One of the first things I found out about insulators is that a lot of them simply are not photogenic. I quickly came to that realization in 1974 when I began my seven-year post with Old Bottle Magazine as their monthly insulator column editor, following the footsteps of Frances Terrill who began the column in 1968. Keeping "Insulator By-Lines" interesting and good looking took a lot of work, patience and experimentation especially when it came to taking close-up photos of insulators.

Here is an insulator that surely meets that challenge! It is an unmarked dark aqua CD 106 full of red swirls. Someone once told me these were used in Mexico on the Taco Bell lines there (this person also thought Taco Bell was the big phone company in Mexico). But I corrected him on both counts stating that these very rare red-swirled insulators originated and were used in Columbia, South America. (Along with the fact that the telecom company in Mexico is known by some other name.)

No matter how you look at this insulator it is drop-dead gorgeous and intriguing! In all fairness I am going to be showing you views of two more sides because if you were to hold this piece you would continually be turning it around in your hands!

Keep clicking "Next" for another view. Enjoy :-)