Spools

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", May 1971, page 8

Spools were used in many different ways. They were used on spool brackets or racks. The spool is most commonly preferred for dead-ends, but they are also used as side-tie insulators for many electrical utility companies. A few or many were also used by the telephone companies, especially on houses where the wire was mounted to the house. With this article there are some pictures and drawings of some of the various spools.

Enclosed is a picture of some Hem 109 spools by Carl Kindstrand of Rockford, Ill. The Hemingray 109 seems to be used primarily by the railroads. In the picture, the left one is aqua, the middle is a brown amber, while the right one is clear, There are some root-beer amber spools also.

The Hemingray 103 spool is quite hard to find. The one I have came from Chicago. It seems that they were used as a dead-end on buildings. They come in various shades of aqua and clear. Some are unembossed and have very faint lettering. I have found one similar, but it is of brick composition, not pottery. (On the following page is a sketch of a dead-end on a building. )

There is one spool I have just heard of; it is the Hem 110 spool. There are probably many different types of spools I have not covered. It seems that Hem made many spools with 100 and up for a number or identification.

The D-518 spool was made by Hemingray. The one spool that has threads was probably designed to hold the lead inner sleeve better. The spools with the threads are the latest types, but they are also the hardest to find and obtain in mint shape.

This glass was clear and also flashed on with an amber coating. This coating was probably designed for better insulation or to have the same color as brown porcelain.

The other spool which has the lettering on the sides is an older one. These come in better shape, but they bruise easily, probably a softer glass. This insulator doesn't have threads for the lead sleeve. The color is a deep red amber. The clear spool in this type seems to be the hardest to obtain. There were carnival spools made, but I believe they were never used. All were found in the Hemingray dump (hearsay).

Another spool that was also found at the dump is the St. Louis Mallable Casting Co. I myself don't have any, but would like one. All of the spools listed are pretty good additions to a collection, especially the ambers. I have also drawn some ways spools have been used. I hope this has helped someone know what the spools are or how rare they are and how they were used.

Richard Case

P. S. I have found two more different types of Hemingray spools, as sketched below.

Also found an unembossed type of spool or mine insulator, shown on the following page.

This is shown about 75% actual size.

Richard Case