Insulators Priced by Type and Color

WHAT IS IT?

This is a clear glass insulator, far left, that was used to hold electrical transmission wires to poles. It’s marked Hemingray-14 and was manufactured in the United States, probably at the turn of the century.

WHAT’S ITS HISTORY?

Insulators were developed in 1844 to hold telegraph wires to poles. After 1876, they were also used for telephone wires.

There are more than 3,000 types. They were made of pottery, wood and glass in various colors.

Collectors rate them according to age and rarity of color. Clear, aqua and green glass are the most common.

“The rarest are glass insulators in purple, light green, deep amber and those that are threadless,” says Judy Tackett of Attic Delights in Orange, who collects insulators.

Threadless insulators made between 1850 and 1865 are valued into the hundreds of dollars.

WHAT’S THE LEGEND?

This insulator is one of many that belonged to Brea resident Nita Causey’s great-great-grandmother. “My grandmother had them, and my dad always wondered about them,” says Causey. “We have a box of them in different sizes.”

WHY IS IT POPULAR?

“There are serious collectors of insulators,” says Attic Delights’ Tackett. “They are always looking for an unusual size or color. Plus, for a new collector, they can be quite inexpensive and yet pretty.”

WHAT’S IT WORTH TODAY?

“Since this one is clear and relatively common, it would probably only be worth about $2,” says Tackett. “Prices range from $2 to more than $300 for rare ones.”

WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

Insulators can be found in many of the antique stores around the traffic circle at Glassell and Chapman in Orange. Since there are so many kinds, finding an ordinary one is not difficult.

CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

There is a monthly magazine

called Crown Jewels of the Wire. For information or a free copy, call (630) 513-1544 or e-mail editor @crownjewelsofthewire.com.

The publication also offers a comprehensive Web site at https://www.crownjewelsofthe wire.com. It has links to many other sites, including one that features more than 30 books on insulators.

* To have an item considered for this column, send information, a photograph of it and a phone number to: What’s It Worth?, Home Design, The Times Orange County, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.