Oddity "AM. TEL & TEL CO." insulator?

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Robby Raccoon

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"AM. TEL & TEL CO." is normal, but what is that on the dome? An 8 with a swirl slashing through it possibly, then two little loops making an x in it? Then two different-sized 1's? I read the insulators were from the 1890s throguh the 1920s and this Toll-style is usually common. I have seen very few domes of these, as Google doesn't care to show e those, but I don't think this is as common? I read that Brookfield sometimes marked the insulators with the three-man crew's number for pay. Is this the case? Can someone help me understand this? I got it for 2 dollars. Any room for profit if I ever decide to sell? (Being that it's the first A.T.&T. Co. insulator I have, that's not likely.) I know they tend to be common.
 

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Robby Raccoon

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It's a nice aqua blue, smooth-base, and has some swirls on it-- and some great bubbles (I love bubbles) are in it. :DBut, no other colors-- it appears to be permanently stained around the base-- and it has some noticeable cracks on the inside as well as splits on the thread-lines of the inside. The base is smooth and unembossed. The back is also unembossed.
Nonetheless, it's totally intact, has no chips (save for a light one on the back heel-base,) and is one of my lighter-colored insulators. Further, I learned a lot from researching it. Any idea what decade it was created? What CD-number is it? What's on the dome... Rather, what is the meaning of the embossing on the dome?
 

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botlguy

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Hey Bear Robert. What you have is a CD 121 "Toll" that is common except for the very unusual dome embossing. Several companies made these for American Telephone and Telegraph Company in late 1800s to early (1st quarter) 20th century. The dome embossing is generally "Shop" or mold numbers / letters as a quality control aide. I am unfamiliar with this particular set, hopefully another more astute member can enlighten us. Jim
 

Robby Raccoon

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Thanks, Jim, for proving it is unusual. I was assuming it had to do with the Shop-- I had forgotten the word, but it's the team of about three working to put-out as many insulators as possible. According to the reading, they were paid by the insulator. I read of a few with embossed domes, but not like this.
 

Robby Raccoon

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It appears to have something on top, but unless that's damage, I see a period after the second "TEL"-- it's a different variation. Nice glow you got it to have, though-- and a fun find.By Hemingray: CD 121Mine is none of their variations, thus leading me to believe it is Brookfield or another. Toll-style examples:
6558215743_9992b9bcbb_z.jpg
CORRECTION: Mine is a ROUND-base, not smooth-base.
 

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