the hobby for youthful, beginning collectors. A number of youngsters who have recently requested free insulators from the "Insulators for Kids" program through Crown Jewels have told us they learned about the program from him. Great job, Lee.

Arriving on Thursday night, collectors found the floor of the tomorrow-to-be show seemed a little empty. Rising gas prices probably influenced dealers into favoring an early-morning-Friday arrival rather than include a Thursday night motel bill as part of their travel expenses. Sure enough, Friday morning arrived and there were many more tables set up with glass and porcelain gems.

Signed up for tables were 33 different dealers and 8 exhibitors. The exhibits featured an exceptional display, put together by Charlie Irons, composed of many different types of battery rest insulators (see page 37). His was the finest display of this type I personally have witnessed and very comprehensive in nature. The display's brochure described anything/everything one would ever need know about these colorful little gems. It is no wonder Charlie got first place in the specialty category, and he also won the NIA People's Choice Award (page 39). After the show, Charlie sent me an exciting email as follows:

"At the most recent 2005 EASTERN REGIONAL SHOW I had the good fortune to purchase a 'walk-in' that I believe at this time to be an unlisted BATTERY INSULATOR. This battery Insulator is similar to the CD-29.5 in as much as it has the four solid reinforcements - but without the indentations in those reinforcements. The physical size is closer to the CD-28.

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"The measurements of this piece are 4 inches wide and 1-7/8 inches high. At this time there is not a listing for this insulator in the most recent Price guide of John and Carol McDougald. This information as well as a photo of the Battery insulator has been sent to John and Carol McDougald for their review. It is our hope that we have found a New (?) insulator for the Hobby and our collection."

Gregory Malsam had an intriguing display in the junior category entitled "Common Porcelain." For this he won the First Place Junior Award from the Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club. He had put together a very colorful and diverse display which was fun to see and an encouragement as an example of the youth coming up in our hobby. I personally got to meet him and enjoyed talking with him.

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Jim Frustieri had a display composed of unusual CREB 133's. What was so unusual about them? The colors in these pieces are seldom seen. Can you imagine a CREB 133 in cornflower blue or apple green? Then imagine a couple of different shades of each of these rare colors, and you have a start at what was represented in Jim's display! Seeing so many different shades in one place is an experience that you can only have at a show (hint, hint!).

Alan Honhorst had an impressive display of "fireplug" insulators. A few were in colors that were very unusual. Normally these pieces are a brown color, but Alan's display shows that this is not the only way a person can find these unusually shaped pieces.

Jeff Hollis had a beautiful display of shapes and colors in the "General Category." He had a wonderful variety ranging from power pieces to ponies. Not only did we get great domestic pieces, but there were, interlaced, many different countries represented by their own unique CD's. . It seems Jeff likes to collect anything that has a different shape and/or a great color.

A display entitled "Top Hat Signals" was also present. This display sought to help categorize the slight variants within the 162.1 Brookfield family; to help those who have trouble telling a CD162.1 from a CD162; and to show a lot of fun can be had in investigating the "ordinary." The display itself contained quite a few color variants found within this CD, proving these gems are not all boring, aqua signals.

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The displayer was yours truly.

As always, walk-in pieces are exciting at a show. This Eastern Regional was certainly no exception!

Sitting on Jim Frustieri's table were four different examples of experimental prototypes (see page 37). I am sorry I did not get the name of the gentleman who brought them in. One of these was a cabletop insulator that was coated with an outer metal coating. The second was a CD176 with a metal coating applied to its dome. The third was an unidentified CD. The fourth were two examples of 203.2's with metal rings over their wire grooves. These were very interesting pieces to see, and there was much speculation about them.

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Another exciting walk-in was a clear CREB 138. I had recently found this insulator at a local garage sale and did not realize what a prize it was until returning home and seeing the price guide!

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However, the real show-stopper was brought in by Wayne and Stacey Huber. Stacey (daughter of Wayne) found a CD134 Diamond P in a small store near their home. What is so special about this Diamond P though is that it is so incredibly full of snow that it gives the entire piece a green, jade-like coloring! Also, there are two places in the glass where large'" globs" of snow can be seen.

When talking to Stacey, she said she could not believe the response when she unwrapped the insulator on the showroom floor. Everyone wanted to see it! She said there were two people who literally started to cry when they saw it. Stacey decided to sell the piece and was offered a goodly sum for it. Along with being very, very happy, they left the show with a some new glass gems for their collection and a valuable, treasured memory they are sure never to forget (nor will those of us who were privileged to share in their excitement)!

These wondrous situations are the type only experienced by those who attend insulator shows and swap meets. Support your local shows! You may be able to build your own special memories, and the friends you make will last a lifetime.

Lee Brewer

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Above: By popular acclaim, voted the favorite display 
of the 2005 Eastern Regional. 

Below: Walk-ins to the show.

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The Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club 
hosted the National Insulator Association's 
2005 Eastern Regional Show 
in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

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Above: Sales stock at a table in the 2005 Eastern Regional. 

Below: Charlie Irons receives the People's Choice award for his 
display of battery rest insulators (shown on page 37).

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