| Looking for something interesting, beautiful | | | | names found on glass insulators.There are a |
| and low cost to collect, then try antique | | | | wide variety of insulators made of porcelain, |
| insulators. Insulators have been used ever | | | | ceramic, stoneware and other related |
| since Samuel Morse transmitted the first | | | | materials. Collectors primarily focus on |
| telegraph message over a short telegraph line | | | | pin-types and insulators used on early radio |
| along a railroad between Washington, D.C. and | | | | receiver antennas. Manufacturer names to |
| Baltimore, MD in 1844. Glass insulators were | | | | look for are Cook, Jobson Bros., |
| first manufactured in the 1850s for use with | | | | Johns-Manville, Fred M Locke, New Westminster |
| telegraph lines that were rapidly expanding | | | | and Varley.You can determine the age of an |
| across America. In the 1920s electricity and | | | | antique insulator by looking for any marking |
| telephone signals moved over open copper | | | | stamped or embossed on its surface. |
| wire. At each pole glass insulators were | | | | Sometimes the approximate age can be |
| used starting this popular hobby of insulator | | | | determined by a patent date on the insulator. |
| collecting.Insulators come in many sizes, | | | | The last glass insulator manufacturer in the |
| shapes and colors. They were made of many | | | | United States was Kerr, located in Millville, |
| different types materials including rubber, | | | | NJ. Kerr stopped producing insulators in |
| porcelain, pottery, glass, composition, | | | | 1979. Value is determined by many factors |
| fiberglass, metal, wood and mica. Glass and | | | | such as condition, manufacturer, quantity |
| porcelain insulators are extensively | | | | made, color, age and demand by collectors. |
| collected by manufacturer and color.Glass | | | | The best place to buy antique insulators is |
| insulators are usually found marked with a | | | | eBay.Glyn Farber has published a catalog of |
| manufacturer or users name embossed on the | | | | all known Hickey Brother Cigar Store Tokens |
| insulator such as Hemingray No.9. made by the | | | | and co-authored a book about Louisiana Trade |
| Hemingray Glass Company that was located in | | | | Tokens. In addition he wrote several |
| Muncie, Indiana. The American Telephone and | | | | articles for The Token and Medal Society |
| Telegraph Co. embossed their insulators with | | | | (TAMS) and The National Token Collectors |
| AM TEL & TEL Co. Most insulators were marked | | | | Association (NTCA). Glyn has been a devoted |
| on their crown or skirt. Armstrong's, | | | | collector of Louisiana Trade Tokens, |
| Brookfield, California, Diamond, Dominion, | | | | Louisiana collectibles and Lake Charles, LA |
| Hemingray, Kerr, Lynchburg, Maydwell, NEGM | | | | postcards for almost 40 years. |
| and Whitall Tatum are some of the more common | | | | |