Canadian Wade Insulators
by Paul M. Plunkett

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", July 1996, page 11

Since the beginning of our family’s addiction to collecting glass insulators, the “WADE STYLE” has been one of our favorites. It all started when trekking an old line in Ohio with my wife, Ginny and son, Paul (Skip), we were very surprised to find the top of a CD 723 Wade. This was a great stretch of track and visions of threadless danced in our heads. However, on the next trip back, our dreams were shattered. In the short period since our last visit, several bulldozers were at work completely reshaping this stretch of track. For many weeks, we followed the bulldozers, but of the hundreds of Wades smashed, we recovered only one whole glass insert. Shortly thereafter, we set out to acquire a collection of Wade style insulators and have managed to accumulate a nice collection.

It was early in this endeavor that we became aware of the “Canadian Baby Wade”. This smaller wood-covered glass insert (at left below) was named after its larger U.S. counterpart (at right below). Jeptha Wade, well-known in telegraph circles, is credited with improving the J.J. Speed invention of a wood-covered glass insulator and using it on lines constructed under his supervision. Thus the reference to this style as “Wade” insulators.

There is very limited information available to provide an exact reference as to when and where these insulators were manufactured and put in use. However, I will attempt to provide my own conclusions on the Canadian Wades. These conclusions are based on a combination of the probable manufacturer, the construction of lines along various railroads, and location of insulators dug by such individuals as the Bank’s brothers (Norm, Gord, Wally), the late Carter brothers (Bert and Howard), and my brother Bill and his son, Bill, and my son Skip.

I believe the Canadian Wades to be a second generation threadless, following such insulators as the various Canadian CD 740’s and CD 718’s. As best as I can determine, based on units in our collection and those in other collections that I have personally observed, there are two (2) styles of wood covers and three (3) styles of glass inserts. The CD 721 and CD 722 were found in the same style 4-3/4 inches tall wood cover, that from the rounded top, tapered slightly outward to a base diameter of 3 inches. A wire groove was cut in the wood about 1-1/2 inches from the base. The wood is very soft and porous and is thoroughly saturated with coal tar.

The CD 724.3 had a wood cover with a thin metal shield over it. The metal shield was probably an attempt to solve the moisture problem inherent with the Wade style insulator. The metal shield was constructed of a single wrap around sheet of metal soldered at the overlap. A cap of the same material was soldered where it met the wraparound sheet. This shield was held in place by a nail about half way up the side. The nail head was also soldered.

There were two methods of attaching the line to the insulator. One used a wire groove formed by two pieces of line formed in a circle and soldered to the side. A standard tie wire was then used. This style surfaced within the last year through the efforts of Morgan Davis, Toronto, Canada. (See story beginning on page 18.) The other method used a heavy “Chester Style Ring”, tapered on the inside and outside to match the taper of the metal shield over the wood and again soldered to the metal shield. This insulator’s top was slightly rounded to a sharp edge at the top of the side. From the side to the base is approximately 3-3/4 inches tapering outward to a 3 inch diameter base.

The three (3) different glass insert styles are identified as:

CD 721 -- This is the most common style and is the tapered top dot and dash, found in two shades of blue and two shades of aqua. (See Photo 1.) Jade milk is listed, but I have not observed any in this color. The glass in this style seems to be easily etched, as most are found in that condition. Perhaps the coal tar used to hold the glass insert in place had some reaction on the glass to cause the etching. The wood covering is of the same style as the U.S. counterpart but smaller. This glass insert was probably manufactured by the Canada Glass Co., Hudson, Quebec. Jack Hayes and his wife have found a quantity of pieces at the old factory site. Based on the several lines on which this style was found, I estimate they were used in the mid 1860’s.

Photo 1. CD 721 wood-covered Canadian Wade flanked by a cornflower blue
insert on the left and an aqua insert on the right.

