Commemorative and Miniature Insulators

This write-up on Commemorative and Miniature Insulators is taken from information provided in A History and Guide to North American Glass Pintype Insulators and the 2003 Price Guide.

Commemorative and miniature insulators:

• Commemorative insulators
• Private issue commemoratives
• Salesman miniature insulators
• Private issue miniature insulators

During the life of the insulator hobby, both organizations and individuals have used insulator shapes to produce privately-issued replicas or replicas which commemorate events within the hobby. The photograph above shows a variety of commemorative insulators (including some porcelain ones as well!)

The National Insulator Association adopted the "threadless hat" commemorative for its annual show. Originally designed by Frank Miller of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the commemorative was first made following the First National Swap Meet in New Castle, Indiana, in 1970. The commemorative continues to be issued annually with only the color of the glass and the show location which is embossed on the base changing. John and Carol McDougald took over its production in 1979. This commemorative is the most widely collected, and specimens from the earliest shows are quite valuable.

For the National Insulator Association's 10^th Anniversary in 1983, approximately 300 sets with five colors of a full size replica of a CD 257 "Mickey Mouse" were produced. Profits donated to the National Insulator Association funded the republication of the NIA handbook. The commemorative has no threads, and is embossed "NATIONAL INSULATOR ASSOCIATION 10TH ANNIVERSARY 1983" on the base. John and Carol McDougald sponsored the project.

Commemorative insulators include:

• National Show Hosts commemoratives
• National Show commemoratives
• The Telephone Pioneers of America
• Southern New England Telephone Council of the Telephone Pioneers of America

Private issue commemoratives include:

• Mayne Island Insulator Museum - 2007 Insulator Paperweight Series
• CD 102 style "VTS INDUSTRIAL Co" by the VTS Industrial Company
• CD 102 style {Tall} WGS - 94 by William G. Scandariato
• CD 162 style McLAUGHLIN No 19 by William McLaughlin
• CD 257 style National Insulator Association 10^th anniversary by John and Carol McDougald

• CD 259 style [Miniature] Mid-Ohio Insulator Show (2000-2006) by Steve Blair

• CD 262 style No 2 COLUMBIA by Larry S. Veneziano
• CD 718 style Canadian Commemorative (1996) by Mark Lauckner
• CD 742 style Canadian Commemorative (1997) by Mark Lauckner
• CD 740 style Canadian Commemorative (1998) by Mark Lauckner
• CD 726 style Canadian Commemorative (2000) by Mark Lauckner
• CD 726 style Canadian Commemorative in RED (2001) by Mark Lauckner

Salesman miniature insulators:

These were by several insulator manufacturers, including Armstrong, Brookfield, and Hemingray. These samples were probably given away by salesmen. The Hemingray ones were also available at the 1933 World's Fair Century of Progress Exhibition. These salesman sample insulators make great "go-withs" and include:

• CD 145 style BROOKFIELD
• CD 154 style HEMINGRAY
• CD 155 style Armstrong {On a glass pedestal}
• CD 155 style WHITALL TATUM
• CD 162 style BROOKFIELD
• CD 216 style Armstrong {On a glass pedestal}

Private issue miniature insulators:

These replicas should not be confused with miniature salesman's samples by the insulator manufacturers Armstrong, Brookfield and Hemingray. Private issue miniature insulators include:

• "Minsulators" - Solid Pour Miniature Insulators by Mark Lauckner
• CD 154 style DOMINION by John and Carol McDougald
• CD 155 style HOLLY CITY DP1 by Don Wentzel and Calvin Cobb
• CD 162 style HEMINGRAY by John and Carol McDougald
• CD 203 style TW 1971 by Don Wentzel and Calvin Cobb
• CD 297 style HOLLY CITY 1986 by Don Wentzel and Calvin Cobb

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Last updated Friday, November 9, 2001