http://cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=4&a=04Red%20Glass%20Insulators.htm&year=1982

Red Glass Insulators
by N. R. Woodward

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", April 1982, page 3

Although the question of glass insulators in red color has been discussed 
from time to time, it seems appropriate to once again cover the topic. From 
long- time readers, we ask forgiveness for repeating some data already 
presented in past years.

Insofar as we have proof at this point, no glass insulator has ever been 
offered commercially in a true red glass, as would be found in a red signal 
lens, for example. However, there have been two specific instances, widely 
separated in time, where insulators have been made in quantity from glass 
that would probably best be described as red-amber. These insulators do have 
a definite red appearance when viewed against a strong light source. The red 
color is more pronounced with some light sources than with others.

The earlier of these are Hemingray products from the period around 1895 to 
1905. A typical unit would be a CD #162, somewhat crude and with sharp drip 
points ... <table snipped>

The CD #162 continued to be made in amber for quite some time, into the 
mid-1920's; but it is among those from earlier years that one finds the 
specimens with the most red color.

It is also from that same period that catalogs offering Hemingray insulators 
have the notation: "We are prepared to furnish all styles of insulators in 
red, blue and amber glass..." Were those red-amber insulators made and sold 
as "red" insulators in accordance with this offer? That's over 80 years ago. 
We may never have positive proof.

The second production of amber insulators with a noticeable red component 
occurred at the Armstrong plant during the late 1940's and 1950's. Several 
styles were sold as "brown glass" insulators: It is quite certain they were 
never represented as being red. However, as with the earlier ones described 
above, many of them do have a definite red appearance against a strong 
light. The color in these insulators is extremely dark.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Steen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: Glass Insulators - Myth or Truth?



In a message dated 8/8/2007 9:25:31 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

I've  seen 10s-of-thousands of glass telegraph insulators in dozens of US
collections, and yet to see a red one. I suspect this is a techno-myth. To
produce red glass (in the era when telegraph wires were being strung)
required the use of prohibitively expensive gold compounds. This would be
highly impractical for such utilitarian objects. Barring some compelling
reason to produce them (perhaps as trap-bait for aborigines and Apaches?),
it would be quite a bizarre economic aberration. As anyone knows who's  ever
worked with the restoration of stained glass work, the genuine  antique red
glass is ... by far ... the most expensive color to  aquire.

~Bob Skiles


Several are illustrated  here...


_http://cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=2&a=02Seeing%20Red.htm&year=2004_
(http://cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=2&a=02Seeing%20Red.htm&year=2004)
Seeing Red
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the  Wire", February 2004, page 16
For Valentine's, Crown Jewels presents "red"  insulators found in the hobby.
The idea of a red glass insulator has captured  the thoughts of collectors
since the hobby began. When I was collecting in  the 1960's, collectors 
wondered
if a red insulator would ever be found.  Even today, if you talk to
non-collectors at flea markets and antique  shops, they'll relate stories of 
red glass
insulators being found...  usually... at some remote, far away place.
Were genuine insulators ever made in red glass?  In a 1909 catalog, 
Hemingray
advertised "special colored glass  insulators". The ad reads, "Where several
lines of different companies are  on the same cross arm, the lineman can
distinguish his line by the color  of the insulator. Different currents can 
also be
designated by different  colored insulators. We are prepared to furnish all
styles of insulators in  RED, blue, and amber glass..." (emphasis added). 
The
advertisement  went on to say that there was an extra charge of $8.00 per
thousand for  insulators made in colored  glass.¹



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