Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Mystery Insulator Marked With Only Five :Pointed Star. |
While I had some insulators out, I decided to take photos. The group I showed yesterday included a Hemingray no. 14, no. 19, and no. 42, two similar small green Brookfield insulators, a clear Armstrong's insulator, a Whitehall Tatum no. 1, and a Pyrex LJ, along with the above green insulator that is only marked with a five-pointed star.
If anyone can provide additional information on the star insulator shown above, please let me know.
Here are some of the others.
Two similar Brookfield insulators.
The Brookfield insulators have some nice big bubbles in the glass.
Here is the history of the Brookfield Glass Company as presented in Wikipedia.
Brookfield Glass Company began in 1864 as Bushwick Glass Works, a bottle manufacturing company. Its founder was James Madison Brookfield.
[2] In 1864, Martin Kalbfleisch the owner of Bushwick Chemical Works, built the factory to produce demijohns used for storing acid produced at his factory. Brookfield was appointed the owner. In 1869, Brookfield purchased the glassworks from Kalbfleisch and food storage jars were the primary item produced, specifically pickle and relish jars.[1]
Insulators[edit]
In the 1870s and 1880s, the need for insulators increased as more telegraph lines were put into use. During the 1870s, Brookfield began producing large amounts of insulators at their Brooklyn plant,[2] and the quantity of insulators produced was second only to the Hemingray Glass Company. It is estimated that over 100 types of insulators were produced by Brookfield. In 1902, a second plant was opened in Old Bridge County. The Brooklyn plant was closed shortly after, in 1912. In 1921, production had stopped at the Old Bridge plant and the company dissolved.[1]
That seems to place the these insulators between 1912 and 1921, yet they were found as unbroken surface finds. They are both in very nice condition.
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| One of the Hemingray Insulators. |
I found a very good web site on Hemingray Insulators. The site tells how to identify styles and dates.
The same site also gives cleaning instructions for insulators, which I would think would also work for bottles. Here it is.
I clean my dirty insulators in a 5 gallon plastic bucket of water with oxalic acid (wood bleach crystals) mixed in. A good ratio is about 1 pound of oxalic acid for every 2.5 gallons of water. This mixture lasts for many years (my bucket has been used for 7 years and has cleaned dozens of insulators with no problem). Using rubber gloves, place your dirty insulators carefully into the bucket and let them sit for several days (or weeks if you're not in a hurry). Once they're ready, remove the insulators, rinse them off under cool water, and use 00 or 000 steel wool to get off any remaining soot. Especially stubborn insulators can go back into the bath for another round.
There are many important notes to observe before working with oxalic acid! • Add the oxalic acid crystals to the water (not vice versa). • Use a plastic bucket (not metal). Oxalic acid is corrosive and will eat away at metal. • Always wear eye, face, and hand protection. Even though it's a mild mixture, be safe. • Keep the bucket out of reach of children and pets. Always keep a lid on it when not in use, and label the bucket. • Never use oxalic acid to clean carnival glass, flashed amber, opalescent glass, or insulators with metal pieces attached.  |
| Pyrex LJ Insulator |
Insulators marked "Pyrex" were made by the Corning Glass Company. Corning Glass Company/Corning Glass Works, Corning, New York (1875-to date). (Now known as Corning Incorporated). The trademark “Pyrex” was first used c. 1915 for Corning’s borosilicate heat-resistant glassware formula. VERY large quantities of kitchenware, serving bowls, ovenware, measuring pitchers, etc, as well as glass electrical insulators for telephone and power lines were made.
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| Whithall Tatum Insulator With Mounting Bolt Still in Place. |
Whitall Tatum entered the insulator manufacturing market in 1922, mass-producing them for use on power and communications lines across the country. Armstrong Cork Corporation purchased Whitall-Tatum in 1938, continuing insulator production under the Armstrong trademark.
So it looks like the Whitall Tatum marked insulators were made before 1938. I also have one marked Armstrong, so I guess it is of a later date.
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| Whitall Tatum No. 1 Insulator. |
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| Hemingray Insulator with Wire Attached. |
Looking at the eBay listings, most sell for only a few dollars, however a cobalt blue Hemingray had a bid of $125.00. I have one nice cobalt blue insulator.
Again, maybe someone can help me identify the unidentified insulator bearing a five pointed star and shown at the top of the post.
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It looks like we'll be getting an increased surf Tuesday or Wednesday.
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| Source: MagicSeaWeed.com |
Doesn't look like the wind will be favorable though.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
