A well endowed collector should consider alternative areas of collecting in addition to insulators. To many collectors, looking only for insulators soon become the "same old thing". They become tired of collecting, and lose interest, especially after reaching the high-priced area. I consider myself fortunate when I am able to add one or two rare items to my collection per year. It is not only the fact that good insulators can be rather difficult to obtain, but finances also limit purchases. To remedy the lull between acquisitions, this collector tends to broaden his interests by "collecting a little of everything". This "little of everything" consists of most any item, commonly called a "go-with", that is related to insulators. One can be kept busy for years accumulating their museums as they add to their insulator display. Included in this article is brief information concerning a variety of different go-withs.

Generally, telephones are commonly associated with insulators. It has been considered that every insulator collection should have at least one telephone. The most popular is the large wooden (usually oak) box phone. This universal type phone, most popular on rural lines from the late 1890's to the 1930's, is highly collectible. The "candlestick", or upright desk set, was introduced in 1910 and was a standard for a quarter century. The dial system did not become popular until the 1920's. The most popular manufacturers were Western Electric, Kellogg, Automatic Electric and Stromberg Carlson; however, there were dozens of smaller manufacturers. 

Most serious telephone collectors are very fussy when it comes to having all of the same manufacturer's parts on the same phone. There should be no W. E. Co. parts on a Kellogg unit. However, parts can be easily interchangeable. Also, serious collectors watch for new reproduction parts such as the writing shelf, transmitter or receiver. The occasional collector need not be too concerned with this, as long as the phone is complete and hasn't been converted into a radio or wall planter. 

Prices have skyrocketed on telephones of all kinds in the last two or three years. A price of $50.00 to $75.00 would be average for the plain wooden wall telephone. Occasionally parts can be had from junk shops or flea markets to repair or complete a phone. Many of the wall telephones, and even upright phones, are still in common use on railroads today. The phones marked "push to talk", or having a wire headset in place of a receiver, are common for railroads. One choice experience can be noted by this writer when an old upright telephone was spotted in a railroad station in a prominent city in Florida. Upon inquiring for the acquisition of this item, the station master informed me of the fact that this phone was connected as a direct line to the system dispatcher and it is still very much in regular use today.

Related telephone equipment, such as porcelain signs, switch boards, ringer boxes, and even telephone booths, should not be overlooked. The porcelain signs have recently become popular with telephone collectors. They can make unique additions to collections or displays. The Bell System sign with the company name usually sells around the $15.00 to $25.00 area. Switchboards, while being rather difficult to obtain, can be refinished and restored to a fine piece of furniture. This writer has on occasion displayed a small switchboard with an insulator display. It drew much interest and response from the public at shows. 

The cobalt blue glass paper weights are quite collectible. These beautiful blue bells are generally lettered (painted) with company names and other slogans, such as "use long distance" or "use Yellow Pages". Prices are generally in the $25.00 to $35.00 range. The new (1973) reproductions in both the small and large sizes sell in the $6.00 to $8.00 area. These were reproduced by a chapter of the Telephone Pioneers. The originals date back to the 1920's and 39's.

I have yet to see a telephone booth on display at a show. This would make a very catchy display with insulators on lighted glass shelves inside.

Next, anyone for an iron man-hole cover? Sure, it is a go-with, but I wouldn't want to haul it to a show!

Lightning rods and balls are no longer considered insulator go-withs, but as separate collectors' items. The glass balls, although very attractive, served no useful purpose, except ornamental. Even the lightning rod insulators are popular as separate collections. The oldest lightning protection systems date back to the late 1700's, with the height of popularity around the late 1880's to early 1900's. Some systems actually worked; while others didn't, and only aided in the attraction of lightning. Some roof top arrangements were very elaborate, with fancy wrought iron sculpture and multiple points. Acquiring the rods and related jewels can be dangerous. Many old barns or houses have rotted very badly, or roofs are very steep. Most are fastened more securely than they appear to be, especially with many feet of ground wire attached on the end. A lasso very seldom works! Most of the original owners are very reluctant to give them up. Many actually believe they really work and their building will burn down if they are removed. 

Occasionally, if one of the original owners happens to move to a new house, he may take down the rods from the old place and move them to the new place. As a "rule of thumb", the taller rods (five or six feet tall) seem to be the oldest, while the most recent (1930's to date) are shorter (one or two feet tall). Rods equipped with wind vanes can be quite valuable. A lightning rod complete with glass insulators, a glass ball, and a horse, rooster, or automobile wind vane can have a value in excess of $150.00. The white or blue milkglass plain, colored balls seem to be the most common, while one with a mirrored or silver finish tends to be rather rare. Dangling glass pendants, showing the four compass points, are rather scarce. A display of colorful lightning rod balls and hardware generally brings many favorable comments from the public and even bottle collectors at shows.

Certain areas have produced more rods and ornaments than others. New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, along with portions of South Carolina, are examples. This writer has observed a large farm in South Carolina where seven buildings were equipped with rods, and one of these was the outhouse!