Alan's background is comprised of 35 years in the electric utility field which has included working as a lineman, an engineer, and his current position of General Superintendent for the local Public Utility District. He is presently undertaking a significant research project regarding the technical evolution of the generation, transmission and distribution of electric power. This includes construction methods, engineering practices, material specifications (including insulators) and general operation. He also buys. sells and trades go-with items including insulators, books, catalogs, apparatus, tools, etc.

During my research I recently came across the following procedure in the American Electricians' Handbook which I thought readers might have some interest in. Improvising has always been a part of a lineman's way of dealing with emergency repairs. It would seem to me that this procedure was in actuality rarely utilized. Can you imagine a lineman using the procedure on a peacock blue CD 162!?!

EMERGENCY STRAIN INSULATORS: These can be made by knocking the end out of common glass line-wire insulators as illustrated in Fig. 39. To break out the end, hold the insulator in one hand and strike the inside of the top a sharp blow with the handle of a pair of pliers or with a screwdriver held in the other hand. Where one insulator will not give sufficient insulation, two or more can be used in series. Emergency strain insulators thus made are not strong enough for heavy guy wires but more suitable for insertion in line wires.