brown porcelain insulators

[dw3000]

I know next to nothing about insulators (except that colored ones are better). I occasionally pick them up when I find them out in the woods or wherever. I hauled these out of the woods, still attached to a metal assembly. They appear to be relatively modern. Embossed F.M.C. I apologize if these bore the heck out of insulator collectors, but I'd be interested in any information on them.

Also, what should one look for and consider when collecting insulators?

Thanks!

 

[dw3000]

Whoa. Huge picture. Try a smaller one of the top...

 

[dw3000]

try again...

 

[Bixel]

What you have there are what I call "house insulators" as they were usually used three to a metal bracket to insulate a hydro line going to a house. They also use a fair number of them on poles for lower voltage city stuff. Here in Canada, they are used on the three part brackets in a lot of 50s and 60s neighbourhoods on the poles.

Value is pretty much nothing, I am yet to run in to any collectors collecting "house" insulators.

Insulators are a mean beast to know and understand, just as with bottles. Many people say that threadless are the only valuable ones. Inside the insulator world, we know that to not be true. There are many threaded varieties that demand a premium. As with bottles, colour is (almost) everything. Cobalt, Peacock, Puce,and numerous amber shades are normally good things to look for. As I said though, its just like bottles. An amber insulator in one shape might be worth 100, but in another shape might only be worth 10 or 20. Its a large learning curve. There are also many "plain jane" aqua insulators that bring big money.

If I can give you a couple tips for "collecting" insulators it is these.

- Do you research. If you find a piece that you dont know what it is, look in to it. There are many good websites where people will help, and also some good books for identification.
- Condition plays a large part
- Threadless are always a good thing, even if cracked or chipped. Keep a clear head about them though, many threadless are more common than people think. $100 for a chipped one may be a great deal for one style, but not so good for another.

See what I mean about it being complicated?

 

[BillinMo]

Maybe "house insulator" is the Canadian term? I've usually heard these called wireholders. I think there are at least a couple people collecting these, but I'm sure they're not paying money for them since there's no collector demand. They're a currently-produced item and you can probably get some at a large electrical supply shop.

Kyle - great summary! Considering all the books written, 40+ years of Crown Jewels and Drip Points articles, etc. there is still so much to learn about insulators and no one person knows it all. That's why we geek out over mold variations, date codes, glass history, patents, etc. ad nauseum. []

 

[dw3000]

Thanks for the great info. I had a feeling these things wouldn't be of much interest.

I always see insulators in antique stores but never pay much attention to them. Perhaps I'll take a closer look next time.