HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY!

With this issue we mark the 10th Anniversary of this column, which has been devoted exclusively to information on foreign glass and porcelain insulators and related items. The very first article in this series appeared in the July, 1979 issue of CROWN JEWELS and was titled 'Meissen Porcelain." It told how I acquired my first European porcelain insulator in Meissen, East Germany, and I invited other foreign enthusiasts to pass along similar stories to share with CROWN JEWELS readers. 

The response has been most gratifying and I owe so much to so many collectors who have provided information and loaned insulator specimens for shadow profiles and CD/U number assignments. I am particularly indebted to Jack H. Tod and N.R. Woodward for assigning these numbers and for their support in co-authoring the books "GLASS INSULATORS FROM OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA" (Albers/Woodward) and "WORLDWIDE PORCELAIN INSULATORS" (Albers/Tod). In addition, Jack made all the final inked drawings for both books and did a lot of the printing and binding himself. It has been a privilege to work with these two giants of insulatordom and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them both again for their loyal friendship, good counsel and invaluable assistance. Here's to the next 10 years!

MARKINGS FROM EAST GERMANY IDENTIFIED!

While we don't have a great deal of information at this time, we have now been able to identify some of the markings on porcelain insulators that have been listed in WORLDWIDE PORCELAIN INSULATORS (WWPI) as "unattributed." Our contact person at PORZELLANFABRIK FRAUENTHAL in Vienna, Austria, happens to be in possession of the foreign insulator books, and has shown a lot of interest in our hobby. He has supplied some of the answers himself and has been good enough to suggest other contact for information. Hopefully, we can build on this and will eventually be able to fill in the details concerning these manufacturers.

The four trademarks that are shown below are all attributed to porcelain factories in East Germany. They belong to the Hermsdorf KOMBINAT of VEB'S. A KOMBINAT is acombination of co-op of ceramic works and a VEB is an operation owned by the people. I have an article from an East German trade journal that is in the process of being translated from German into English. It gives quite a bit of background information on Hermsdorf, which I will share with you at a future time.

VEB KERAMISCHE WERKE HERMSDORF
(Hermsdorf Ceramic Works)
Hermsdorf, Thuringia, East Germany
1890 - present

VEB KERAMISCHE WERKE NEUHAUS
(Neuhaus Ceramic Works)
Neuhaus-Schierschnitz, Thuringia, East Germany
Dates unknown to me at this writing.

VEB PORZELLANWERK VEILSDORF
(Kloster Veilsdorf Porcelain Factory)
Kloster Veilsdorf, Thuringia, East Germany
1760 - present; dates of insulator production unknown.

There is a similar marking on CD 428 found in Portugal, which is for CENTRO VIDREIRO DO NORTE DU PORTUGAL, LDA. This has no connection with the Veilsdorf Factory in East Germany as shown above.

VEB PORZELLANWERK AUMA
(Auma Porcelain Works)
Auma, Thuringia, East Germany
1909 - present.

This marking has also been found on insulators used in Russia, which, until now was incorrectly assumed to be the country of origin.

PORZELLANINDUSTRIE AG BERGHAUS
(Berghaus Porcelain Industry)
Auma, Thuringia, East Germany
May or may not he one of the VEB'S. 
Dates unknown at this time.

 
Older Marking

Present Marking

Mike Guthrie gets credit for this present marking. It came in the mail as this article was being written.

MYSTERY SOLVED ON TWO SWEDISH PORCELAIN MARKINGS

GUSTAFSBERG FABRIKER
(Gustafsberg Factory)
Gustafsberg, Sweden

Made small pintype insulators at one time, but no knowledge of present production.

ALLMANNA TELEFONBRYAN 
(Swedish Telecommunication Board - old name)
This is mark of the user; present name unknown.
  No.2 indicates the size or type of insulator.

WADE POTTERIES, England / Ireland

The marking shown below has been found on literally hundreds of porcelain insulators used in England and Ireland. Wade Potteries has two plants -- one known as George Wade & Son Limited and located in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, and the other, which is Wade (Ireland) Limited of Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland. We know that the Irish Wade manufactures insulators, as evidenced by their catalog of electro-ceramic products, which includes at least three styles of pintype insulators as well as bushings, shackles and strains. However, KOVEL'S NEW DICTIONARY OF MARKS, by Ralph and Terry Kovel, states that Wade of Ireland is known for its "porcelain," which could refer to dinnerware, and the marking is the same as found on their insulators!

I happen to know that the Wade factory in Stoke-on-Trent produces the little figurines, known as "tea animals." I have several of them and they are marked simply "Wade -- England." Perhaps they made insulators as well, but right now we do not know what else is produced at this plant, and though N.R. "Woody" Woodward sent a letter of inquiry quite some time ago, it has not been answered. We know only that the owl marking shown below is that of Wade in Ireland and that they do make porcelain insulators!

NOW LET'S "MARK" ONE UP FOR FOREIGN GLASS!

At the time of this writing, we have seen only one insulator specimen, a CD 154, embossed with the mark you see below. It has been identified as a product of CRISTALERIAS DE CHILE S.A. of Santiago, Chile. All other glass insulators we've seen coming from this plant are marked with the name CRISTALERIAS DE CHILE, or simply CRISTALERIAS CHILE, followed by a style number, but without the logo. The company is quite likely still in business making other types of glass, but insulator production took place only during the years 1945-1967 and it's uncertain whether the two embossings were used alternately or one of them is an older marking. Can anyone out there shed any light on this?