Dear Jack:

... hope you can answer a question on a porcelain I have. This is a white porcelain fence insulator. I know Surge made a glass CD-100 but I'm in the dark on this one. It has a 3/16" x 1/2" slot to near the top. I found this in a junk yard. I've seen only this one....

Phil Klabel, R.R. 1, Peru, Ill. 61354                                                          

Answer:

Sorry, Phil, but this stumps me too. Maybe some of the readers who know more about Surge can dig up some background on it. This was undoubtedly made for Surge by one of the porcelain plants, and I would hazard a guess it was made by the Square-D Company sometime during the 1929-1951 period at their old molded insulator division plant in Peru, Indiana. I would have to rate this as a real collector goody -- you lucky cuss.

J. Tod

Question: I'm sending you a drawing of a porcelain insulator I just picked up and would like some information on this, approximate value, and what it was used for. (Sketch was of G.E. unit, patented June 5, 1894 and similar to Westinghouse unit pictured here.) 
Howard Landon 
1891 Mecklenburg Rd. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 14850

Answer: Glad you asked since everyone else keeps asking the same question, and maybe this answer will help. 

These are "plug-type fuse cutouts" and have been made by porcelain insulator companies for over 75 years, mostly of identical or very similar design. They are mounted with screws to the crossarm or other location convenient to the transformer. The line wires ran through the small side holes to set screws. The plug is pulled out of the unit to safely replace blown fuse wire. 

The only thing that gives this any collector value is the fact that it is associated with pole lines, as are guy strain insulators, spools, etc. A reasonable trade value would be 7, same as the "Dry-Spot". If you traded it for 2 or 3 needed guy strain or pin type shapes, you would be doing o.k.

J. Tod