Insulator collectors gather in Merritt to buy, sell and trade

Early morning rays shine on the colourful glass and porcelain shapes lined up neatly on wooden racks in Bob and Bev Scafe’s field, and visitors with varied license plates from as far as California mill about regarding each piece as a treasure.

United by a common interest in insulators, these collectors make the trek to Merritt each September to participate in the Scafe’s annual insulator show where they can admire, buy, swap and sell insulators of various shapes and sizes.

Standing in the midst of his treasures, which are displayed year round, Bob estimates that his collection is made up of almost 7,000 insulators and every one of them has a story. Running his fingers along one porcelain piece, Bob explains that the British made it for use in Barbados.

“The British were masters at setting up and operating railroads,” he explains. “They exported their expertise as far as Africa.”

The first insulator however, was patented in approximately 1843 by Ezra Cornell who would later use the proceeds to found Cornell University. Originally the glass pieces were created to insulate electric telegraph wires, but as technology changed, so did their design and use. For the most part, insulators have not been used on electrical power lines since around the ‘70s. Instead, collectors from all over the world like Bob spend hours hunting them and then bartering and trading with others.

Bob says it was serendipity that got him started. Fifteen years ago he and Bev found an electricity pole down and picked up some insulators, which he thought were interesting. Later that day in Princeton he came across another glass piece in an antique store and decided to purchase it.

“I bought that one and it was a downhill slide ever since,” he says smiling.

Bob has gathered much of his collection personally by climbing poles, picking the insulators and tossing them down to his wife, Bev, who caught them with a softball mitt at the bottom.

Now, Bob says his focus is on acquiring European insulators, which he does by connecting with people online from as far as Hungary to “wheel and deal” for other pieces.  Bob’s insulator shows also serve as a way for enthusiasts to diversify their collections.

“We try to sell as much as we can, but with the money you make, you immediately go to someone else’s table and buy more,” says Bob. “You end up with just as much money in your pocket as when you started.“

James Bergman, a regular visitor to the Scafe’s annual show from Bellingham, Washington, specializes in French insulators. His table displays varied green glass pieces — the best of the best scrounged from over 25 trips to France. Pointing out different pieces of his collection Bergman indicates a unique insulator made in France but used in Italy weighing 58 pounds. To obtain another rare insulator on his table, he had to hire a professional climber in South East France to cross a river and reach it.

For Bergman, who has been collecting since 1985, much of the appeal lies in the hunt.

“There’s more to hunting than simply shooting a rhino off its feet,” he says.

In the process of gathering insulators collectors like Bob and Bergman have gathered friends along the way as well and so, Bob says, the shows are as much about the people as the insulators.

What used to be a one-day show in Ft. Langley evolved to a two-day show when the Scafes moved to Merritt and now people start arriving as early as Wednesday. Fifty to 60 people usually attend and in the past have come from Hungary, Sweden and France besides places relatively closer to home such as Trail and Alberta.

“The computer is great to connect with other insulator collectors,” says Bob. “We just have a great time with these people.”