What's the skinny? If Joe has all those good looking pieces of eye-candy and has been generous enough to share pictures of them on ICON, then why isn't he mentioned all that much? He is noticeably "absent" at the head of the images' title and hardly seen within the contributor "window boxes" as one scrolls down the roster of the PicturePoster contributors. Instead, we see the name "Tracey Beckham" when it comes to most of Joe's stuff. Who's this person anyway? What's wrong with Joe...is he too shy or bashful to get his name into the limelight here? Has he got stage fright, the jitters or simply cannot write any more? Again, what's the story... whatzzz is the buzz anyway? Numerous ICONers have recently asked.

Fear not, Joe is alive and well and being an outgoing sort of dude, he never had stage fright, rarely writers' cramp nor anything else that would inhibit/hamper his style of writing...not to mention always having the ability in "getting the word out" when it came to corresponding with his fellow collectors. He has been doing exactly this since 1968 when he submitted insulator articles to the former Western Collector magazine. And beyond/elsewhere in other journals. And he is still going strong! He'd type with his toes if he ever could not with his fingers.

Some apparent changes have taken place. Joe (and me, Tracey) decided sometime ago to make our PicturePoster captions from culminations of Joe's notes, his (very good) memory and just from anything else relevant. So, for nearly all PicturePoster insertions I have been "interviewing" Joe as he has spoken with the "featured" insulator literally in his hand. On an insulator-to-insulator basis. I take written notes as he has rambled on. Other times I recorded him on tape. From this and his archives I have made drafts of what was going to be our "feature" insulator. Boy, does he know his stuff as a long-time veteran. I write and rewrite "the story" (caption) and modify as needed. Not just for accuracy but for corrections in grammar, syntax and overall easy-to-read continuity. From there we upload the photo and caption. Joe and I have received some very good comments regarding my (our) third-person documentaries. He does not like using the three words "me, myself and I" when it comes to educational writing. I agree. To me everything sounds better in the third-person (like a news reporter on the scene). Plus, having another pair of eyes to review the final script before publishing time does not hurt either. Again, he stamps "OK" before anything that he has finally proofread gets submitted. Just for fun, take some time and have a friend or relative (who doesn't have to be an insulator collector, FYI)listen to you, take notes and do a write-up about one of your favorite insulators, etc. You'll be surprised how good the resultant third-party manuscript will sound (in context)!

I love taking pictures and a great many of Joe's were done with his permission listed the ICON pix with my name. This never mattered to Joe nor nearly anyone else. The important issue always has been accuracy and education. Furthermore it has been imperative that his folklore and knowledge "get out there" to the insulator collecting public. We could write a book about his meanderings but have chose to utilize ICON as an educational vehicle instead. Neither of us have ever sought any rewards. The work we have done hopefully will inspire others to share what they know and have. No matter how big or how small; nor how common or rare. This was intended by Bill Meier as an equal playing ground for everybody!

In the future I will be taking and submitting more pix from my collection and Joe's. Albeit each submission from start to finish takes 2 to 3 hours. That's only on account of my fussiness! So, updates will be sporadic. Look for either or our names in the caption header. I am Joe's best friend and he has really been a superb mentor. Helping out with the PicturePoster submissions is one way I can "pay" him back. Not that I ever had to. But I am thrilled at the opportunity to be part of this venture.

Sincerely,

Tracey Beckham (proofreader and the assistant with the extra pair of eyes!) Joe Maurath, Jr. (signed) May 20, 2005

PS...Oh yes, the CD 112 Lynchburg pair you see here are a couple goodies I picked up on the way back from the Brimfield Antique Fair. TB.