Tag: Sea and Beach Glass

Special meaning in lost sea glass necklace treasure

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We heard about Lyn Koch’s mission to find her lost necklace and thought the NASGA community could help her find it.  Please read on to find out how you can help her and the special meaning to her lost treasure.

Lyn and Mike Koch
Lyn and Mike Koch

Lyn Koch is searching for her precious sea glass necklace, a necklace lost a year ago in the Orlando Airport…and could be anywhere on the planet.

The special necklace probably means little to the person who found it, but means the world to Lyn, and the memories associated with the piece make it precious to Lyn.  The necklace is a heart-shaped piece of sea glass wrapped in wire and strung on a chain.

The missing necklace- red, white and blue...a special treasure
The missing necklace- red, white and blue…a special treasure

It was found by Lyn’s husband, Mike, who found the piece of glass a little more than two years ago during a trip to Italy. The couple collected sea glass whenever they had the chance. They always planned on turning it into jewelry, though they had yet to complete any projects.   The sea glass was frosted white with a touch of red, the color of Mike’s birth stone, and aqua, the birth stone of a child they had lost at birth.   The found piece was special, but would become even more special a few months later.

Mike on a vacation searching for sea glass

The couple returned from their vacation, and Mike went to the doctor to check on some leg pain that had started troubling him shortly before the trip. What doctors found was cancer so advanced it was causing his bones to break. Mike died 65 days later at the age of 66.

Months later, while reminiscing the last time she and her husband were enjoying life in Italy, Lyn remembered the sea glass piece that brought them so much joy, and her wonderful memories came flooding back.  It was then that Lyn decided to turn it into a pendant to keep close to her heart.

Lyn wore the necklace almost constantly until about a year ago, when she took a trip to Disney World with her brother. She was changing quickly in an airport bathroom, trying to catch a flight on which she was flying standby, and she set the necklace aside. In her rush to get to her plane, she left the necklace behind.

Lyn spent the next week calling the Orlando airport in tears every day, but nobody ever turned the necklace in. There was a flight to Zurich leaving from the gate next to the bathroom. And there were many other flights departing around that time. The necklace could have gone anywhere.

Lyn was losing hope, when her friend decided to help and has made it a mission to help Lyn find the precious treasure.   We’re doing this article to help Lyn find her necklace…read her interview below:

NASGA: Can you share the excitement and circumstance the day Mike discovered the special sea glass piece in Italy?

Lyn:    I do have to share, that on the day that he found the sea glass, we had no idea that his body was being filled with cancer. His leg started to hurt just before we left, as a result of testing out a pair of shoes that he purchased for the trip. His leg bothered him the whole time.  When we got home, we learned his leg had started to fracture. Upon further investigation, we learned he had rapid, aggressive cancer. December 21, 2012, we learned he had fatal cancer.  65 days later he passed away.

On November 3, 2012 on our vacation in Italy, we were on the Amalfi Coast.  We had taken a bus tour there, as the road was not for the faint of heart.  The town, Amalfi, was known for it’s pottery. It is such a beautiful town and equally beautiful day.  Set right in the mountain. We had half a day to spend there.  So of course the beach is always a draw.  And of course, we would “hunt” for treasures.  Several pieces of worn pottery had washed up on shore which we collected.  We had the habit of collecting a few pieces and then come together to share our treasures. But when Mike found that piece, he called me over.  “Lyn, look at this!” I thought maybe he was holding our favorite aqua or baby blue glass.  I had never seen anything like it (nor have I since).  I told him that when we got home, I was going to have it made into a necklace (I have never had any pieces we found made into jewelry)…..

I’ll share in a later question what made that glass even more amazing and more special than I could ever imagine.

NASGA:   When asking you for an interview, you loved a tag line on my email signature “Life is Just Like a Wave, You Can’t Change the Way it Breaks, Just the Way You Ride it”.  You mentioned those words described your life now, do you feel you’re getting strong enough to ride those waves?

