I picked up this incredible jewel at the Springfield show this year!! It is one of only three specimens with Fred Locke marking 7-1 I have a very strong suspicion it came from an interurban trolley line that once ran from Cincinnati to Batavia, Ohio. it's marking and mold characteristics point to late 1902 or early '03 for it's manufacture which corresponds to this line being built. It was found at a flee market in south western Ohio in the area of the line . It saw many years service as a door stop as evidenced by the abrasions in the glaze!! the oldest insulators on the line rout today look to be from the late 1930's and I'd guess that is the era the last of these were removed. It was pure insulator karma that I was standing in the right place when the guy brought this out of the box. I knew it was one of those moments where I had to decide then and there if I wanted it or wander through the rest of my life regretting not jumping on the chance to get it . I took the plunge and... NO REGRETS!! This specimen has the early crown design for the M-2332 . The later ones (1903-06) has a smaller crown and were made in three part molds. This specimen has a two part mold top with the flat crown face which points to 1902 production .[id=263642527] to see the marking up close. [ id=122357975]to see the early and late versions of this insulator side by side