Mac's Believe It or Not!
by John McDougald
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", November 2002, page 65
GRAMMA MAC "ON THE ROAD"
It sure is hard to keep Gramma Mac at home these days! She is "on a
mission". You would think she had already given up the job as editor of
Crown Jewels of the Wire magazine! Well, she has one more issue, but she has
spent a good deal of time since the Central Regional Show in Ohio in mid-August
traveling and photographing collections throughout various parts of the country.
Her mission...to compile the best pictures of colorful insulators to be used in
a new reference book we plan to publish in 2003.
Our last reference book was
published in 1990, so it is time to do something really special --- a complete
reference book with nothing but photos in color. Gramma is taking the photos,
Grampa is working on the price guide...and, together, we will put together what
we hope will be a color-filled reference book. So, it will be peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches for me while Gramma hits the road!
Speaking of the Central
Regional, you can read the full report beginning on page 12. Some really nice
insulators turned up at the show, and here are some of the great items Gramma
saw.
If Gramma's memory hasn't completely failed her, she remembers seeing this
piece at a previous show shortly after Victor Wheeler had found the piece. As Vic said, "I credit my sons who suggested that we
dig some more in a dump not far from where we live." Joseph and Victor
(III) Wheeler's instincts paid off as the CD 104 unembossed Pennycuick in a
beautiful sun-colored amethyst made it into the collection of Kevin Lawless.
Gramma says, "Joe and Vic III should get a raise in their allowances!"
A sun-colored amethyst CD 104
unembossed Pennycuick style
Hudson, Ohio is not far from western Pennsylvania's "Paisley Country!"
And, an incredible CD 132.2 in blue jade was brought to the show. The young
collector had purchased the piece from one of his friends who digs for old
bottles.
Gramma had met him at a show last year, so he stopped by her sales
table to say hello. He asked, "Is this piece worth anything?" Out of
his carefully wrapped bag came the Paisley! Gramma Mac asked, "Well, what
kind of a car do you want to drive when you are old enough to drive?" The
youngster's eyes got as big as saucers! "Why don't you take that piece down to Mr.
Ora Beary's table and show it to him." (Ora has been a longtime collector
of Paisley manufactured insulators.) Well, Ora's eyes got as big as saucers too!
Since our young friend wasn't ready to purchase his first car, he decided to
hold on to the insulator for a few more years.
A jade aqua CD 132.2
Of course, there always seems to
be a good "flea market" find in Ohio. Gramma Mac found the CD 141.7
Twiggs in an Amherst, Ohio flea market for $ 5.00 in 1982. (Dick Bowman, who now owns the insulator, displayed it at the central
regional show). And, Ken Orchard displayed his twisted top CD 241 that he
purchased at the same Amherst flea market a little over a year ago.
CD 156.2 in milky aqua.
Rick Baldwin
showed off his recent "flea find" -- a CD 156.2 embossed on the base
of the inner skirt: PAT OCT 15
1872. Rick said it was in with a bunch of common
aqua signals. And, you might think that this piece might be a CD 133 Brookfield
piece since its dimensions are more typical of that size signal. However, when
examine more carefully, Rick found to his delight that he had a super rare
piece. A good shadow profile had not yet been made of this insulator, so Gramma
Mac set up her flashlight and drawing kit to get the dimensions so a drawing
could be made.
Another collector walked in with a very dark CD 133.4 unembossed
"bullet" in a dark purple. It was a product of the Wormser Glasshouse
of southwestern Pennsylvania. He walked around with it and got estimates of its
value in the $500 range. He took it home and the following week it ended up on
eBay with a reserve that was never met.. .nor, was the show offer of $500 he
received. Sometimes it pays to sell at the show, sometimes it doesn't!
INDIANA ANTIQUE STORE FIND
In the March issue of Crown Jewels of the Wire, you read the story of the CD
207.5 that was found in an antique store in Canada last fall. Well, another of
these no-tie beauties surfaced in an antique store in Indiana. This time, it
wasn't clear, but an aqua example. There was some minor chipping on the inner
skirt and under the wire ridge, but the piece cleaned up and has already found
residence in the collection of Butch and Eloise Haltman.
A bottle collector friend of insulator/bottle collector, Jeff Hooper, located
the insulator in the shop in Indiana. He contacted Jeff who sold the insulator to
the Haltmans. Hopefully, Butch will be able to bring the piece to the show in
Springfield, Ohio for all to see.
Another rare insulator that was found in an
Indiana antique store this summer was a CD 173 Brookfield signal. Roger "I
am always looking for Hemingray and insulator related go-withs" Lucas
spotted this piece. The sale of the large signal will probably put a lot more
interesting go-withs on Roger's shelves. (See Roger's article on page 18 of this
issue.)
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana have had a lot of activity in recent
months with "new finds" -- so, keep looking in those flea markets and
antique malls. You never know what may turn up next -- "Believe It Or
Not!"
CD 173 Brookfield
Photo courtesy of Haltman collection.
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