Archive for March, 2010

Do you collect insulators?  Interested in starting a collection?  Do you know what an insulator IS?  Those knobby things you’ve encountered are as varied and unique, as the part they played in our history. 

With the invention of the telegraph, it became apparent that something was needed to keep the wires from grounding out.  The first insulator consisted of a rag soaked in beeswax and, as you might imagine, wasn’t very reliable.

Next came glass, then porcelain, and later rubber, plastic and composite materials.  Hundreds of designs were created, along with all the accompanying paraphernalia, that gradually connected an entire country.

Rick Soller has done an admirable job of pulling all this information together in a no-nonsense, ‘just the facts, ma’am’ website at http://www.collectinginsulators.com/.

Hundreds of photos in over a dozen categories; patents from all over the world; classification systems; advertisements; commemorative, private issue, and novelty insulators (don’t miss Finland’s).  Books and display ideas for the collector.  A very long list of companies that made, bought, sold, etc. can be a potent source for identifying markings on insulators and related items.

“Hunting Insulators in the Wild” gives advice on what equipment to take, supplies you’ll need, and advice on everything from navigation to treating snakebite. For those of you who prefer not to take snakebite into consideration, Rick has insulators and related items available for trade, and links to other sources.  For the beginning or experienced collector, there’s a listing of collecting clubs (many with photos of their respective patches).

 If you’re not already familar with insulators, the related items will prove surprising – you may have seen some of them and had no idea what they were.  Flat, long, skinny, flared, wall tubes, suspensions, and radio strains. 

If you’re a collector, visit http://www.collectinginsulators.com/index.html. Or if you’re just curious.  Or if you found something really strange looking in Uncle Harry’s garage. 

Tell ‘em I sent ya’ ~ Victoria

Years ago I inherited a vase and, just for the heck of it, decided to look up the bottom mark on my new computer.  “Hmmm, that’s interesting,” I thought.  Though the vase was long ago broken by my uncoordinated cat, and I’m now on my second computer, my interest has never waned. 

I’ve been with Laura’s Emporium since opening day and I love the friendly atmosphere and helpful people.  I don’t specialize in anything, but look for items that are interesting, unusual, and that I think someone will enjoy having in their home.  I personally collect crackle glass for its beautiful colors and unique appearance.

Not quite a computer geek, but getting there.  Besides maintaining our website, I do graphic layout for the bi-monthly e-magazine Saponifier and will soon be proofing an anthology of short stories.

I have two sons – Derek and his wife Jenn live in California (soon to visit, I hope!); Justin and Gina live in Port St. Lucie with my adorable grandchildren, Damien and Gianna.

Whatever you collect, you know the thrill of the hunt and the pure joy of adding a new found item to your collection. How do you share this with young children or grandchildren? Obviously, digging in the dirt with your prized spoons, or playing catch with your fragile water globes is not the way to go. Why not start a collection of their very own?

While Fenton glass may fascinate you, odds are your child is going to be more interested in the very things he/she is playing with now – dinosaurs, dolls, action figures, tea sets, balls, marbles, etc. Does he make a beeline for every lizard, insect, and crawly thing he sees? Is it love at first sight for any dog she encounters? Since you’ve already recycled a zillion birthday and holiday presents, which ones does she still play with? What item has stood the test of time, perhaps advanced, but still the same thing?

Let’s face it, kids want to PLAY with their things, and no collectible can long be played with, buried, left outside, dropped, etc. and remain a ‘collectible.’ So buy two. Yikes, that could get expensive! Well, not two exactly alike, just similar. A porcelain doll that will be kept in a glass cabinet can be accompanied by a ‘hands on’ doll. A finely detailed museum dinosaur is put on a shelf, while the big rubber dinosaur is ready for action. If action figures is your child’s joy, buy two of newly released figures and keep one pristine in its packaging.

Fill out an index card for each piece. Where and when it was found/bought, history of the item and all the information you can find out by researching books or online. You might have memorized everything about your Jim Beam decanter collection, but you’re not going to remember the biography of the player who signed that baseball if you’re not a fan.

And take it out once in a while. Let your child have a ‘hands on’ experience with you.

It doesn’t have to be expensive. A department store ceramic horse for display with a toy horse for play won’t break the budget. Nature provides a huge opportunity to start a collection that doesn’t cost a cent. A walk along the beach is the beginning of a shell or sea glass collection. Digging a hole yields rocks to identify. Leaves, seeds, nuts can be found anywhere, flowers can be pressed.

Expand the experience with a book or movie, visit a museum, take a nature walk, go to an auto show – whatever ties in with your child’s collectible. This is one ‘bug’ you won’t mind spreading around.