During my two years of collecting I've come across four insulators that are
marked only with a vertical dash, These dashes are from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inches
in length, usually on each mold half. After studying the design and colors they
do seem to resemble Hemingray products manufactured around the turn of the
century.
The true clincher was the shape shown in #3 sketch. This insulator was found
on New York Central in lower Michigan. It Is embossed F-I B-I followed by a
small backward 3. I have seen four others, all marked the same, all found in
about the same spot. While looking at the collection of J. Paul Kelly, of South
Bend, Indiana, I was amazed to see an insulator of the same shape and color but
embossed with PATENT/DEC 19 1871.
The beehive (#1) is the most widely found with these dashes. I own one without
the dashes, with simply an "H" on the dome, similar to that of the
H.G.CO. beehives.
I've never seen another cd 106 with these two dashes. It is the same shape,
except for a larger upper lip and the absence of drip points, as the No. 9. This
one was found on a telephone line about five miles west of Michigan City,
Indiana, that has since been replaced by cable.
My biggest surprise was when I saw a cd 210 Postal owned by Chuck Daubert, of
Sawyer, Michigan. The insulator had sharp drip points and a single vertical dash
on the front just above the points. Up to this time I thought all sharp
drip-pointed Postals were of Hemingray manufacture. Possibly the ones marked
with the dash are, and the others with points but no dash are Brookfields.
I've seen bottles with these dashes, but not many insulators around this
area. Could these bottles be Hemingrays? I do think that the insulators are.
I've also seen a lightning rod ground wire insulator with a single vertical
dash.
The drawings show the ones I've seen and own. If there are any others that
are not mentioned, or if anyone has information on these "I" embossed
units, please let me know, because I'm trying to see if this is a correct
statement. Thank you and good collecting.--30--
Paul E. Mohrs
Fairbanks Hall 316
Terre Haute, Ind. 47809
)