Porcelain Insulator News
by Jack H. Tod

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 1972, page 24

Tom Kasner (Bend, OR.) recently reported having dug some nice porcelains in an old dump. These are 9 1/4" multis which appear to be the early Locke #315. They have the early Locke tradename "VICTOR" and are glazed a pretty, light blue-green color. Since Tom collects only glass, he wants to trade these and shouldn't have any trouble there.

A number of collectors have reported having the U-47 pin type with the "F E D C 0" crown marking shown on page 22 of July. One collector also has this in white. These could turn out to be more readily available in time, but I have to rate them as TUF presently.

Ben Hong (Richardson, Texas) reports what I consider an unusual Illinois "advertiser" item. This is a brass box for paper clips, etc. Embossed on both outside and inside the cover is the Illinois map outline with insulator atop it and "MACOMB, ILL." below it. Porcelain advertisers are not uncommon, but this brass box one in very unusual.

Larry Harmon (Wentzville, Mo.) called to make a preliminary report an a new porcelain threadless a friend dug in an old dump, and which Larry now owns . Sounds like a nice new find, and we'll get a drawing or photo of it in the column as soon as the mails will allow.

Several Locke specialists and other knowledgeable porcelain collectors have reported finding various early Locke items with the "wordy" markings of under-glaze type instead of the customary incuse handstamps. All of these thus far have been on white specimens and with either blue or black u-g ink, except for one solitary specimen of the marking on the light tan (butterscotch) color. Everyone has indicated this under-glaze marking is rare for early Locke items, and I am quick to agree with that.

An usual, I goofed - more than once, of course. On page 20, July, the Oakman patent was referred to as "the Roman helmet type of tie", whereas the patent covers the internal skirt threads on glass insulators. On page 18, August, I neglected to mention the full-date marking which is currently being used on pin types by Pinco.

We've had such good luck so far, maybe a reader can tell us what the hole through the crown of the U-70 (at right) is for.

Dear Jack:

On page 23 of July 1972 is a picture of a dummy pothead and a question as to what it was. I am attaching a crude sketch of the device and its use. The pothead provides a method of terminating and sealing the underground cable from moisture and a means for disconnecting the overhead line from the underground cable.

When disconnecting, the dummy cap is placed over the pothead, and the pothead cap with flexible cable is placed over the dummy pothead. The dummy pothead shown in July was used extensively from about 1920 to 1950 on circuits up to 5000 volts, and there are several still in use today.

I am also enclosing a rough sketch showing how the "Triple Insulator Arm" was used as collectors have guessed wrong about this one. Since series-connected street lights operate at loop voltages up to 8 to 10Kv total, this insulator was designed to insulate the lamp fixture from the mast arm and to provide insulated supports for the lead wires to the overhead wires, thus removing the strain from the fixture terminals themselves. 

There are other versions of this insulator, but each one has the center porcelain piece and the porcelain spools at the ends of the extended arm . By the way, I have two insulators which have been in my possession since 1924 at which time I started collecting insulators. I noticed in some previous issue of Insulators that someone had been collecting insulators for eight years and claimed to be one of the earliest collectors. 
Yours very truly, 
Frank Donnelly 
3905 Central Ave.
Western Springs, Il. 60558

Many thanks, Frank. Our curiosity on these items was near the boiling point. Your 48 years of collecting is hard to top. J. Tod

Dear Jack:

I have an insulator (right above) that was found here in Frankfort, and it was used as I've sketched it (above). The metal bracket is held in with a lead allay, and would it harm the insulator if a torch was used to melt the lead? If you have any information such as origin, manufacturer, use, value, etc. please let me know.
Mike Dawkins, Frankfort, Ky.

Answer:

These "pipe mounting wireholders" are a standard item of manufacture, and I've shown another one (left above) I have with "FINDLAY 1938" marking. And this is also a good place to relate that all theme numbers in the 1900-2000 block on Findlay (and later P.P. Inc.) wireholders are their catalog numbers and not dates. Although yours isn't marked, I would guess it is also a P.P. Inc.

The unusual thing about these particular ones in that they are of a petticoat design, whereas the more normal wireholders with lag screws and threaded studs have a flat base. Unaltered, it would have a trade value of several dollars. You can melt the lead alloy carefully with a torch but then you won't have an "insulator" - just a hunk of porcelain and a pile of metal. Everyone to himself in how and what he collects, but I personally collect insulators for what they are and don't subscribe to the practice of removing the hardware (or "Junk", some say). J. Tod