Themes and Variations on Another Common Insulator
by William C.
Ogden
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", November 1981, page 17
THE HEMINGRAY #16 AND #17, CD 122
Several months ago, I wrote an article on the color, base and embossing
differences of the Hemingray CD 121. I received a very favorable response to
this. I'd like to thank every person who wrote or called me.
This will be a
continuation of my earlier article. Around 1922, Hemingray replaced its CD 121
style with the CD 122. With changes, the 122 continued into the 1960's. I have
one code-dated 1961. Probably sometime in the 1950's, Hemingray introduced the
#17. What I don't know is, did the #17 replace the #16, or were both produced at
the same time? I assumed that the difference between the two was that the #17
had about a quarter-inch shorter skirt than did the #16. I was wrong: I've seen
short-skirted 16's and long-skirted 17's.
Let's consider the base, color, and
embossing differences of the Hemingray #16. I have five base variations:
sharp-drip, wedge-shaped drip, round drip, smooth base, and the corrugated base.
The sharp-drip ones are the oldest. They were made most likely from 1922 until
probably 1924 or 1925. The embossing is: HEMINGRAY - 16//MADE IN THE U.S.A. I
have the medium and dark blue. Were these made in clear or any other colors?
I
have just one with the wedge-shaped drips, which is medium blue. This type of
drip point is frequently found on the Hemingray CD 121. Has anyone else seen
this type of drip points on a CD 122?
From my experience, the round drip 16's
have the greatest range of colors. I have clear, light aqua, medium aqua, medium
blue, dark blue, dark blue-green, and 7-Up green. I'm told there is a light
green and a white milk glass, which I haven't seen. Are there any other colors?
I think the dark blue, the dark blue-green and the 7-Up green are very pretty
insulators. The colored 16's have the following embossing: HEMINGRAY - 16//MADE
IN U.S.A. In addition, the clear have the dating code on the front and usually
the mold number on the reverse. I have some clear ones code-dated '36 and '37 --
nice examples of depression glass!
The smooth-based 16's I have are
code-dated from 1940-1944. Has anyone seen an earlier or later one? All the
ones I've seen are clear. Were all the Hemi CD 122's made with the smooth base
at this time, or were these made on special order?
Variety number five is the
corrugated base 16's. All the ones I've seen have been either clear or straw
colored. This variation differs from the smooth-based type in several ways. The
skirt length varies on some of these, as was mentioned in paragraph two. The
interior and exterior of the skirt have a slightly roughened finish compared to
earlier 16's. These have the small embossing, with this as an example: HEMINGRAY
- 16--MADE IN U.S.A./24-44:: Both the mold number and date are now on the
reverse side of the skirt.
The Hemingray 17's I've seen have been the
corrugated-base style, and have been either clear or straw. The skirt length
differs, as was mentioned previously. To the best of my knowledge, all the 17's
have the small embossing. Why did Hemingray produce this relatively minor
variation of the CD 122?
If anyone can give me more information, I would be very
glad to hear from them. William C. Ogden, 1205 Cedar Lane, Virginia, Minnesota
55792.
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