Lyn:      Ha Ha, it depends on the day.  Mike was a fighter.  Till two hours before he died, he fought to live.  I think only then it occurred to him, “hmmm I don’t think I’m going to beat this thing”.  I guess I’m trying to follow his example.  Wouldn’t it be such a loose to not live this beautiful life in honor of Mike.  To not focus on all we have been given, to not appreciate my kids, grandkids, family, friends because I lost Mike?  I determined the day after Mike died, that I would get up every day.  I would look for the good, I would allow myself to grieve deeply, but not be overcome. Many days are filled with tears as memories roll down my checks.  As I write this, I am on a two day little trip to Duluth, MN on Lake Superior. Our honeymoon town (would have been 46 years). And as the years went by a place we always loved to use as our get a way.  I come here every now and then to feel the memories up close.  I can almost feel him here.  It is our place.  Today I found two pieces of sea glass, which we rarely found up here since the shore is all rocks.  It is a bittersweet time.  As to your question, this place is a place that makes me stronger.  Yes I feel strong enough….today…

NASGA:  You have been searching for your lost necklace for over a year now, do you think you will find it one day? 

Lyn:     Yes.  When the airplane took off from the Orlando Airport, where I left my necklace, I thought it was gone forever.  One day a good friend of mine said, “I have an idea to find your necklace.  It’s a five year plan though, and then she started contacting newspapers (only my local paper has written about it, but that is how I met all you sea glass folks).  We have done some Facebook requests to share.  We have gotten the word out to family and friends.  It is slowly growing.  And everywhere we go we look for it.  However, I basically feel it will come back to me, because of my Faith.  I just believe it will…partly because of why Mike found it…because it was so special.  It was a gift to me from Above, at a time when I needed it the most.  I’ll explain in the next question….

NASGA:  As collectors ourselves, we know how exciting it is to find a special piece of sea glass, many with special meanings, too, so your story strikes a cord with all sea glass collectors.   Do you feel that any of your other pieces you and Mike collected together are special enough to replace the piece that was lost?

Lyn:     I wish I could say yes, but the answer is no.  As fellow sea glass collectors, you know every piece is special, well maybe not the browns and common greens haha, but we have never found any piece like this.  Here is the reason.  When Mike showed me this piece in the town of Amalfi, I had no idea of it’s importance.  When we got home from our trip, we started to deal with all the medical issues with Mike.  The piece of sea glass sat on the counter.  I never moved it.  I was too busy taking care of Mike, so critically ill.  The piece waited, seeming less important, a necklace was the last thing on my mind.  A month after Mike died, I took the sea glass to my local “Vintage Market”.  A cute shop in my little town, where I knew a gal could put together a necklace for me.   With tears I told her where it came from and it’s importance to me, however I wasn’t aware of how amazing it was.  I asked her to please don’t lose it. The day came, when it was done.  She said this a gift to you from me. She said I had a hard time getting the wire to wrap around the glass.  Then finally, when I realized it was a heart, the wire easily wrapped around it. I looked down at the glass as it was now around my neck.  I gasped.  I never realized it was a HEART.  If that weren’t enough, the baby blue color and the ruby color on the glass also were significant. I finally realized at that moment, that the blue was the birth stone of our stillborn son, born full term many years ago, and the ruby color was Mike’s birth stone!! And, even more significant, the fact that it was red, white and blue….we were married on Flag Day!!  A profound find…

NASGA:  Beachcombing has long been a therapeutic way to relieve the stress of the day and takes all your worries out to sea.  Do you still beachcomb?  Do you feel it brings you peace?

Lyn:     Oh yes.  If there is a beach, I’m looking.  This year I found a golf ball at two different locations.  I had a chuckle, Mike loved to golf.  Today, as I mentioned, I found two pieces.  Yes, it does bring me peace.  It is a comfort. Such a fun hobby…

NASGA:   You and Mike would collect sea glass during your travels, is there a favorite place that you would hunt for sea glass, besides Italy, that is special to you?   Is there another piece that you found that also has special meaning to you or offers a special reminder of your travels with Mike?

