The Canadian Pacific Ry Co -- Part II 

One of the things that makes identification a problem with some 143's is that there are some names or descriptions that are quite a mouthful. We try to shorten these in conversation, but often when we do, we "lose something in the translation." Such a situation exists with the insulators discussed in this article. 

(Drawing is by Clay Salzman)

An old Indian chief might call this variety "the one that has a mold line that splits the name, and whose side curves under to form the base." These are embossed "Canadian Pacific Ry Co" like those mentioned in the first articles, and some of them even have periods after some of the words. But there the similarity ends. This item I call Mold Style #2, and for want of a simpler name, I'll just call it the "curve-under base" type. This insulator comes in two sub- styles: 

Mold Style #2A. MLOD. Wire groove is approximately two (2) inches from the base. Embossing is tall and thin and appears to have been hand-lettered. On embossed varieties the mold line splits the name between "Canadian" and "Pacific Ry Co". The side of the mold curves under and forms the base (like Hamilton Glass, for instance), and the mold line really ends on the inner rim of the skirt. 

This mold style was produced in large quantities, and can still be seen in use. In addition to the embossed version there are also no-names. 

Mold Style #2A varieties: 

I think that this variety is the one listed in the book as the "Canadian Pacific By Co". Actually the "B" is an "R" with a closed bottom caused by embossing "RY" directly over an upside-down "". Copies of this item with good embossing clearly show both the old and the new RY's. [page] 

Most of these items are quite common and are very much overpriced. Even those with embossing errors are easy to find and worth perhaps only slightly more than the others. Those items in unusual colors, however, are exceptional and should be priced fairly high. I also have the impression that there are more unusual colors to be found in the no-name version. 

Mold Style #2B. MLOD. At a quick glance, this style looks exactly like style #2A. However, a closer look notes the lower wire groove and what appears to be a fine mold line around the outer edge of the base. Wire groove is 1-3/8 inches from the base. Embossing is split by the mold line, just as in style #2A. It has been found in only a few varieties:

My feeling is that the "low wire groove" style (as mold style #2B is sometimes called) is much scarcer than style #2A. I have seen a few of these still in use, so they are not rare. By the way, lots of people don't know about this variety, and, as a result, I have seen them a few times on sales tables at bargain prices!