chapter 354
Insulator Addiction
7/12/2014
signal strength
I used to climb up the telephone pole outside the house with Dad's pole climber steel spiked things that would strap on my feet. We had old telephones from Uncle Nelson who worked for Ma Bell. I could tap into two wires up there and hear various conversations on different party lines. It was all just for fun. I love the blue green color that was on top of our poles although it is merely a common color. This guy has a most remarkably beautiful and colorful collection. We had green open wires, oxidized uninsulated copper I think. Yes, it's cracked, so the roadside market guy gave it to me for 50 cents. A bargain, I thought for an Oct. 8th, 1907 patented piece for the telegraph and telephone industry. This one probably produced between 1907-1912 when the company was producing this glass. Had it been red it might fetch $24,000. Kinda makes me want to hike some abandoned rail lines.
This shot is couple miles from home just north of the twin bridges on I-87 where the new Sprint cell tower replaces the old insulators for the cell phone crowd. Note the electrical power line on the left. When I climbed our old pole I had to make sure I didn't tap into the 240 Volt line that was also carried higher up. Dad told me the phone line was only about 14 volts and wouldn't hurt me.
There's a story here somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is! Perhaps just look around and see what you are looking at? Cell towers for dummies.
Four years ago on a dog walk I took this pic of this nice collection on a pole that I thought I could scale. Old (1920's untreated cedar, chestnut, or creosoted Southern Yellow Pine) verses New pole above; both interesting.
After re-finding that picture I got enthused enough to go back to see if it was still there. Then I'm thinking I might get a few more "likes" too, if I spice up the story a little. But you would have to be crazy to risk injury and jail to climb up the tree and take those old left overs. As I made my approach all of sudden I hear the maintenance workers in a railroad truck coming right up the track. Had a pine tree big enough to hide my body behind, but I had to keep rotating behind it as they passed right in front of me. They kept going and I was chortling to myself so as not to make too much noise. I felt like Uncle Nelson evading the Germans in WW2. It was a good feeling.
I'll not be one of those stupid criminals who post incriminating evidence on line. Sure, those threads on that wooden dowel look quite freshly exposed, but whodunit?
And someone surely has made off with a handful of treasures, but who. With Big Brother listening to all our phone calls, no one is safe.
If grandson is reading this in a few years, don't do these foolish things.
My CD consolidated design 1907-1912 Brookfield CD147 spiral groove
Brookfield Co. aka Bushwick Glass Co from Brooklyn NY not the typical Hemingray Co.
My 1922-1938 blue-green Whitall Tatum no 1 CD153 holding in hand by current Millville Glass Co reference . and My clear 1938-1969 Armstrong DP1 CD 155 and other Armstrong examples
My 1960-1970 black plastic LW insulator CD154
Song of the Wires massive
John Barclay -Brookfield patent
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