Lyn:    Three places gave us abundant “hauls”, we always had the place to ourselves.  (1) The first was in Okinawa, Japan.  It was about 8 years ago.  We walked a path in the brush, that ended in a cove.  We could have walked away with hundreds of pieces.  It was everywhere.  Beautiful colors.  Beautifully worn…”done” as we would call them.  So fun. (2) Another place is more accessible, if you are on Oahu, Hawaii.  We have been able to travel to Hawaii many times.  Delta benefits helped with that.  After breakfast, on our first morning, we would walk about two miles along the beach.  We found this place quit by accident on that walk. There is a reef in this location, AND great amounts of sea glass.  I went back there this year.  A bittersweet memory.  I didn’t find any glass, only a golf ball.  Haha.  I think I got there too early as the tide wasn’t out. (3) The last place is Hana, Maui. A local had told us about the horrific tidal wave that had come many years ago.  They had relatives who had died in the event.  In the bay, right in town, on that day, we looked for sea glass.  We mainly found some pottery that had washed up, just as the local had said happened all the time.

We have found only two pieces of red glass. We found two, on the same beach, Lanikai.  Also on Oahu.

Oh my goodness, even as I write this, I realize in answering this question, that the color is Mike’s birthstone.  I guess I’ll be going into my little town and asking my “Vintage Market” lady” (her business name is “Sistas With Bad Habits) to make me another necklace…

NASGA:  That’s wonderful that you found a new sea glass piece to treasure! Do you generally beachcomb alone, or do you have friends that accompany you on searches?

Lyn:      We would always search alone.  Most friends don’t even know what sea glass is. Now, however, I search with my Grandchildren.  It is such fun to teach them about these free, priceless, treasures…

NASGA:   In addition to sea glass, do you scout the beaches for other nautical treasures?

Lyn:     Not too often.  Only if there is not glass.  On a beach again in Hana, Maui, we found a beautiful piece of cotten fishing net.  Beautiful colors, aqua, green, blue.  I think it reminded us of the beautiful sea glass colors.  I still have it, in our bathroom…

NASGA:  Do you have another memorable beachcombing experience you can share with us?   And what did you find?

Lyn:     A month after Mike died, my kids took me to the Canary Island.  My grief was raw and barely beginning. Couples would walk by, just as Mike and I would walk the many beaches through the years.  It cut deep. Someone had made a heart of rocks from the beach.  A vehicle must have ridden over the heart, as it was now a broken heart, but the shape remained.  It was how I was feeling.  Now, my heart too is hurt, but the wonderful memories remain…

NASGA:   What are some of the beachcombing destinations included on your “bucket list”?

Lyn:    I’m going to Ireland with my niece this Summer…I’ll be hunting there.  Mike and I planned to visit New England, Myrtle Beach and Alaska. To be honest, I hadn’t planned a future life without Mike in it.  So I’m still working on a bucket list.  I’m sure I’ll figure it out.  In the mean time, I’ll keep hunting in Hawaii, as my daughter lives there…

NASGA:  Wonderful to hear you’ll visit Ireland, hoping you’ll be able to find some special Irish sea glass.  Aside from collecting, what are some of your other interests or hobbies? 

Lyn:    I love to watch my Grandchildren.  The scavenger in me also enjoys garage sales and thrift stores.  I sew, enjoy crafts and puzzles.  I love to travel.  Church and my faith hold it all together. Without Faith, Family and Friends, I would spend the day in bed, haha…

Missing necklace – Contact Lyn is found 612-281-4747
Contact Lyn Koch
612-281-4747

Richard LaMotte moves on…

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Richard during the 2014 NASGA festival in Cape May, his last festival as President
Richard during the 2014 NASGA festival in Cape May, his last festival as President

The NASGA community would like to express our sincere appreciation for our former president, Richard LaMotte, whose inspiration and determination have benefited the organization in many ways. Along with Charles Peden and a handful of other key sea glass enthusiasts, Richard was instrumental in the establishment of the association and has served tirelessly on the executive board of NASGA for many terms. The humble, accomplished author’s knowledge of sea glass, coupled with his professional experience and common-sense approach to budgeting have significantly contributed to the continued success of NASGA.

