The range in value of glass insulators is vast – some are worth pennies to a couple of dollars, whilst others can easily sell for thousands of dollars. On eBay, you can see that a variety of commonly found insulators still manage to sell high into the hundreds, and thousands.
Full Answer
What makes glass a good insulator?
- It has large resistance and specific resistance.
- Large di-electric strength.
- High Mechanical strength.
- Resisting high temperature.
- May not get change in nature due to temperature.
- It should not absorb water.
- Can be made to any shape.
- Cannot get fire simply.
What materials are bad insulators?
Materials that are poor conductors of thermal energy are called thermal insulators. Gases such as air and materials such as plastic and wood are thermal insulators. Herein, is air a poor heat conductor? Air is a bad conductor because, to conduct heat current molecules should absorb heat and transmit it to neighbor
What objects are good insulators?
- Silver.
- Gold.
- Copper.
- Aluminum.
- Mercury.
- Steel.
- Iron.
- Seawater.
What are three good insulators?
What are 3 types of insulators?
- Pin Insulator.
- Suspension Insulator.
- Strain Insulator.
- Shackle Insulator.
- Post-Insulator.
- Stay Insulator.
- Disc Insulator.
How much is a glass insulator worth?
On average, these glass insulators tend to sell for around $20, though there are special instances where insulators can sell for significantly more than that. Generally, the insulators that sell for more are rare, either because of their manufacturer or their color.
What glass insulators are worth the most?
Most Widely Popular Glass Insulators - Based primarily on overall collector perception, at any collecting level, of the most widely popular insulators in the hobby, common to rare....Most Desirable CD Styles.RankCDVotes1CD 257 (Mickey Mouse)252CD 145 (Beehive)253CD 162 (Signal)224CD 102 (Pony)1821 more rows•May 18, 2014
What are the rarest insulators?
The rarest insulator I own is a Fry Glass insulator. It's the same kind of opal glass they used on their tableware, called oven glass, because it did very well with heat changes.Aug 19, 2008
How do you determine the age of glass insulators?
The first number (MM) is the mold number, and the second number (YY) is the year (plus 1900) when the mold was made. Thus, "23-42" is mold 23, which was made in 1942.
What is a vintage insulator?
Vintage Glass insulators were first produced in the 1850s for telegraph lines, then for telephone and power transmission lines. They insulated and protected the wooden poles from the electricity coursing through the wires. They are made from glass, porcelain, or composite polymer materials (non-conductive materials).
What can you do with old insulators?
Old glass insulators are a popular item for numerous craft projects, upcycling projects, decoration projects and the fact that they are very cheap and relatively easy to find makes them a great material for DIY projects – lamps, succulent planters, garden lamps, table decorations, etc.Sep 27, 2016
Are glass insulators still used?
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s many of these lines were dismantled as technology advanced. Today, a few lines using glass insulators are still in service, but are only a tiny percentage compared to the heyday of open wire communication.
Why are glass insulators different colors?
Why do insulators come in so many colors? In general, insulators were not made in specific colors for any reason. The natural materials that were used to make glass, including sand and glass cullet, tended to make light aqua to aqua colored insulators. Some batches were more green, others more blue.Aug 31, 1997
How much is an old glass insulator worth?
Old glass insulators can range in value from $2 up to over $400. Like other antiques, glass insulators are evaluated on several criteria: Age. Rarity. Condition. Demand. Manufacturer. A good way to determine value is to spend a few days checking eBay.
Why were glass insulators used?
They were the glass insulators that were used to protect homes against lightening strikes. Glass insulators for wiring began to be manufactured in the mid 1800s in response to the technology of the time. Samuel Morse had created the first working telegraph in 1844 and by 1850 telegraph lines were being strung from one coast of America to the other.
What companies make insulators?
In fact, glass companies like Indiana Glass and others manufactured insulators right along with their Depression glass stemware and canning jars. Some of the companies that are associated with antique glass insulators are: Hemingray. Indiana Glass. Kerr Glass Manufacturing.
What are old insulators made of?
Old Insulators Made from a Variety of Glass Sources. Since the manufacturing companies did not solely make insulators they often used leftover glass from other projects to press a few insulators. Because of this you may see occasionally see an insulator in opalescent glass, Vaseline glass, or other unusual color (or even mixture of colors).
What is an antique glass insulator?
