"Hooked" On Insulators

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", December 1990, page 5

Recently I came across a ramshorn in an antique shop that is rather unusual because of the fact that it is made of wood. On the outside, there is some kind of black coating, almost similar to tar that has hardened. The really neat part is that the original line and tie wires remain on it. I would really like to have some information on it such as era and value. Thanks.

Nathan Holmes, Walcott, Iowa

You are lucky collector, Nathan, for you have what is known as the "Kenosha" ramshorn. One Indiana installation of this type of insulator was dated at about 1870. Gerald Brown in his book Unique Porcelain Insulators pictured an ad cut from a Western Electric Catalog (no date given) which advertised the Kenosha Hook Insulator. Complete specimens are extremely rare.

Kenosha Hook

Kenosha Hook line and tie wires