 

Richard LaMotte’s final President’s Letter

In 2015 the North American Sea Glass Association will begin its 10th year—now under new leadership. Terms have been completed by all the founding board members with the only one exception, our stalwart Lisa Hall of Maine. Please welcome Val Weston as our new president and continue to lend a hand whenever possible so we can keep NASGA moving forward.

The annual festival remains a primary task for the board and our members who wish to see it continue. At our first national sea glass festival in October of 2006, nobody knew what to expect. Only one board member had visited the site and when the rest of us drove into Santa Cruz we could only hope our efforts to promote the show, without funding, would allow us enough revenue to host future events. The attendance of just over 1,000 was barely enough to cover expenses, but the enthusiasm led us to try again and a similar attendance figure was achieved in 2007. Then we came east in 2008 and hosted the festival in Lewes that attracted over 4,000 visitors to the small Virden Center. Other venues were tried with variable results then two events in Virginia drew attendance figures of only 2,000 each. The decision to host the event in Cape May was not easy but the board was faced with limited options. That experiment left a bitter taste for masses who tried to enter on Saturday morning. The board looked hard at expanding that venue but in the end an ideal weekend at a larger venue recently opened up in Ocean City, Maryland. This is where the 2015 sea glass festival will be held on August 29-30. More space, plenty of on-site parking and nearby lodging options.

We regret that the Cape May venue was too small to accommodate the unexpected surplus of attendees. The facility at the Ocean City Convention Center will certainly be a more wide-open and welcoming experience for all.

Sincerely,
Richard

A collectors Interview – Lisa Crabtree – Florida

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l&c-2

Credited to fate (and possibly, in part to a “Peace, Love, and Sandy Feet” tee shirt I wore while boarding a bus in St. George), I was extremely fortunate to cross paths with Lisa Crabtree, our featured collector in this issue of Shorelines. A Florida resident with a deep passion for sea glass, Lisa introduced me to some prime collecting sites in Bermuda, and in turn, I introduced her to NASGA!
By Ellie Mercier, member,
North American Sea Glass Assocation

 

NASGA: Hello again Lisa! First, thank you for teaching me that a profitable beachcombing trip is not necessarily limited to returning home with an abundance of gems from the sea, yet if Mother Nature’s timing is especially ideal, an unexpected encounter with a fellow collector could blossom into a meaningful new friendship! Can you share the circumstances surrounding your discovery of sea glass?  I was fortunate to have met the “right person” at the “right time.” My boys had just moved out of the house, and I was experiencing the empty nest syndrome and desperately needed a hobby after work. One day, a newly hired coworker had on a piece of sea glass jewelry, and I had never seen anything so beautiful that wasn’t an actual gemstone. My co-worker shared that her boyfriend had found the shard while walking on our local beach, and he was kind enough to share his knowledge of how to find these gorgeous gems with me. Once I found my first piece, I was hooked. It was “hello new hobby,” and “bye-bye empty nest syndrome!”

 

green sea glass
Special Green sea glass

NASGA: Since beachcombing is an ideal form of therapy for those experiencing the “empty nest syndrome,” I have a strong suspicion that the timing of your newfound hobby was not a coincidence! Do you have a special piece you can share with us?   I actually have several favorites, but the one that stands out is a Kelley-green patterned piece that I found when my oldest and dearest friend, who was intent on learning how to hunt for sea glass, came into town for a quick visit. Despite the fact that the weather on this particular day happened to be rainy and windy and the tide was exceptionally high with rough surf, I was optimistic we would find a piece in the shade of green that my friend desired. Still empty handed as the end of our walk neared, a strong wave rolled in, and as I looked down at the edge of the surf, I eyed a green piece and screamed out, “Green!” However, when I dove in to grab it, I missed, and my friend, who had been watching me intently, followed the piece and was able to scoop it up. Ironically, not only was the sea glass in the shade of green she had hoped for but it was a beautifully tumbled and patterned piece. I believe that my girlfriend’s mother was our “sea glass angel” that day and sent the beautiful gem our way from heaven. It remains the only patterned piece I’ve spotted on my local beach and was an amazing first find for my girlfriend.

