"Mr. May" as we call him has been an avid insulator collector here on the South Shore (Massachusetts) since 1979. He worked for Ma Bell for many years and was able top procure a lot of really cool phone company memorabilia (and other unrelated antiques) thanks to his sharp eyes and appreciation for Americana of all types in his ongoing travels.

He, Jim Simpson (Stoughton, MA); Scott Ferrira (Raynham, MA)...these guys are are not on-line....but we all get together here at my house in Abington, MA once a month on a Saturday evening for show-tell-swap-sell-stories, updates, etc.

ADDED NOTE: This is a terrific hobby and I trust all feel the same who read this within our relatively small community compared to larger collectibles circles.

Just FYI...I began "insulator-jornalism" in 1967 as an associated columnist accompanying the late Claire McClelland, the first insulator collecting columnist with her debut in Western Collector Magazine in May 1967. Her monthly writings were the first that had anything to do with our hobby.

I soon accompanied her with her monthly columns. I continued with ongoing journalism related to insulators, very particularly and intensely during my monthly Insulator ByLines colmns in Old Bottle Magazine (1974-1981). From there contributions to Crown Jewels of the Wire Magazine were periodically submitted. In 1990 I contributed major sections to the McDougalds Reference Volumes. Since the latter I have *really* enjoyed sharing insulator-history education thanks to the internet...very especially ICON!

Joe Maurath, Jr.

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Practically as good as any insulator show, these kind of priceless friendships and get-togethers are worth a lot more than the insulators we talk about. And our association among us as friends/collectors is way more memorable and valuble than anything I own.

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