OUT OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Several of us have already met FRANTISEK DANEK through the mail, but in case you haven't, let me introduce him to you. He is a young man of 38 and he lives in a small village called Dvoriste about 60 miles southeast of Prague, Czechoslovakia. He is a lineman for over-head power lines and is employed by the Power Engineering Board in Prague, so stays in the city during the work week, and goes home only on weekends. This is where his parents live and where he receives his letters.

As you might guess, he has gathered a large number of high voltage insulators of glass and porcelain and has been interested in these since he was 10 years old. His collection amounts to about 2500 pieces, which he keeps at home. And the numbers are growing! He recently bought an old mill and is making it into a private museum. He is very interested in the history of these old insulators and stays busy with his research on manufacturers and their trademarks. In his efforts to gather more information, he wrote to Mike Guthrie in May of 1989, who authored an article in a German hobby magazine. He and Mike have done extensive trading of insulators and the information pertaining to them. From there, the list of contacts grew! He was given the addresses of several other collectors, not only in the States, but in Germany, Australia, and Colombia, S.A. as well. Then came the big step! He became a subscriber to CROWN JEWELS and joined the NIA! Once that directory was in his hands, the flood gates were wide open. He says now that he looks forward to going home on weekends to find letters and boxes to open. He says "My world has grown! I am opening the parcels with feelings as a small boy at the Christmas tree!" I don't know about you, but that just makes me feel awfully good. Welcome to this crazy hobby, Frantisek. We're so glad to have you! You have made our world grow larger, too.

Frantisek has a close friend in Prague, whom he has known for many years. His name is MIROSLAV IMMER. He is now retired, but in 1948, as a young man of 19, he began working as a supplier of insulators and technical ceramics, buying from and selling to some pretty big customers all over the world. He says "Through my hands have passed over 1,000,000 high voltage insulators for over-head power lines, from 6 KV to 400 KV, and untold quantities of other insulators going to and coming from all continents." So he is truly an insulator pro! One of his many hobbies is doing research on insulator producers and brand marks, and he has even written a brief history of insulator production in Czechoslovakia. He now plans to pursue this more in depth, and you know that makes me happy, because he has been, he is and he will be of so much help to me in my research of foreign insulators! Miroslav has a good command of the English language and is helping Frantisek to speak and write it, too. During the week, these two good friends meet, and our letters to Frantisek are translated into the Czech language so he can understand them and during this time, the many trade insulators that Frantisek receives are admired and then suitable pieces to go back the other way are chosen, packed and sent on their way. If you have received a box from him, you will agree that it is like Christmas. 

One very interesting thing that Miroslav told me is that often times, an insulator manufacturer like RICHARD GINORI of Italy would contract out to TOVANA ELEKTROPORCELANA, ARANDELOVAC in Yugoslavia to make insulators for them, marking these with the GINORI name. LOUNY of Czechoslovakia might send some of its insulators to NALDA of Spain with the NALDA trademark. Miroslav hastened to add that permission for this must be given first! 

Another point that was enlightening is that only 1 out of every 10 or 12 low voltage insulators up to 4" in height are ever marked. This explains why so many of the smaller pieces are completely bald! Hadn't you always wondered? He also said that every high voltage insulator must be marked. This is probably so it can be traced back to the manufacturer in case there is a problem with a faulty insulator. Since it handles much higher voltage, the trouble it causes is much more serious. 

Many thanks, Frantisek and Miroslav. We are very indebted to you!

Let's have a look at just a few of the interesting insulator styles that have come out of Czechoslovakia and the trademarks of the manufacturers that made them.

2- 7/8 x 4- 1/8	2 x 3-1/4	1-5/8 x 2-1/4	2-1/2 x 4-1/4

(L-R) A family of 3 "T -bars" with U -numbers yet to be assigned, followed by a U-2072A, which is a classic example of a "noser". These pieces all date from 1900 to 1920. Though unmarked, they are all products of PORZELLANFABRIK/ MERKLIN. The company was founded in 1870, beginning insulator production in 1897, but I am not even sure it is still in business today. When one of these insulators was marked, either of the two trademarks would have been used.

(L-R) A marked U-3014, then a similar but smaller piece which is unassigned and unmarked. Both styles were typical in the 1920's and were produced by GEORG BIHL & CO/LEDVICE. The company was established in 1882 and made insulators from 1898 until 1953, when the factory was closed. Pieces were marked with the name BIHL.

(L- R) An unassigned dark green multipart along side of a U-1502. Both insulators bear the incuse mark of the crossed letters T and P, for THEODOR POHL/ZACLER, which started in business in 1878. Insulators were part of its product line during the years 1921-1951, but then the company turned its sole attention to other ceramic articles, and is still active today. It appears that at one time some U-1502 's were ordered from Czechoslovakia for use in Australia, which is where this particular piece was found.

2- 3/8 x 2-1/4	3-7/8 x 4	5 x 3-7/8

(L-R) Three marked and dated insulators -- U-1654 (1958), U-2121(1985), and unassigned "ballerina" style(1966). All of these were manufactured by ELEKTROPORZELLAN/LOUNY, a company founded in 1950. The small bit of information I have lets me think the company is still in business and is still producing insulators. There are two variations of their trademark, as you can see. Only the U-2121 is marked with EPL in a circle, which appears as an underglaze ink stamp, and seems to be more recent. The letters EPL used alone are incuse.

2- 1/2 x 4	3- 1/8 x 3- 3/4

(L-R) U-1388 followed by another insulator awaiting a U-number. No dates appear on either piece, but both show the same incuse trademark of ELEKTROPORZELLAN CAB. The company first opened in 1955, and obviously made insulators, but I don't know its current status.

3-3/8 x 3-7/8

(Above) This little fellow is U-1594A and its incuse mark is made up of the letters A and U intertwined. This is for AUSSIGER PORZELLAN INDUSTRIE/ BOMOSUDOV, a company established in 1920, which produced insulators from the beginning until 1960. The factory still exists, but now concentrates on other ceramic articles.

4 x 5- 3/8	2- 3/4 x 3- 3/4

(L-R) A new and unassigned style of iron-clad insulator with a cemented white porcelain insert that has two petticoats. The metal shield is made of enameled iron sheet to protect it from flying objects. To the right is a U-1686 covered with a bright red glaze. This was used on a fire brigade phone line. Both insulators are unmarked and the makers are not known. Very interesting pieces!