Help w. Hemingrays & Clear Insulators

[RIBottleguy]

A friend of mine has about 500 insulators that I just looked through. I photographed the ones I thought were different. Any info would be appreciated! These are some of the "newer" ones.


1. Whitall-Tatum No. 5
2. Hemingray No. 14 Made in USA (small letters)
3. Hemingray No. 14 Made in USA (large letters)
4. Hemingray Made in USA D-510
5. Armstrong (I think this is a common one)

1. Hemingray No. 16
2. Hemingray No 10
3. Hemingray No 9
4. Hemingray Patent May 2 1893 Petticoat
5. H.G. Co. Patd. May 2nd 1893 Petticoat

 

[BillinMo]

You're right, these are newer. Most clear insulators are from the 1930s and later.

First photo:

CD 164, Whitall Tatum 5. If it has the WT triangle logo, it's probably from before 1938 when Armstrong bought out Whitall Tatum's operation in Millville, New Jersey. Book is 3-5, but you wouldn't have any trouble finding one for a dollar or two at an insulator show.

CD 160 Hemingray-14. This is a "baby signal" used in telephone and low voltage electrical and signal applications. The small letter mold set dates from 1938 and Hemingray used it until the 1950s, I think. If you can provide the numbers and dots we can date it more precisely. I have a buddy who specializes in this CD so he'll want me to ask you about the mold numbers in case you have one he's looking for! Value is usually about a dollar or so.

CD 160 Hemingray-14. The large letter mold set is earlier, from 1934. Again, the mold number and numbers/dots can date it more exactly, but I'll say 1934-1938. Value about a dollar.

CD 168 Hemingray D-510. Used in low voltage electrical distribution. This one looks like it has a pale ice blue tint, which would put it in the early 1930s. Book price is 3-5, but can often be found for less.

CD 128, Armstrong. This is a high-frequency telephone carrier insulator, put into service on local lines by the millions in the 1930s through the 1970s by Bell Telephone. Armstrong would be from 1946 until 1969. You're right, this is a very common style with little collector interest.

 

[BillinMo]

Second photo:

CD 121, Hemingray 16. Telephone "toll" like the Am Tel & Tel style.

CD 115, Hemingray 10. Telephone exchange style, used on local lines. Hey, you almost caught me on this one - good thing I looked it up. I almost said it was very common. The variant with the MADE IN U.S.A. on the front is scarcer and books for 10-15. I'll also add, though, that it's a specialist kind of piece so it might be quirky. A 115 specialist might be willing to pay well above book value for it, but most insulator collectors won't consider it as all that interesting.

CD 106, Hemingray 9. Telephone pony. This was Bell's standard insulator for local lines for a number of years. Very common. But keep an eye out for misspellings, odd character in the glass, etc.

CD 162, Hemingray. Later versions has Hemingray's style number of 19 on it. Commonly used in railway signals, police and fire alarm systems, low voltage electrical distribution. You probably know that May 2, 1893 is for the drip points on the bottom.

CD 151, H. G. Co. which is Hemingray Glass Co. (I'm sure you know that, but I figure someone might be reading this board who isn't familiar with insulator stuff.) This is primarily a telegraph style used by smaller companies. The more common variant has drip points on the inner and outer skirts and would be in the couple dollars area. If the inner skirt is smooth, they're more like 10-15. Also look for blot-outs or other odd things, which can affect the price.