Insulators were originally designed to keep the wires linking telegraphs and telephones insulated from the wooden poles that held them aloft. In conjunction with the expansion of rural electrification in the early 20th century, there was a major boom in the manufacturing of insulators, peaking from the 1920s through the 1940s with production in the millions per year.
Commonly made from glass or porcelain in a dazzling array of shapes and colors, including amber, cobalt blue, olive green, and royal purple, insulators are prized for their rarity and physical beauty. In collector’s circles, clear and aqua shades are considered generic because they result from the natural iron content present in most glassmaking materials. Some insulators were embossed with a manufacturer’s name and style number using engraved molds, yet many insulators were produced without any markings whatsoever.
The earliest insulators were non-threaded “ram’s horn” and “glass block” designs, developed simultaneously with the growing telegraph line network initiated in 1844. Soon the pin...
Use of porcelain and ceramic insulators spread during the late 19th century alongside higher-voltage electrical wires, like those required for home power lines, because the protective properties of porcelain proved superior to glass. Porcelain insulators were produced in a variety of colors to imitate their glass counterparts, ranging from deep blues and chocolate browns to bright yellows and greens.
Insulators are typically identified by manufacturer, including H.G. Co., Pyrex, Brookfield, and Hemingray, as well as the Consolidated Design (CD) coding system. CD numbers describe the production location and shape of pintype glass insulators, with 10 – 99 representing battery rest insulators, 100 – 375 for North American threaded insulators, 376 – 699 for all foreign insulators, 700 – 799 for North American unthreaded insulators, and 1000 – 1199 for all other miscellaneous styles, including glass blocks, spools, and dead-end insulators.
Within these broad categories, shapes are broken into many different variations describing the number of petticoats, drip points, skirt styles, wire grooves, and other features. Favored North American designs include the “Mickey Mouse” shape with two protruding glass ears and a saddle-groove form, as well as those made in lustrous carnival glass. The French created a distinctive “Gingerbread Man” form, with a rounded top and two pointed, upturned arms. The “T-Bar” design was also popular in Europe, and features outstretched, grooved arms, sometimes made with a square top, creating a robot-like resemblance.
Glass insulators were designed in a few basic forms depending on their specific electrical application. “Pony” insulators, often no more than 31/2 inches in height, were used for lower voltage lines, while “Power” insulators for high-voltage purposes were much larger, sometimes weighing more than 30 pounds . The most common style is the “Signal” variety, used for communication and secondary power lines. High-voltage “Cable” insulators are distinguished by their U-shape, which accommodated thick cable placement, while “Exchange” insulators were designed with multiple grooves to allow a primary line to pass through it and secondary branches to direct wire toward other locations.
One of the most prolific insulator manufacturers in the U.S. was the Hemingray Glass Co. Incorporated in 1870, the firm operated factories in Kentucky and Indiana, where it also produced other glass items, like bottles, fruit jars, kerosene lamps, and glassware. Hemingray created the largest stylistic variety of any manufacturer and purposefully designed colorful insulators, as opposed to the typical practice of recycling leftover batches of colored glass. The company's famous Hemingray No. 42 remains the best selling insulator of all time.
Interviews & Articles
Ian Macky Explains the Colors and History of Insulators

I got interested in insulators when I lived in El Cajon and my neighbor worked for San Diego Gas and Electric. His son had a bunch… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Hemingray.info

Christian Willis' well-organized database of Hemingray insulators. Browse over 300 photos by CD number, style, or s… [read review or visit site]
Hemingray.net

Shaun Kotlarsky's tribute to the Hemingray Glass Company. While known for its insulators, this site also showcases … [read review or visit site]
Insulators.info

Bill Meier's reference site by and for insulator collectors includes event listings, reference information, photo g… [read review or visit site]
Glassian

For an explosion of color and a quick education on the many beautiful varieties of insulators, blown glass bricks, … [read review or visit site]
Alloy Artifacts

A tool collectors’ dream, this site is a deep repository of photos and info on 20th century hand tools and the co… [read review or visit site]
Old Woodworking Machines

This collective website, which started as an online discussion forum, now also includes a large database of manufac… [read review or visit site]
Drainspotting

Josh and Cam Larios have created this site enabling people to upload and 'tag' photos of historic or artistic manho… [read review or visit site]
A Millers Falls Home Page

Randy Roeder has carved out a niche for himself with his fine website devoted to the history of the Millers Falls C… [read review or visit site]
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