Collecting Ceramic Insulators
by Gerald Brown

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", January 1970, page 3

The ceramic (pottery) part of our insulator collection is really castoffs. Although the first of the collection was two pottery insulators, the collecting was primarily concerned with glass; the pottery ones were saved but sort of relegated to the background.

However, there came the time when there were so many pretty and interesting ones, that the pottery ones were displayed and more attention was paid to that part of the collection.

Because Esta was so engrossed with glass insulators, I fell heir to the ceramics. Because I have been interested in the old and historic insulators, emphasis has been on that kind. However, all kinds have been saved, until now the collection numbers about 200 different kinds. These are all small line type, not large power types.

The picture shown on the next page is a display which is about one half of the collection. It will be noted that one shelf shows mica and composition insulators. These and rubber, iron, plastic and wooden insulators have been included in the collection. It seems that these types fit better with the pottery than with the glass. Also the rams-horns go better with this collection. Some of these are shown in the picture.

All manner of pottery "things'' which have to do with wiring, telephone and telegraph lines have been included in the collection. I call these "go-withs". There are several dozen small fence insulators, knobs, wall tubes, strain insulators, etc. in the collection. I have mounted most of these on wall plaques made of peg board.

These display boards cannot be changed, but I find it interesting to change the shelf displays. This makes it more interesting for me, as well as for visitors.

Many of these insulators have been obtained from other collectors by trading, and I have found that almost all antique stores have a few pottery insulators around, and many have been purchase. They are generally cheaper than glass ones.

1. White Ceramic from Australia
2. White knob P. P.
3. Brown Ceramic Strain insulator
4. Thomas High Voltage (miniature salesman sample?)
5. Fog bowl

1. Dry splice insulator
3. Old Locke pony

There are not so many collectors who are as enthusiastic about the ceramics, but I think it is just as rewarding as the glass and can certainly be done on a smaller budget. One drawback to collecting is that so many, especially of the older ones, are not marked in any way and are therefore harder to classify and identify. At the present time I am in the process of sketching and cataloging all of mine. I am numbering mine, and it may be that some collector or several can come up with some method of classifying that would become universal. I put the branded ones, such as Locke, Pincos, etc. in separate classifications.

Whether these insulators are classified or not, I think they can be collected and displayed, and the collection will give a lot of pleasure.