Research Division
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", November 1972, page 33
While out hunting insulators on the old Pennsylvania Railroad in the Terre
Haute, Indiana, area, I came across an abandoned warehouse which was in
operation in 1900, if not earlier, for storage of stock belonging to major
business stores of Terre Haute. I was told by an ex-employee of Penn Central
that the warehouse was in operation even before the turn of the century. I have
found many square nails in the beams and floor.
I entered the interior to inspect the aged dilapidated building, with the
remote possibility of uncovering a few rare units for my collection. On each of
the large oak beams was a set of five porcelain spools or knobs. Most of these
porcelain knobs were of Brunt manufacture and came in the "Standard No. 1" size--3"x2 1/3", with a 3/4" groove, and the
"Standard No. 2" size, all white glazed. A few "Standard
No.9" size were found to be made of a compressed material unlike porcelain,
with a dry-process appearance and an off-white color glaze. The material was
similar to tile, the orange kind used for drainage underground. I also took off
a Hemingray No. 9 and a No. 12 from the wall.
On about six of the large beams I noticed green glass knobs, and at first I
figured they were Hemingray No. 103's. There were twelve altogether, but one was
broken at the groove. In a few days a fellow student and beginner collector and
I went back and removed the spools. After cleaning these new and different units
we noticed that the color was of a pale green or light lime green glass with an
orange peel finish, as shown in the picture. This color we have seem on Hemingray units, and we took it for granted that these were of Hemingray
manufacture. One unit, though, was of a light blue aqua quite common in
Brookfield units, with that thin to heavy grease swirl in the glass, also common
in Brookfield units. I looked up the knob in the Kareofelas-Cranfill-Fountain
catalogue reprint and did find the unit under the Brookfield reprints. It is
listed under Mfg. No. 2, List No. 700267. Dimensions are 2" In diameter by
1 7/8" tall, with a half inch hole for securing. The picture in the
catalogue is identical, and the blue one found is very close to Brookfield.
While at the Greencastle Insulator Meet last summer I traded off around five
of these spools with ease, the color being its main attraction. I traded off
another to George Bikos (a Hemingray collector) of Merriville, Indiana, who said
that it isn't a No. 103, if even a Hemingray. Robert Winkler of Michigan City,
Indiana, says that it isn't a Brookfield, due to its light pale green color, but
could be produced by a smaller firm dealing only in small units such as spools,
etc.
Your response on what you the reader might think them to be would be
appreciated. Write either Rod Taylor, Box 157 Rt. 32, Terre Haute. Ind. 47803,
or myself. I have one left for trade, and Rod has two mint units for trade. I
would also like to hear from those who traded for one of mine at the Swap Meet
held at Greencastle last summer. If anyone has an opinion of manufacture please
let me know.
Thank you,
Paul E. Mohrs
Rhoads Hall #611
Terre Haute, Ind. 47809
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