Prentiss & Vivian Noble of Pueblo, Colorado, write: We have a question for someone. We have an aqua colored pony very similar to the Hemingray #9, without drips, making it a trifle shorter. The only embossing is a very distinct square raised 7 on both skirts. Do you know what it is?

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In reply to Prentiss & Vivian Noble: Your unnamed pony insulator with the large 7 in unidentified. Several of these insulators have been found, some with the 7 and some with a 1. Most of them have been CD #151. Most of them seem to have been found in your area, so it is very possible they were made around Colorado; but they don't fit in with any of the known Colorado insulator operations.

Bob Hufman writes from Fairbanks, Alaska: I have an insulator that appears to be like the one pictured at the left. It does not show in Milholland's 1972 edition. It's aqua, unembossed, four ridges under skirt and rectangular mold dot on skirt. Please identify and indicate value, rarity, etc., if listed in later editions.

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In reply to Bob Hufman: You did not specify dimensions, but you possibly have a CD #333. It is 7-1/2 inches maximum diameter and 5-1/2 inches high. It is one of the Knowles line of high voltage insulators made in the early 1900's at Novelty Glass Company of Elmer, New Jersey. What you describe as a rectangular dot is probably the Knowles "Emerald" trademark, which was supposed to be a prism-like design, but sometimes didn't come out very well.

A query from Gus Stafford, Hollister, California: In your 1969 report on insulators, you said that the oldest Brookfields are embossed Wm. Brookfield. Are these rare?

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In reply to Gus Stafford: The statement in the "Report" concerning the embossing on early Brookfields has seemed to be a bit misleading to some. Whether the molds were engraved "Wm. BROOKFIELD" or "W. BROOKFIELD" has no meaning insofar as their age is concerned, since the William Brookfield referred to is the same man, largely responsible for the founding of the insulator business. Other markings on the insulators of that period do help to identify their age, as patent dates and addresses. It is true that the marking "Wm" was used far less than the "W"; so the "Wm" could be said to be rare with respect to the others, but not because they are older. The "Wm." marking is found most often on CD #102 and #162.

Gene Hawkins, Mooresville, Indiana, writes: I have a Lynchburg//NO. 36 - Made in U.S.A., super light aqua, SMOOTH BASE . All other Lynchburgs I have seen or heard of are "DRIPPED", but this is definitely SMOOTH. It's mint and has bubbles. Is this scarce?

Also, I have a Brookfield/New York C.D. 112. It looks more round than all others of this C.D. #. Is it found in all Brookfield C.D. 112's?

Last, this may seem like a dumb question, but what is the difference between C.D. 101's and C.D. 102's? C.D. 102 covers several variations.

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In reply to Gene Hawkins: Of just over a million Lynchburg No. 36 manufactured, at least 35,000 had a smooth base rim. Lynchburg policy was to make drip points unless the customer requested a smooth skirt. Buyers of the smooth-base No. 36 included United Illuminating Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Baker-Joslyn (wholesale distributors) in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Brookfield made the double-groove pony (CD #112) in several distinct styles. Probably the one you have is the style that some collectors refer to as "the keg".

The difference between CD #101 and #102 is in the wire groove. CD #101 wire groove is much wider and deeper than on any of the CD #102. Also, typically, the diameter at the base of the crown on the #101 is a bit greater than the diameter at the lower wire groove lip.

From Kasper Kahn, Sauk City, Wisconsin: I have a light green (PSSA #9 ). These are the front markings. What can you tell me about it? Who made it, and what is it worth?

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In reply to Casper Kahn: The V.B. insulators are unidentified, except for the fact that they are Mexican. They are found in several styles and seem to be fairly common in some parts of Mexico.

Frank Anderson, N.I.A. #474, a voice from Charlotte, Vermont: I enjoy your magazine very much. I need some information on an insulator. I have one like the CD 147 spiral groove, only mine is about 1/2" larger overall and has (Patent applied for) on the skirt.

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In reply to Frank Anderson: Your "PATENT APPLIED FOR" CD #147 is unknown to me. It would be interesting to see it!

William Brandett of St. Petersburg, Florida, writes: I recently found this mine insulator (drawing on page following)

It is aqua, with no embossing. The bottom view looks like a Whitall Tatum No. 1. Could you please tell me more about it and let me know how much it's worth?

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In reply to William Brandett: This is a standard No. 1-1/2 glass knob from 70 or 75 years ago. It could well be Hemingray, but it's difficult to say definitely, since most of the glass knobs were not embossed, and their manufacture is so very much more simple than that of the threaded insulators, that we don't have the specific press characteristics that are present to aid in identifying the pin types.

From Jim Woods, Collinsville, Illinois: I have picked up a CD 125 early Hemingray I have not seen before--Front, PATENT DEC 19, 1871, "D" below; Back, W.U. 5. The cap is unusually wide, the edge of the upper wire groove is squared off. Have you come across this variation?

Also have picked up a ramshorn near Promitary Point, Utah, that was apparently used by Central Pacific coming from the West. It looks the same as what the Interior Department has on display at Promitary Point, except the cylinder it originally fit into is missing. It shows evidence of lying in salty soil, but is in fairly good condition. I am unable to find any markings and am wonder who may have manufactured it.

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In reply to Jim Woods: The CD #125 W.U. 5 is not extremely common and is quite a desirable item. They do vary somewhat. They may be without a letter, or have an A, B, C, or D; and perhaps E, although I don't remember having seen the E on this style. The letters would be a shop or lot designation.

I don't know that anyone has learned who manufactured the Brooks Patent CPRR insulators. Since they have an iron and a glass component, they would have come from at least two sources. It is possible that Central Pacific assembled the parts, but this I don't know. Since the glass was almost entirely covered, it would probably not have been embossed. The top of the iron shell is marked "BROOKS PATENT AUG 6 1867 C P R R".