NASGA: What is your definition of an “ideal” find?   My absolute favorite color is turquoise. Although the hue is extremely uncommon, particularly in Florida, I do have one small piece of turquoise sea glass in my collection that I found locally.

NASGA: Is there a specific beach that you regularly frequent or do you generally comb in various areas?   I primarily search along Florida’s central east coast beaches and have been very lucky to find an array of sea glass in this region, including rare shades of black and yellow (as well as turquoise, of course)! I must comment that it requires a sharp eye to locate these beauties. Outside of Florida, I have combed on the Jersey shore and have had the opportunity to hunt in Bermuda twice last year (and my husband and I just made plans to return to Bermuda over the summer for a third visit)!

NASGA: Do you generally beachcomb alone, or do you have any designated “partners in crime” who accompany you on searches?   I comb with my husband the majority of the time, but lately, the activity has become a family affair. My youngest son, who never particularly enjoyed the beach, is now combing with us on a weekly basis. It’s the thrill of the hunt that brings us all together.

 NASGA: In addition to sea glass, do you scout the beaches for other nautical treasures?   My husband and I love to collect driftwood, buoys, and old lobster traps, many of which we find in the Keys. Some of these remnants have been repurposed into picture frames and yard art. One cool find was a piece of driftwood shaped like a whale.

NASGA: Aside from the obvious payoff of discovering nautical treasure, are there other benefits of the hobby that you revel in?   I revel in the simple beauty of the beach and everything it has to offer; it allows me to find peace, rejuvenate my soul, and occasionally, to find myself after getting lost from time to time in the daily shuffle of life.

NASGA: Your words of wisdom in response to the previous question beautifully capture some of the key advantages of the pastime! Do you have a memorable beachcombing experience you can share with us?   It would have to be the time I observed three baby sea turtles making their way to the ocean. If it were not for my new found love of beachcombing, I never would have witnessed this once-in-a-lifetime event since I used to spend my days ashore with my behind planted in a beach chair!

 NASGA: You mentioned previously that you create picture frames and yard art with your beach finds. Do you incorporate your discoveries into other projects and/or home décor as well?   This hobby has opened up many new doors for me and has especially allowed me to discover a creative side to myself that I never knew existed; I couldn’t be any happier. Most of my collected remnants are reserved for jewelry projects and shadow box art (yet it can be difficult to part with my creations since I develop a connection with each piece of sea glass I bring home). I also enjoy dividing my finds by color and displaying them in glass jars on windowsills throughout my home. Currently, my husband is working on a sea turtle mosaic with his Bermudan finds, so I am anxiously awaiting to see the finished project adorned on one of our walls!

NASGA: What are some of the beachcombing destinations included on your “bucket list”?   Many sea glass destinations remain on my “bucket list,” and I hope to cross them all off in this lifetime, but the beaches of Spain (where, as my intuition tells me, I would discover a nice sized shard of turquoise) absolutely top the list.

NASGA: Aside from collecting, what are some of your other interests or hobbies?  Before I discovered sea glass hunting, I enjoyed metal detecting, and although I never found anything of substantial monetary value, I did find an old matchbox helicopter buried in my yard that belonged to my son some twenty years earlier. Similar to sea glassing, those “thrill of the hunt” hobbies are what intrigue me the most. Every piece of found treasure tells a story.

