1978 >> April >> Irish Insulators and English Inks  

Irish Insulators & English Inks
by Otto J. Baum

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", April 1978, page 8

Here are some pictures of insulators from Ireland, and hardware and inks from England.


#2=white porcelain spool, #3=clear CD #179.6, #4=4" hi. x 2-3/8" dia. F. P&T, #5=4" hi. x 2-7/16" dia. F.G.P.O, #6=tan porcelain 4-3/4" hi. x 3" dia. no letters, #7=wad of fiber which goes on #11 in picture of "Hardware from England", #8=used to attach service wires to houses. (all from Ireland)

#4 and #6 insulators have the skirts extending about 1/4". #5 the skirt is the same length as the shell. The insulator on #8 is 2-1/8" high x 1-7/8" dia. and is attached to the galvanized screw by some sort of cement ie: non-removable.


 

#11=a wad of fiber, #1=a rough surface (not threads), #2=wood screw threads, #3=nut-machine screw threads, #4=flat washer, #5=machine screw threads.


Here are some terms regarding the lettering on the Irish insulators. They were found in a "pit" (dump) in County Wexford, where they are called "cups". P.T. -- Post & Telegraph; G.P.O. -- General Post Office. These two companies install and maintain all lines pertaining to telephone or telegraph. E.S.B. -- Electric Supply Board, a company that maintains and installs all poles and lines pertaining to the supplying of electricity.


 

#1=clear glass ink w/sheared top, about 100 yrs. old. Rest are heavy pottery, all from England. All are called inks, though some are storage bottles.


A closer view of #'s 2-8 of the above inks.



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