I'm talking about insulators

They helped foster the growth of the western United States, but it seems few people know much about these gizmos steeped in history. Luckily, we can all receive an education from the experts on hand July 8-10 at the 42nd annual National Insulator Association Show and Conference taking place in San Jose. More than 500 collectors from the U.S., Canada, Australia and England are expected to attend.

Any convention has serious work to accomplish, but I have a hunch this event will be more entertaining than most. It's got to be when you've got members known as Colin "California Kid" Jung, Dave "Pa Bell" Elliott, Bill "Mud Man" Rohde and Lou "King Pin" Hall serving as hosts.

First used in the mid-19th century, insulators made it possible to transmit electricity over long distances, which allowed the United States to grow rapidly. Later, the invention of the telegraph and the telephone greatly expanded their use.

While most insulators were made of glass, others were crafted from porcelain. Collectors seek those made in hard-to-find colors or shapes, ones produced by short-lived regional firms and other rarities. Some fetch hundreds of dollars, but most insulators bring far less.

The convention will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose.

Shop for worthy cause

The Happy Dragon, a resale shop in Los Gatos supporting EMQ FamiliesFirst, will have its twice-yearly clean-out sale July 13-15.

Scads of savvy shoppers regularly scour the shelves of this emporium for buys. I've heard about many a fabled find.

On July 13-14, everything -- other than items inside the locked showcases -- will be half-price. On July 15, it's "Bag Day." That's when everything you can fit into a grocery sack is priced at $4.

And for the first time, all books in the vintage and collectible case will be marked 50 percent off.

The shop reopens July 18 with new stock.

The Happy Dragon, staffed by a remarkably cheerful lot of volunteers, is at 245 E. Main St., Los Gatos. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. For specifics, call 408-354-4072.

Proceeds go to the nonprofit EMQ FamiliesFirst, which provides mental health care treatment, foster care and social services to children in crisis and their families.