Insulator Collection

This is a display cabinet of my glass pintype power insulators. These insulators were used for high voltage distribution and are the largest and heaviest glass pintype insulators produced in North America. Take insulator CD 331 which is 15" wide and 11" high and weighs in at 38 lbs, which makes it the largest and heaviest glass pintype insulator produced in North America. This Pyrex insulator was produced by the Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York in the 1930's and supported voltages of 70,000 volts. One of the more unique insulators which is really not a power insulator is the CD 317 Chambers Lightning Rod Insulator. This insulator was produced by the Hemingray Glass Company in Covington, Kentucky from c1877-1880's which were used on lightning rod systems.

A pony style of insulator known as an exchange insulator which were produced for open wire telephone distribution. Telephone exchange insulators which have double grooves were commonly used around residential areas. The upper groove was for the main line and the lower groove for the drop wire to the residence. This insulator was produced by the Hemingray Glass Company in Muncie, Indiana. The CD 113 Hemingray style insulators were produced in the c1890's-1940's. This was the very first insulator that I found for my glass insulator collection. Around 1967-68 my best friend and I were broadening our horizons when we came upon a huge telephone glass insulator dump. All the insulators were the small pony style of insulators and there were hundreds of them, but most were in bad shape. After searching around for a while I noticed some off to the side sticking partially out of the ground, so I decided to check it out. After digging for a while and finding CD 113s in better condition about 8 inches down in the ground this nice lavender Hemingray CD 113 came rolling out of the ground. I immediately grabbed it with a few other insulators and went home to clean them up. This lavender insulator turned out to only have one drip point partially chipped and some rust in the wire groove. Not bad for finding your very first insulators for your collection. Also, this dump was found right along the famous Lincoln Highway, so it's likely this insulator was used along the old Lincoln Highway which gives this insulator some historical value to it. As for sentimental value, this insulator would be at the very top of the list for my entire glass insulator collection. Today, this dump area for the last few decades has been a used car lot. For those interested, I geotagged on the satellite map the exact location. Embossing (F-Skirt) HEMINGRAY/HE No 12/[Upside down 'No' blotted out] {Note extra 'HE'} (R-Skirt) PATENT/MAY 2 1893 Index # 110

These brilliant peacock blue insulators in my opinion are the most beautiful insulator produced in North America. They were produced by the Hemingray Glass Company in Muncie, Indiana in the 1890's for the North American Telegraph Company (N.A.T.CO.). Most of these insulators came from the telegraph communication lines owned by the N.A.T.CO. from the states of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. One of their greatest origins was along the old Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad between Chicago and Minneapolis. Don't expect to find any left on the poles, the last one was taken down in 1991. The patent for May 2, 1893 was issued to Ralph G. Hemingray and James C. Gill which provided for drip points (called "teats" at the time) which would draw moisture off the surface of the insulator. Hemingray's CD 151 style of insulator was the first to use the drip points for their insulators. Embossing (Crown) N.A.T.CO. (F-Skirt) H.G.CO./PATD MAY 2ND 1893 (R-Skirt) PETTICOAT Index # 030

With A. R. Hudson posting many great photos of the CD 249 No 0, PROVO TYPE insulators in service use, I thought I would post a front and reverse side of one from my collection. The CD 249 is a large power insulator used for high voltage power distribution with a rating up to 50,000 volts. The Hemingray Glass Company in Muncie, Indiana produced these 0 Provo Type insulators in the early 1900's, and were used in service around the Pittsburgh, PA area. The April 25, 1899 patent was issued to Vernon G. Converse of Pittsburg, PA for a design patent for a power insulator assigned to the Hemingray Glass Company. This was implemented in the CD 282 and 283 and later copied by U-372. Embossing (F-Skirt) HEMINGRAY (R-Skirt) No 0, PROVO TYPE / PATENTED APRIL 25 1899 Index # 005

With A. R. Hudson posting many great photos of the CD 249 No 0, PROVO TYPE insulators in service use, I thought I would post a front and reverse side of one from my collection. The CD 249 is a large power insulator used for high voltage power distribution with a rating up to 50,000 volts. The Hemingray Glass Company in Muncie, Indiana produced these 0 Provo Type insulators in the early 1900's, and were used in service around the Pittsburgh, PA area. The April 25, 1899 patent was issued to Vernon G. Converse of Pittsburg, PA for a design patent for a power insulator assigned to the Hemingray Glass Company. This was implemented in the CD 282 and 283 and later copied by U-372. Embossing (F-Skirt) HEMINGRAY (R-Skirt) No 0, PROVO TYPE / PATENTED APRIL 25 1899 Index # 005

A very large power insulator produced by the Corning Glass Works in Corning, New York for the Pyrex trademark line of insulators which produced insulators in the 1920's - 1940's. The CD 331 Pyrex insulator with a width of 15" and height of 11" and weight of 38.25 lbs makes it the largest and heaviest glass pintype insulator produced in North America. This Pyrex insulator known as mold style No. 701 were produced in the 1930's and supported voltages of 70,000 volts. Most CD 331s were used around Dalles & Pendleton, Oregon; Walla Walla & Dayton, Washington; Montana. Here is a link showing them in service use. Photos by Bill Rohde. www.insulators.info/service/pyrex.htm