CD 722 -- This is the rarest of Canadian Wades, having been found on only a few small stretches of track. (See Photo 2.) This crude dot and dash, flat top Wade has been found in green, bubbly green, aqua, bubbly aqua, jade aqua. Again, the wood cover is the same style as the CD 721. The manufacturer of this insulator has not been identified. The two piece mold was very crude and misaligned the front and back sides of the insulator. Many of the samples found were underpoured, but the glass was not susceptible to etching as was the CD 721. I believe this to be the earliest Canadian Wade with limited use in the early 1860’s.

Photo 2. Eight beautiful CD 722 Canadian Wades ranging from a rich bright
green to a jade aqua.

CD 724.3 -- This Wade has a smooth surface, tapering outward slightly from top to bottom, with a small rounded flared skirt. (See Photo 3.) They have been found in olive green, olive, and amber with a slight olive tint. All samples I am aware of appear to be blackglass and require backlighting to show color. More than one mold was used to produce the glass insert as the tops vary by 1/16 inch in diameter. All examples are approximately 3 inches tall with a base 2-1/16 inch in diameter. The glass appears to be of reasonably good quality and while they appear to be very thin and fragile, many samples have been found in mint condition.

The wood shield for the flanged Wade came in two styles. (See Photo 4.) One with a wire groove formed with a set of wire rings and the other with a “Chester Style Ring”. The Chester style insulator is shown in Prescott’s “History, Theory and Practice of the Electric Telegraph” published in 1866, plate Figure 78 and 79, page 265. It is also believed that the flanged Wade came with the same plain wood shield. (See Photo 6.) This has not been confirmed but is highly probable as it is shown in Figure 78.

Photo 3. The smooth side and flared, rounded skirt at the base as found in the
CD 724.3 Canadian Wades.

Photo 4. At left is the two parallel wire ring style for attaching a line wire
to a wood shield and the solid, "fingered" Chester style ring on the right. Plate
Figures 78 and 79 are from Prescott's "History, Theory and Practice of the
Electric Telegraph", 1866, page 265.

Photo 6. Back row left to right: CD 724.3 with two wire ring wood shield; 
Chester style ring wood shield and insert; possible third style of notched
 wood shield (not confirmed). Front row left to right: CD 724.3 insert, 
complete Chester style ring (no insert or shield); CD 724.3 insert which
 might have been covered with the third style of wood shield.

While it is strictly my own hypothesis, I believe there are two possible manufacturers or suppliers of these insulators.

First, the characteristics of this glass insert are very similar to those of the olive amber “Baby Battleford” CD 734.8. The color, quality of glass, base diameter of 2-1/16 inches with a 1 inch pinhole, and similar fragile design leads one to believe they were manufactured by the same company. That company is thought to be Hamilton Glass Company, Hamilton, Ontario. I was leaning in that direction since pieces of aqua Battlefords were found at the factory site. However, the aqua Battleford in our collection was produced in a different mold than the olive amber one. It is also believed that Hamilton Glass did not produce any blackglass items. I have nothing to support this last contention and would appreciate confirmation from someone.

The second possible supplier was C.T. and J.N. Chester of New York. In the late Gerald Brown’s “Unique Collectible Insulators”, page 9, reference is made to an 1861 Chester Catalog that describes “the availability of a Chester wooden “Shield Insulator”, like the Wade. The Chester catalogue also mentions another shield insulator of similar construction but smaller, being 3 inches in diameter and 4-3/4 inches tall. However, this second smaller insulator had a vulcanized gum rather than a glass insert. I would sure like a copy of this catalogue if anyone has one. Figure 79. in Prescott’s book, mentioned earlier, shows a wood covered Wade with a Chester style ring. The cross sectional drawing shows a glass insert exactly like the CD 724.3. I have to believe the Prescott book and the Chester catalogue make a strong case to the possibility that Chester supplied these flanged Wades. I believe the flanged Wade style to be the last used in Canada possibly in the late 1860’s.

I must reiterate, the conclusions in this article are those formed by the writer. Lack of information from the era makes it very difficult to reconstruct exactly what occurred and when. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has information relative to the Canadian Style Wades. This would help in building a better understanding of these insulators and perhaps other styles.