There have been a few reports dribbling in over the last several years of insulators which required the assignment of a new U-number. The reports were too few to cause much excitement among porcelain collectors.

The many new reports recently received are very exciting indeed and go to prove that the possibility of finding new porcelain styles is not so remote as one might think. Albeit that some of you have an unreported style in your collection.

Jack Tod has been busy assigning U-numbers and making the final ink drawings of the new styles. Not all of the new styles will be reported this month. Future reports will show three styles of pin-posts, a new Imperial crosstop, an exchange and a glazeweld style. Also in the works is the answer for the use of the oddball whatisit insulator last reported in February CJ. Somewhere in all this you can expect to read the success story of Robert Winkler's 15 year search of the elusive spiral insulator.

As a reminder, the shadow profile method that is used to accurately describe a new style (so a final drawing can be made and U-number assigned by Jack) is very easy and quick to make. The profile method appeared in the December, 1984 issue of CJ or, if that issue is not available to you, I will be glad to send you a copy of the simple procedure.

The last new style of Macomb reported in April, 1986 CJ was U-244B, thirteen years after the last reported new Macomb style (U-244A). Steve Fujimoto has found a new Macomb that is a strong contender for "find of the year". Jack has assigned it U-599B. The insulator has the typical Macomb mold lines for these dry process units. The embossed Macomb marking is positioned horizontally about mid-way down the body of the insulator between the tie-wire groove and the bottom edge of the outer skirt. This crown type cable insulator style was later manufactured by the wet process method (after the dry process pin types were discontinued in 1915) as illustrated in the Illinois Electric Porcelain Co. catalog of 1918 and in a 1920 advertisement.

Bob Lanpher (NIA #487) reported a most unusual find at a local flea market! The photo below shows that the number thirteen is not Bob's unlucky number. All but the two white units on the bottom row are Fred Locke porcelain. None of the units show any sign of being used. All of the Locke units are in pristine condition except for slight recent damage on one. The ink markings are exceptional! These insulators were surely hand picked from the production line at Fred Locke's Victor plant during the 1898-1900 period. If only they could talk.

Starting with the top row, the first unit on the left (also see photo at top of next page) is outwardly similar to the brown U-927B and, like the U-927B, has a Fred Locke marking #6-3. However, the insulator is only a shell without inner petticoats or pinhole. There is a short petticoat-like projection extending downward 1/4 inch inside the insulator around the 2-3/4 inch ribbed opening in the body. We can only guess that the opening was to receive either a petticoat section to be glazewelded or perhaps a cemented in sleeve. The insulator looks a little too crude to have met Fred Locke's standards.

The next three insulators on the top row (l to r) are U-927A (5-1), U-925 (6-3) and U-925 (6-3). Again, all three are in pristine condition with excellent ink markings.

On the far left of the second row in the group photo, is the new style pictured below and it has been assigned U-941A (also see the photo below). It has Fred Locke's ink marking #6-3. This insulator is very modern looking. In fact, it is similar to the modern Locke style U-437 as well as the U-441 from the 1901-1903 period.

The next insulator to the right of the U-941A is also a new style and it has been assigned U-939D. It has Fred Locke ink marking #6-3. The photo below shows the U-939D alongside a U-447 with Fred Locke marking #0-2. There is an obvious difference in size. The U-939D is a two-piece glazeweld and it is probably the predecessor to U-447.

The other insulators pictured on the second row to the right of the U-939D are (l to r) U-610A (6-3) U-939 (5-1) and U-939 (5-1). This is only the second glazewelded U-610A with marking #6-3 that has been reported. The other was reported in January, 1985 CJ.

The bottom row of insulators in the group picture are (l to r) U-927C Imperial, U-3 (0-5), U-3 (0-5) and the new style U-928B. The photo at the top of the next page shows the two brown U-3's to the left of a white U-3 (0-5) and a white U-3 (6-3). The U-3's with underglaze ink marking are very rare.

The U-928B (see photo on the next page) is very unusual. Where does this unit fit in with the other insulators in the group? I have no doubt that the group of Locke insulators were hand picked at the Locke plant and that they were never used. Locke may have had a few Imperial insulators lying around from his association with Imperial before he opened his plant in 1898. (Would he have sold Imperial units, before 1898, so prominently marked with Imperial crown and wordy Imperial markings without at least his name stamped "Manufactured for F. M. Locke..." or with one of his patent dates?)

At first, the U-928B looks very similar to Boch patent style U-928 made by Thomas during that period (circa 1898). This unit is not marked, it has two ear projections and obviously it is not glazewelded as are the Thomas units. It was made by the dry process method and a superior example of that method as well. Does the U-928B have any connection with the other insulators in the group? Fred Locke did not produce insulators by the dry process method. Who was the manufacturer? These questions will remain unanswered.

I am certain that you will agree that Bob did make a very important discovery with this group of thirteen insulators. The Locke insulators appear to have been hand picked, perhaps even by ole Fred, as fine specimens to exhibit the art of making high quality porcelain insulators.