The Glass Insulators of Esperanza, S.A.

For some years now, insulators bearing the embossings of Esperanza, S.A. (ESA) have appeared in collections across the country. In Milholland's 3rd Revision, he listed a number of ESA insulators including the following: 

I have in my collection a CD 106, f-Esperanza S.A., b- C.T.N.E, in green glass and round drip points, and a similar CD 828, f-E.S.A., b-20, also in green glass, which my parents found in Spain while vacationing a few years ago. The CD 106 has standard American threads, although it is somewhat misshapen so that it does not screw onto a wooden pin. The similar CD 828 has a typical narrow European pinhole. C.T.N.E. are the initials of the Spanish telephone company.

Other than their general catalog, ESA provided me with no historical or descriptive information. Of course, my subsequent letters went unanswered. Their letterhead states that they are a "Fabrica de Vidrio y Domicilio Social" which translates to Glass factory and Social house. Unluckily, I have no idea as to the meaning of Social house in Spain and I never tried to find an answer. Perhaps one of our readers who is familiar with Spain can solve this mystery. It is interesting to note that Esperanza translates as hope; an unusual name for a company producing glass insulators!

E.S.A. catalogs a full line of glass insulators including: pintypes, rack spools, wall tubes, and tempered glass suspensions in forms similar to American porcelain styles. Their cataloged pintypes are shown in figures A through I.

Figures A and B show Type 1 and Type 2 respectively. They are produced to the specifications of I.T.T. and are provided with standard American threads. Note the round drip points. 

Figure C shows the Type N 95, (CD 179).Note that this insulator is identical to the N 95 porcelain, manufactured by Rosenthal, shown in last month's issue. Apparently this is one of the standard European designs. 

Figure D shows Type AV 1. 

Figure E shows Type ADV 1. 

Figures F and G show Types ARVI 12 and ARVI 22. Note the similarity of these to modern American porcelain pintypes. The pinholes are larger than American (35mm, Aprx. 1-3/8") but a 25mm (1") nylon thimble can be cemented in on request. Whether the gauge of the threads would allow them to be screwed on American style pins is not stated.

Figures H and I show the ARVI 32 and ARVI 42 multipart glass insulators. 

Undoubtedly their are more ESA insulators in collections and perhaps a more complete list can be published in Crown Jewels in the future.