New Zealand Insulators
by Chris Buys, Boulder, Colorado
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", April 1970, page 10
Recently, insulator enthusiasts seem to be showing more interest in foreign and porcelain insulators. Since New Zealand insulators fulfill both of these requirements, I thought some of your readers might enjoy seeing a few sketches of some New Zealand porcelains.
The insulator style shown in sketch number one closely resembles the African insulator owned by Mrs. Ira Goff (see Grown Jewels, Vol. 1, No. 11, pg. 18, 19). I have three size variations (4"x 2-1/2"; 4"x 2-3/4"; 4-1/2"x 3") in this flat top. Each one is glazed brown except for the top and each has the letters N. Z. stamped in the top. One thing that does distinguish this particular New Zealand insulator style insulator from the African insulator is an elongated inner skirt which protrudes past the outer skirt. This is by far the most prevalent style of New Zealand insulator.
Sketch number two gives the appearance of a modified Hemingray 109. It has no threads, is glazed brown, comes in at least two sizes (3-3/4"x2-3/4"; 2 -3/4x2") and has N. Z. stamped on the upper lip.
The style illustrated by sketch number three is perhaps my most unique New Zealand porcelain insulator. It measures 3-3/4"x3-1/2", has the usual brown glaze, and like the others bears an imprinted N. Z. on its skirt.
Finally, sketch four illustrates a New Zealand power insulator (5"x3-1/8"). A tag attached to the inside of this particular brown porcelain insulator is inscribed:
'TESTED N.Z.I. Ltd. /75,000 Volts".
Although other styles and colors (white mainly) of insulators do exist in New Zealand, the vast majority of the insulators I have seen on the North Island between Auckland and Wellington were porcelain and similar to the styles illustrated by sketches one through four.
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