Antique glass insulators are a low cost but very popular collectible. They are easy to find, come in a variety of colors, and make a colorful display.
Why were glass insulators used for telephone wires?
The first insulators of this type were small because they only needed space for one wire. As time went on the insulators became larger and reflected the growth of the telephone and electricity.
When did glass insulators become available?
From 1920 to 1950 there was a peak in the manufacture of glass insulators. Most of the insulators available today come from this era. In the 1950s electrical companies transitioned to porcelain insulators. This transition was complete by the 1970s.
When was glass used as an insulator?
The oldest glass insulators date from about 1846.
What color is a glass insulator?
Most insulators are found in some shade of aqua (blue-green) colored glass (typical inexpensive “bottle glass” or “ green glass”) but many, many other color shades are found. Clear glass was used (with some exceptions) primarily after about 1935.
How to clean a deck insulator?
There are several ways to clean insulators, but the easiest (in my opinion) is to soak the insulator in a product that contains the active ingredient oxalic acid. Oxalic aid is usually very effective in breaking down the stubborn layers of train soot which can be VERY difficult to remove if using ordinary cleansers, soaps and detergents. Oxalic acid is an ingredient in certain brands (but not all) of so-called “Wood Bleach” or “Deck Cleaner”. (Behr’s markets their version as “All-in-One Wood Cleaner” and it does contain this ingredient). Usually, a one gallon plastic container of deck cleaner can be mixed with 2 to three gallons of water in a five-gallon plastic bucket. (DO NOT USE METAL CONTAINERS OF ANY TYPE!). Oxalic acid can also be bought in crystal form (like a fine white powder). Oxalic acid is technically a poison, so using plastic gloves when handling it is strongly recommended. (Caution: oxalic acid cannot be used to clean Carnival Glass insulators, as the carnival coating may be dissolved).
Why are insulators needed for telephone lines?
Insulators were necessary by serving as a medium for attaching the wires to the poles, but much more importantly, they were required to help prevent electric current loss during transmission. The material, glass, is itself an insulator (not a “conductor” or “transformer” as insulators are often incorrectly labeled in antique malls and flea markets).
What is an insulator?
Insulators (generally speaking) are still commonly in use, but insulators of the modern era (speaking of the United States in particular) are mostly heavier, high-voltage types used in electric power line transmission and distribution, and are of porcelain (“ceramic”) or polymer (plastic) construction.
What is the color of the insulation on a railroad?
Insulators installed along railroads typically are coated, to some degree, with black soot. Sometimes the layers of soil are so heavy that the true color of the insulator cannot be discerned.
How many insulators are on a telephone pole?
Some telephone poles (such as in large cities) carried as many as 20 or more crossarms, each one bearing six, eight, 10 or 12 (or even more) insulators. Each insulator was attached to the crossarm by being screwed onto wooden (or in some cases) metal pegs or (more properly) “pins”.
How big is a glass insulator?
Glass insulators were designed in a few basic forms depending on their specific electrical application. “Pony” insulators, often no more than 3 1/2 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.
What are insulators made of?
Commonly made from glass or porcelain in a dazzling array of shapes and colors, including amber, cobalt blue, olive green (one shade is known among insulator collectors as “Seven-Up”), and royal purple, antique insulators are prized for their rarity and physical beauty.
Why is porcelain used as an insulator?
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.
What colors are porcelain insulators?
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. In addition, the shapes of these insulators were often dictated by the climate they would have to endure.
Why were insulators invented?
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... Insulators were originally designed to keep the wires linking telegraphs ...
What is a fog bowl insulator?
“Fog bowl” insulators, which resembled the stones used in curling, were designed to do the same thing.
What is the design number of an insulator?
Design Number - The insulator collecting hobby assigns design numbers to each unique insulator design. The most widely-used identification numbering system is the CD (Consolidated Design) number. If you don't know what your insulator's CD number is, you can find it by identifying your insulator.
What is the primary embossing on an insulator?
Chances are if you're viewing this page, your insulator's primary embossing is Hemingray, H.G.CO., or Patent Dec. 19, 1871! However, Hemingray also made insulators with other names as well. View all primary embossings attributed to Hemingray.
Where is embossing located on an insulator?
Embossing is typically located on the front (F-Skirt) and rear (R-Skirt) of the insulator, but can also appear on the dome, crown, umbrella, or other area.
