Bob Berry's Mud 'n' Glass Insulator Page

Bob BerryI've been collecting insulators for about 23 years. I have attempted to specialize in the following areas, but still seem unable to resist "special" pieces outside these categories! (alas).

I have numerous pieces for trade, both glass and porcelain. I am currently in Round Rock, Texas. Round Rock is just north of Austin. If you are in the general area, have insulators to sell, want to trade insulators, or just talk insulators! -- please E-mail me! I'm at

HOW I GOT STARTED!

When I was about 12 years old (1972), while we were living in Bethlehem PA, I saw an article in the local antiques paper about glass insulators and their rising value. I knew there was an old line of insulators not far from our house with no more wires! A friend and I got a ladder and gathered about 50 different pieces! Brookfield 102's, A.T.& T. 121's, clear Whitall Tatum and Armstrongs, Etc. We planned to make a killing at the local antique shop! When we got to the shop ready to see the excitement in the dealer's eyes - his reaction was "I don't need any more of those darn things, I've got a whole shelf full already!".

When I looked at his shelf and saw many more varieties, I was hooked! I ended up buying about eight more from him. It would be two more years before I would discover "Crown Jewels" and the "Millholland Reference Book", but each new find held great excitement. Over time I started to specialize, first into power glass, but then into porcelain. I've collected many things over the years "stamps, coins, bottles, etc." but none have offered the fascination and history of insulators!

ABOUT MY COLLECTIONMore of my collection

I have about 1200 different glass insulators and about 600 porcelain. My main glass specialties are power and baby signals, but I have never been real good at sticking just to those specialties. I started collecting porcelain in the late 1980's, and that is one of my more active areas lately! I have 90% of my collection on display, and am always trying to find new tricks to get more space!

Part of my collection

Along with input from Steve Jones, Bob Stahr, and of course Webmaster Bill I am trying to pull together a porcelain section for the insulators page! This should include pictures of some interesting porcelain insulators as well.

ABOUT MYSELF AND MY WIFE CAROLYN

I grew up in Pennsylvania (Bethlehem), Got a BSEE from Clemson University (SC), and moved to Poughkeepsie NY working for IBM in 1981. With the shrinking mainframe opportunities, I moved to Round Rock, TX in May of 1993 to work in the IBM Microelectronics division.

Carolyn grew up in Schenectady, NY and graduated with a BS in Home Economics from SUNY at Oneonta. We were married in 1988 and lived near Poughkeepsie, NY. Carolyn was working in the IBM Fishkill Multi-chip module fabrication plant (electronic test). Carolyn is now active with our two children and unique kitchen product sales.

OTHER INTERESTS

Written by Bob Berry,

Last updated Thursday, August 19, 1999

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