June 1975 Research Division

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", June 1975, page 35

I have an insulator (one of three) which was dug up recently in an old dump. It is blue green, with no threads. The center is open all the way thru, and it has raised patent letters.

Any information on this insulator as to its use, etc. would be very helpful and appreciated.

In Cranfill's and Kareofelas' last book, The Glass Insulator - A Comprehensive Reference, there's a picture of an insulator that looks suspiciously like yours. It is listed on page 131 under Lightning Arrester insulators. With this old patent date, I would think yours should be in the same category with an Otis patent. Perhaps some of our patent research buddies can come up with a better answer for you. Thanks for writing.

I am enclosing a sketch of what I believe is an insulator. However, I cannot identify it. I am expecting Milholland's new book in the mail, but I am not sure it will be found in there, either. I would appreciate it if you could tell me anything about it.

It is glass, aqua in color, has a threaded top, no other threads. The screw top measures approximately 1/2" x 1/2". The umbrella is 2-1/2" wide and 1" high. The bottom section protrudes about 1/2" and is about 1-1/16" wide. The hole is approximately 3/4". The embossing is large, the letters are open type, and the USL is run together as if on purpose.

I do not know what the letters might stand for, but a guess is U.S. Lighting. Was there such a company? I sure would appreciate it if you could help me with my little mystery. Thank you so much, and I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. We all look forward to Crown Jewels, so please keep up the good work, and have a good summer.
Sincerely
Joe R. Smith
30-60 33rd St.
Astoria, NY 11102

I'm sorry, Joe, but I'm stumped on this one. Maybe our readers can help us out. Perhaps the following note that I just received relates to this U.S.L.

Have a different bird feeder mini, 2-1/2" x 1-7/8" high, aqua, embossed UNITED STATES LIGHT & HEATING CO around base.
R. L. Perkins
Rt. 1
Hillsboro, Illinois

In answer to Bob Alexander's letter in April issue of Crown Jewels about the C.D. 162 Brookfield, I have three of these insulators. One is yellow green and very beautiful. One is aqua, full of tiny bubbles, and also beautiful. The third is aqua, and it is pretty. I think these insulators are scarce. I have been a lineman for twenty-five years, and these three are all I have found in six years collecting. I am a lineman, and if they can be found, I can find them.

Please let me agree with Mike Bliss about Eric Pierce and Jack Riesselman and Mr. Woodward, and please let me add Mr. and Mrs. Milholland. Here are five of the finest people I have ever known. Our hobby, with the knowledge of these people as dealers and as leaders, is in very good hands. And there is a very good reason for this, You cannot beat the best.

I don't get to read your magazine until the whole family gets through reading it.
Thanks again.
A. L. Rash
Rt. 3 Box 669
Silsbee, TX 76656

Thank you, Mr. Rash. I agree. But let's not lose sight of the fact that there are thousands of good honest insulator collectors and dealers out there. The very few that are dishonest or "out to take the collector" usually don't last very long. A couple of 'sour' deals, and word gets around. Pretty soon nobody will deal with them, and they are black balled. It's just a shame someone has 'to be taken' first. But until they improve on human nature, I have no solution.

I am enclosing a sketch of an insulator I got from a railroad bridge foreman. Any information that you could give me on this insulator will be appreciated. I would like to know the value of it. Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Percy O. Hill
2254 Seracedar St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Image text:

This insulator was unearthed from a depth of about twenty feet at Manchac, La. Which is about thirty miles north of New Orleans. It was believed to have been used on the I G R R bridge crossing the channel between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchratrain. Anyone having any information on this dark aqua insulator please contact
Mr Percy G. Hill
2254 Seracedar St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70816

small end of insulator is 1 and five eighths inches across and five and three quarters inches in circumference.

large end is seven and 1/2 inches in circumference.

1/4" square indenture probably for a square nail head to hold insulator in place.

2 and 1/4 inches across larger end insulator gradually tapers down one inch from inside ring to middle from each end

This insulator kinda looks like C.D. 1000.5. Then again it looks more like the one pictured on page 379 of Milholland's 3rd Revision. In The Glass Insulator - A Comprehensive Reference by Cranfill and Kareofelas, there is a somewhat similar insulator called a sleeve insert, no embossing, dates about 1850's, except theirs is dark amber green, and no price is listed. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.