DavidW
Well-Known Member
Just some more trivia: The insulators marked "PATENT DEC 19 1871" or "PAT DEC 19 1871" could theoretically have been made anytime from Dec 19, 1871, up into the very early 1890s, since some styles of insulators are found marked with both the Dec 19, 1871 patent date AND the later May 2, 1893 date. Generally speaking, most of the 1871-dated insulators were likely made from 1872 to around 1888, but there is no way to know with certainty what year any particular 1871-marked insulator was made. Often the old molds would be continued to be used for a long time, as long as they were still in good condition and usable, and the style was still in demand. It was a very popular marking (at the time) and was embossed on many styles of insulators made by Hemingray.
