Gregory; yellow CA signal; purple and chartreuse CREB133, Mulford and Biddle, ERW, Emmingers, gray CREB's; Coolie Hat; no-tie porcelain; light sapphire 145 HGCO PETTICOAT; clear CREB138 - aren't these all types of insulators you see at a show the size of a National? Not if you are used to attending Claude Wambold's (with help from Steve Bobb!) annual get together in Perkiomenville, PA. Compared to the first time you attempt to pronounce the name of the town, finding Claude's home, tucked away in its beautiful forest setting, is easy!

Upon arriving, the show looks deceptively small from the road. Traveling down the short lane to his house, more and more insulator tables appear tucked back in under the trees. Numerous people are excitedly placing out pieces onto their tables (or blankets!), and an equal number of people are enthusiastically inspecting, fondling, cradling, drooling over, and comparing various glass gems to get a better view of them.

Could the weather be better for a show like this? Claude must have put in a special order as the temperature peaks out around the low 70's, there is a light breeze, and the sun has peeked out through the clouds just so we collectors can lift our glass gems up high to discover what magic they can play with its sun beams.

A "Bigmouth's" value does not quite put it up there in the leagues of some of the aforementioned pieces, but I personally have not witnessed too many of these at backyard swap meets either. There are two of them here for us to enjoy. Flashed amber cabletops? Sure, plenty of them! Amber and 7-Up Green 213's? Quite a few of these also! How about threadless, Mickey Mouse, Roman Helmets, carnival glass, radio strains, colored spools, and large power pieces? All of these are represented by excellent specimens.

As you move on around the tables there are pieces of glass and mud that would satisfy any collector's desires. And if you specifically like purple insulators, there are too many present to be carried home by one person! There are multiple examples of two piece tramps (CD190/191 and CD194/195), signals, tolls, ponies, WTs, 143's, 145's, and LRI's!

Claude then was gracious enough to get his yellow green 162.5 P.R.R. out to show. He has left it in the condition he found it, soot intact, but it still is a beautiful piece. This piece was the one that made the yellow green listing in the book a reality.

The chartreuse (olive - chartreuse?) CREB133 was brought to the show and found a willing buyer. The same with the clear CREB138. The CREB133 in purple was damaged, but how many of these do you ever see? The light sapphire HGCO PETTICOAT found a home with the author of this article, along with a beautiful green CREB133.

I know the dealers all had a good day as I ran into one individual that told me he had spent over $2000.00 buying up treasures for his collection! I did not personally note too many other specific pieces (as I was too busy finding bargains myself), but I do know other pieces that found new homes included a Beaver Fall's insulator, an E.C.&M., and a Coolie hat.

One collector brought in an unusual looking twist-lock style porcelain insulator. The patent date on top was "Aug.3/ .1909." The top of the insulator has no chipping on it even around where the wires would have laid. Mr. Ken Willick the "mudman" let us know that this piece was, therefore, in unusually good condition.

A few children were present, and, as always, the dealers were generous in making sure they did not go home without a new piece for their collections. I know this personally because three of them at the show were my own (Seth, Stephen, and Becky)! But Dave and Maria Wiecek also added to the list of youth at the show by bringing their 18 month old Gabrielle. She seemed to enjoy herself and made the day brighter for all of us who got to meet her!

As always, the stories/ sharing/ swapping/laughing/ fellowship seemed to pass all too quickly. This show has a reputation of being one where a lot more than the common pieces are present. This year was certainly no exception.
Editor's Note: Another Perkiomenville swap is coming up on September 23. See page 61 for details.