Most insulator collectors with a knowledge of pole-line
hardware and other go-withs would be familiar with the phantom and split-phantom
transposition brackets. Many collectors with a knowledge of open-wire line
operation understand the idea of the phantom circuit. This article is on the
phantom insulator, which I would describe or define as one which appears in
various references, but which is almost never seen. I'm describing seven
insulators which would fit this category.
The first I'm considering is an amber
Armstrong 51-C3, found in Lynn R. Stuart's Insulator Guide, 1972 ed., p. 9.
Instead of being the usual CD217, Stuart's line drawing shows this as a CD
154-shaped insulator. It is described as follows: Amber, double petticoat;
3-1/4" x 4-1/4"; Embossing: ARMSTRONG A / 51-C3//MADE IN
U.S.A./10-48::::: According to the dating code, this would have been made in
1958. Does anyone have an explanation for this one?
Next is the Hemingray 517,
on p. 64 of Stuart's Insulator Guide. It is a clear, cable-top power insulator;
4-1/2" x 5-1/2", and embossed in the following way: HEMINGRAY -
517//13-46. Evidently 13 is the mold number; 46 would be the year made.
According to the line drawing the style is somewhat similar to the Hemingray 514
or the Kimble 830. Was the 517 an experimental type, or was it made on special
order? Have any of these appeared?
The third on p. 17 of Stuart's Insulator Guide, is a Barclay embossed spiral wire groove beehive. The description
follows: BARCLAY// PATENTED/OCT. 8th 1907; aqua; 3 x 4-1/4". Do any of
these exist?
This next one I would call a baby "Mickey Mouse", which
is found on p. 37 of Bill Schroeder's 800 Insulators, 1971 ed. It was made in
aqua and green; it is 3-1/4" x 2-1/2", making it considerably smaller
than the usual "Mickey". It carries the following embossing:
HEMINGRAY//PATENTED/MAY 2 1893. It would be a pleasure to find one of these if
indeed they exist!
Another phantom is a rather large -- 5" x
3-1/4" -- single skirted, two wire-groove insulator with a somewhat flattened
dome. From the drawing, it resembles a large version of the CD 115 or exchange
style. This also is a Hemingray with both the June 1890 and the May 2 1893
patent dates. Drip points are shown, and it was made in both aqua and green.
This is also on p. 37 of Schroeder's 800 Insulators. What was the intended
purpose of this insulator? The rather large size might suggest a power
insulator, but if so, why then the two wire grooves? The wire grooves are far
too close together to use this as a transposition. Again, an interesting
insulator!
The next two are found in Milholland's fourth edition. One is the
Pyrex CD 111. Has anyone seen one? The other is the H.G. CD 152, described as
follows: Embossing: H.G.CO./No 40//PETTICOAT; aqua; smooth base. I've never come
across anyone who has seen this H.G.
Undoubtedly there are other insulators,
both glass and porcelain, which are listed, but are extremely elusive. I would
be very glad to hear from any reader who has any information on any of these.
William C. Ogden 1205 Cedar Lane Virginia, MN 55792 Phone:218-741-0198.
