This is a picture of Bill and Jill Meier's display that won the only award that is given out at Springfield -- "Most Educational".

At first, you might look and say "Well, look at all the rare and valuable insulators in that display. Of course it would win" ... but remember we are talking about educational value here...

Steve and Glenn and several others, including a non-collector and a novice collector judged the displays. I thought the inclusion of the latter types was very significant, something the NIA should do as well when judging "education" There were 27 displays total, which in general were all very good . The group narrowed it down to four, and then made a final decision. While I didn't understand the exact judging process, as they explained the judging at the banquet, they commented "This display was mentioned on everyone's list"

OK, back to the "rarity" issue... I thought about this for a bit, and also the fact that they made some non collectors and newer collectors judge the display. Those people would not know anything about the value of the pieces, which ranged from $0.10 to over $1,000...

So what made this display so educational? Well, after thinking it over myself, and thinking as a non or new collector, my thoughts would be:

"WOW, I never knew they came in so many shapes and sizes and colors! And I didn't realize that they were used for so many varied applications from telegraph to electric fence."

After I had that revelation, I could personally agree it was about education, not rarity... I personally felt it was a display that anyone could learn a great deal about insulators.

For those more experienced collectors, it did also give them a chance to look at some pieces that they probably had never seen before. Or understand some of the more subtle details of the uses of some insulators.

I would guess everyone, from a non-collector to the seasoned collector could learn something from this display. In fact, from the casual talk I had with people looking at the display, I learned several things myself!!