NASGA: Many collectors would likely agree that the history associated with found remnants is certainly one of the main attractions of the pastime. To illustrate, for the past two decades, my Father and I have frequently combed along a specific section of the Chesapeake Bay, and every now and then, we discover a tiny, square, blue or maroon ceramic tile; not only do we continue to speculate about the original source of these tiles, but each time I happen to find such a specimen when combing alone, I immediately think about my Father and break into a smile, and vice versa. It is truly fascinating that a small, seemingly trivial, tangible object could represent a link to the past as well as initiate a connection between two individuals. Do you have any parting thoughts, or perhaps a helpful tip for fellow collectors?    Probably the most valuable advice is that I am often successful in finding rare shades of sea glass along the highest wrack line closest to the dunes, as some of the treasures that lay buried in the “sands of time” are eventually unearthed during high storm tides.

NASGA: Lisa, thank you for entertaining the sea glass community with your personal stories and wisdom and for pointing out that the pastime has allowed you to overcome the “Empty Nest Syndrome,’ which effectively demonstrates the intense passion and inspiration for the hobby shared by many collectors. And as always, “Peace, Love and Sandy Feet!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NASGA News – February 2015

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NASGA NEWS – February 19, 2015
by Valerie Weston, President, NASGA

With the new year, NASGA has transitioned to a new board of directors, and the board has taken some time to reflect on what the association has been able to accomplish for the sea glass community; what we have learned from the successes as well as those efforts that may not have gone as planned.  Along with the support of the commercial members, the board takes its stewardship of the sea glass community seriously.  We continue to foster the same passion for genuine sea glass and are proud that we have created a fun and civilized space to share that enthusiasm with each other on many different levels.  Please take a minute to “meet” the NASGA Board of Directors on the NASGA website.

The NASGA social network, NING, is always free of charge and is a “non-commercial” space open to all collectors of genuine sea glass to associate with one another.  The membership has risen to over 3,000.  The NASGA Facebook is growing in popularity as well.  In 2014, we began a blog and have big plans to expand that avenue of communication going forward.  The NASGA website continues to draw interest from around the globe as the premier site for genuine sea glass enthusiasts.  All of these channels of sea glass community outreach are now being coordinated by a newly created Communications Committee as we continue to explore ways to keep our message fresh, relevant, and consistent.

The NASGA website homepage contains links to join in all of these ways to share with the sea glass community.

2015 NASGA Sea Glass Festival logoAs we kick into high gear on the planning of the 2015 North American Sea Glass Festival, we are keeping in mind that it will be the tenth festival, the first being held in 2006.  Plans are under way to make it memorable – for only positive reasons.  It will be held at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland on August 29 & 30.  The festival will take place in the 24,000 square foot Bayfront Ballroom on the second level, plus additional space for lectures.  The entire east side of the Ballroom is a glass wall that overlooks the Isle of Wight Bay.  We can assure you that there is ample space for attendees, ample free parking, food and beverages on site, excellent educational presentations, and the most talented sea glass artisans and authors on the planet whose commitment to NASGA’s mission is supported through membership.

Please make plans to join us for our tenth sea glass festival celebration in Ocean City.  We will keep you updated with all the latest news on the festival planning through our website festival page, and through the NASGA Festival Facebook page.

We would like to close by thanking all of the NASGA board members who have worked so hard on behalf of the genuine sea glass community from the association’s inception in 2007.  We thank Christeena Minopetros and Suegray Fitspatrick whose board terms ended in 2014 but whose commitment continues on the committee level.  Founding member and President Richard LaMotte’s board term also ended in 2014.  He had served on the board since its inception, and we express heartfelt appreciation for his leadership, commitment, and passion for the sea glass community for so many years.

Valerie Weston, President
On behalf of the NASGA Board of Directors

Sea Glass Insulators: Intriguing, Illustrious Finds

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The History surrounding Sea Glass Insulators: Intriguing, Illustrious Finds
By Ellie Mercier, member North American Sea Glass Association

Discovering remnants of historical significance is certainly one of the most fascinating thrills of the hunt, and uncovering finds boasting the romantic charm of those derived from the bygone era of insulators is no exception.

