It is indeed a ceramic insulator for electrical wiring. My former house, built in 1922, had them. A hole is drilled in floor joists or whatever dimensional wood they need to go through, and they're stuck in the hole and the wire is then threaded through. Their function is to keep the wiring from contact with the wood or other flammable material.

Lyle Browning, RPA


On Aug 19, 2010, at 9:39 AM, Patrick Tucker wrote:

> I have two artifacts that I need help with identification of their
> functional use. Both come from a residential lot on a street in Maumee City,
> Ohio. Other ceramic manufacturers' marks and the property records suggest an
> occupation date of circa 1885-1927. The house on the lot was originally
> built in 1887 as a wood-frame structure, and later remodeled.
> 
> 
> 
> The first is ceramic with manufacturer's mark "A.P. Co" I don't believe this
> to be American Pottery Company, Trenton, NJ, but I may be wrong. It is
> tube-like with a large diameter hole running through it. Could this be part
> of a ceramic insulator for electrical wiring?
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7119.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7121.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7124c.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7123.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> The other artifact is a circular, hinged metal lid (silver or nickel-plated
> brass) with an engraved floral design (four-leaf clover?) on the exterior.
> Profile is convex (exterior)/concave (interior). Looks too small to be a
> jewelry or ring box, and too large to be a pocket watch case. Possible
> snuff-box, or too late for this type of artifact?
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7148.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Pat_Tucker/Box%20Site/100_7149.jpg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Pat Tucker
> 
> Swanton, Ohio, USA