OK, this one is going to be rather long-winded because I finally had the time to get this into proper text (I am fussy about my writing and so is Joe). This one really took some time, so lean back and enjoy!

Joe's first encounter with amber insulators actually was within the "1965 Report" by N.R. Woodward (I am sorry but I do not know how to italicize book titles here, which is appropriate for literature). Joe got that copy about July 1967 after following up sources within "The Western Collector" magazine (which was the *first* to do any sort of insulator collecting articles: see their 5/67 and 6/67 issues, where available). Joe quickly established letter-writing correspondence with Mr. N.R. Woodward (author of the aforementioned 1965 Report) via the magazine's columnist (*the* insulator-column pioneer!), the late Claire McClellan. Joe was incredibly ossified about the other types of insulators available out there via Mr. Woodward's publication and the two Western Collector descriptions. Further, Joe recalls loving the amber-insulator mention within the Armstrong section of Mr. Woodward's book!

Joe also vividly recollects stuffing his nose flatly upon his parents' automobile rear windows gawking at insulators and street lights in the early 1960s.. He remembered that the town of Rockland, MA had amber ones, so he had to take a bike ride (six miles one way!) from his home town (Brockton) to get hold of one of those cool dark Armstrong's! Clearly, he recollects seeing one on his way with a yellowish-pin with the bright sunlight showing through the insulator's skirt.. A cool Armstrong! Wow, I hope the Rockland FD has one of those kicking around! Of course it was an amber T-H.E. Co!

Joe introduced himself to the Rockland FD Alarm Division foreman (who luckily was there) and welcomed him to pour through the couple of bins of glass insulators in the back room. Keep in mind this was July/August 1967. Joe came home with no less than 5 deep amber T-H.E.'s (he left none behind!) along with some aqua ones. He outfitted his two-basket bike (which he got seriously ranked for by his classmates and hooter-ongoers) and filled them with all of these glass goodies. Despite very obnoxious comments by his piers and drivers-by back then, Joe stood vigilant in riding his two-basketed bike to some very distant locations (and back, in one-piece!) acquiring some fantastic acquisitions and stories. Many are (and will) be presented here for your reading. Joe is *different* as a person and he is very proud to have always been an insulator collector even though just about everyone around him during his adolescent (very sensitive!) years thought he was weird. He stuck to his premise to pursue the insulator hobby no matter what anyone else thought about it.

Anyway, Beyond the Rockland stash, Joe moved to South Weymouth, MA from Brockton (about 10 miles) in October 1967. He was 15 then. Joe knew that the Abington FD (the next town over...now his hometown since 1978!) had some amber T-H.E's. A visit to their facility in November 1967 proved to uncover another half-dozen amber T-H.E. s! Plus a bright lime green large lettered POSTAL TEL. CO. CD 138 with Brookfield dome-embossing...all in one stop! All of the above are from Joe's notes and as he speaks sitting right beside me. I'll admit I do some really quick shorthand from his words! A second presentation about the amber T-H.E. Co. insulators will appear as a supplement soon! Joe could write a book about them! We will accompany the promised text with an underside view of one of these insulators. Any comments please contact Joe at: jmaurath@mindspring.com PS...Sorry for the dark picture of this piece! Many attempts were taken in bright sunlight to capture this insulator's reddish-orange tones but this is the best we can do! Hopefully the Part 2 Photo will show you some of the color. Wow, it is really deep!