Blue insulator
Blue insulator

The desirable attributes of insulators are not limited to beauty and nostalgic appeal, but the invention of these sought after collectibles was integral to the advancement of technology. During the nineteenth century, hopes for a promising future following the discovery of the telegraph began to fade when it became apparent that society lacked a viable means to transport electricity. However, attributed to the debut of the insulator in 1844, public faith in the innovative technology was soon restored. Originally produced from glass, in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes, insulators were installed on telegraph lines (and eventually, on telephone and power lines) to separate the wires from the tall wooden poles used to secure the lines in the air. Their purpose was to keep the wires isolated to allow electricity to pass through without interference. As technology progressed, particularly as the railroad expanded and electricity was required to operate train signals at stations throughout the nation, the demand for insulators skyrocketed, and hundreds of millions were manufactured between 1875 and 1930.

aqua insulator - a common color
aqua insulator – a common color

Alike bottles (and sea glass remnants), the majority of insulators were either colorless (clear) or produced in the shade of aqua (due to the fact that glass possesses a green tint in its natural state); however, glass insulators were fabricated in many other colors as well, including amber, cobalt, darker greens, and purple. Around the turn of the century, the onset of higher-voltage electric wires prompted a demand for ceramic insulators, of which offered more protection for wires than their glass counterparts. Ceramic insulators were also manufactured in multiple hues, ranging from yellows and greens to blues and browns. In addition, factories tested insulators of various shapes and sizes to develop models that would efficiently hold the electrical wires in place and ensure the wires remained insulated.

After an entire century of active production, the demand for insulators significantly declined as utility and electric companies began to install wires underground, and by the 1960’s, it was common to observe retired insulators, in an array of colors and styles, strewn on the ground in the vicinity of railroad tracks and construction sites. Not surprisingly, individuals began to seek out the charming, but no longer practical objects, prompting a flurry of passion for insulators that would ultimately inspire a generation of collectors and continue into the twenty-first century. In fact, the 1960’s onset of  “insulator fever” was so intense that by the end of the decade, pioneers of the hobby had founded The Crown Jewels of the Wire, the first national insulator magazine, and another major milestone transpired in 1973, with the establishment of the National Insulator Association.

Blue insulator sea glass - photo by Lisa Crabtree
Blue insulator sea glass –
photo credit Lisa Crabtree

 

As enthusiasm for the hobby continued into the 1990’s, the value of insulators skyrocketed, and it wasn’t unusual for rare specimens to fetch thousands of dollars at auction houses. For the most part, insulators manufactured between 1885 and 1960 are considered collectible, yet those produced prior to the turn of the century are the most desirable. Generally, collectors determine the values of insulators based on the same characteristics used to rate sea glass and bottle finds, including color, shape, condition, and the presence of, or lack of embossing. Since they were produced in 460 shapes, 2800 different embossing patterns, and almost 9000 color combinations, it often takes time to become familiar with the multiple varieties of insulators. Therefore, insulator price guides are an extremely helpful resource for novice and experienced collectors alike. The guides are not only ideal for identifying manufacturer marks and style numbers commonly embossed on insulators, yet they feature sections dedicated to topics such as foreign produced insulators, the countless styles of insulators (IE: pin type and non-pin type), and favored collectibles, including the beloved ‘Mickey Mouse” shape and highly prized examples comprised of carnival glass.

Insulator sea glass - photo by Lisa Crabtree
Insulator sea glass – photo by Lisa Crabtree

Today, support for the pastime remains strong, as reflected by the numerous clubs and shows that exist around the globe in celebration of the vintage beauties. In addition, hobbyists have access to dozens of insulator-related websites. Two particularly notable online presences include www.nia.org, hosted by the National Insulator Association, and www.insulators.info, a site referred to as “Insulator Collectors on the Net,” which has a following of 1500 members.

In addition to history buffs and railroad enthusiasts, it’s common to encounter sea glass and bottle collectors at insulator shows due to the fact that the pastimes share a direct connection to the history of glass manufacturing and the timeline of bottle production. Whether admiring a lustrous insulator made from carnival glass or discovering the smoothly tumbled remains of a cobalt insulator ashore, the experience is bound to arouse nostalgia for the romantic charm of an earlier