Hemingray Saddle Insulator

steelheadwill · Jun 16, 2011

Hi all!
got out for a hunt today, the usual finds.
some buttons, coins & relics, nothing exceptional.
This piece struck my fancy, I am usually cursing the linemen for discarding
wire wraps and scraps, not today :laughing7:

I love the color, 'Hemingray blue', I can't find any model 72s for sale on ebay,
not sure if it's got any sort of value, but it sure is pretty.
The Hemingray site below only shows it in 'Ice blue'
other than a few surface scratches it is in fantastic shape.
made from 1900-1930. Thanks for looking & HH to everyone :thumbsup:

http://www.hemingray.info/database/images/embossings/295HEM010.jpg

JW15 · Jun 16, 2011

That's a cool find right there! :icon_thumright:

I bet not many are found at all and in such great shape. :sunny:

Woodland Detectors · Jun 16, 2011

Those insulators are cool Herbie. I like finding them too

ANTIQUARIAN · Jun 16, 2011

I've always loved insulators! The variations in the styles and colours are amazing. I remember once when I was 16, I climbed onto the roof of an abandoned garage in the middle of a field to unscrew an insulator! :laughing7:

Nice find Herbie,
Dave

BobinSouthVA · Jun 16, 2011

wow that one is a beauty.

We dug a bunch in an old bottle dump when I was a kid, but haven't found any since then, 32 years give or take.

:icon_thumright:

CrazySlasher · Jun 16, 2011

Sweet insulator! :icon_thumleft:

NOLA_Ken · Jun 17, 2011

Nice find! Really nice color on that one. I haven't collected them in years, but I still love them. I have hundreds in storage at my mom's place. Wish i could tell you a current value on it, but it's been so long...... I seem to remember those going for $10-$15 depending on color and condition, I'm sure it's gone up since then (late 80's)

Here's a link to an insulator site, they want you to buy their price guide though, so no help on value from them, but there are 3 different variations of yours they have listed as "wanted" so who knows?

http://www.hemingray.info/database/detail.php?cd=295

steelheadwill · Jun 17, 2011

Antiquarian said:
I've always loved insulators! The variations in the styles and colours are amazing. I remember once when I was 16, I climbed onto the roof of an abandoned garage in the middle of a field to unscrew an insulator!

Nice find Herbie,
Dave

Thanks Everyone!
Dave, you were a little Hellion :laughing7:

I climbed the roof of an old garage too, didn't know where I was when I woke up in
it's dark basement after crashing through the roof and first floor.
A few stitches in my eyebrow, and I was off to my next adventure.
Which I believe was teasing the local 'junkyard dog', who proceeded to snap his chain, chase me in what seemed like slow motion,
and left 2 puncture marks in my butt

Ahh, the memories of childhood :tongue3:

I don't know how my Mom survived me, God Bless Her..

BobinSouthVA · Jun 17, 2011

steelheadwill said:
Antiquarian said:

I've always loved insulators! The variations in the styles and colours are amazing. I remember once when I was 16, I climbed onto the roof of an abandoned garage in the middle of a field to unscrew an insulator!

Nice find Herbie,
Dave

Click to expand...

Thanks Everyone!
Dave, you were a little Hellion
I climbed the roof of an old garage too, didn't know where I was when I woke up in
it's dark basement after crashing through the roof and first floor.
A few stitches in my eyebrow, and I was off to my next adventure.
Which I believe was teasing the local 'junkyard dog', who proceeded to snap his chain, chase me in what seemed like slow motion,
and left 2 puncture marks in my butt
Ahh, the memories of childhood
I don't know how my Mom survived me, God Bless Her..

these are too funny.

would be a good topic in another forum.

When I was 7 we lived in a 3 story apartment building with a wonderful antenna that ran from the ground to the roof. I remember climbing up there one day and sitting on the roof and enjoying the view. Didn't really understand why all the people were on the ground shouting up at me.

I remember being grounded for quite a while.

sorry for the thread hijack :icon_sunny:

SC Keith · Jun 17, 2011

Love the color! I have seen a variety of colors with those---really cool find!

steelheadwill · Jun 17, 2011

BobinSouthVA said:
steelheadwill said:

Antiquarian said:

I've always loved insulators! The variations in the styles and colours are amazing. I remember once when I was 16, I climbed onto the roof of an abandoned garage in the middle of a field to unscrew an insulator!

Nice find Herbie,
Dave

Click to expand...

Thanks Everyone!
Dave, you were a little Hellion
I climbed the roof of an old garage too, didn't know where I was when I woke up in
it's dark basement after crashing through the roof and first floor.
A few stitches in my eyebrow, and I was off to my next adventure.
Which I believe was teasing the local 'junkyard dog', who proceeded to snap his chain, chase me in what seemed like slow motion,
and left 2 puncture marks in my butt
Ahh, the memories of childhood
I don't know how my Mom survived me, God Bless Her..

Click to expand...

these are too funny.

would be a good topic in another forum.

When I was 7 we lived in a 3 story apartment building with a wonderful antenna that ran from the ground to the roof. I remember climbing up there one day and sitting on the roof and enjoying the view. Didn't really understand why all the people were on the ground shouting up at me. I remember being grounded for quite a while.

sorry for the thread hijack

great Story Bob!
thanks all & HH :thumbsup:

VOL1266-X · Jun 17, 2011

That's one of the prettiest insulators I have seen. I have some clear ones and a few other colors in my meager collection but never seen one in that color. I understand the red ones are rare. Have you ever seen a red one Herbie? Great find, Quindy.

NOLA_Ken · Jun 17, 2011

I collected them for several years and never saw a red one. I've heard that some exist, and that they are THE prize for collectors. Closest I ever got was a nice Amber glass.

steelheadwill · Jun 18, 2011

Hi Quindy and Ken :hello:

Only saw the red ones in pictures.
I am going to keep my eyes open for them on the poles :laughing7:

NOLA_Ken · Jun 18, 2011

http://www.cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=2&a=02Seeing Red.htm&year=2004

Here's some red ones. I'd sure love to find a few.

steelheadwill · Jun 18, 2011

NOLA_Ken said:
http://www.cjow.com/archive/article.php?month=2&a=02Seeing Red.htm&year=2004

Here's some red ones. I'd sure love to find a few.

Great site Ken,
The rarest one at 5-7 K for a not very attractive insulator
that isn't even red. :dontknow:

(Pic #2 in link).
3 examples known, just thinking if I had dug a brilliant red example of my #72

oh to travel back to 1909, order 1000 red ones for $92.50,
and break 999 of them :laughing9:

HISPAN · Jun 18, 2011

Hi Herbie ! :hello:

Nice find ...congrats.
H

steelheadwill · Jun 18, 2011

Hi Hispan

looks like you got a lot of drop bottom Hemingrays :thumbsup:

NOLA_Ken · Jun 20, 2011

Looks like hemingray 42s and 45s, other companies made insulators in that same general shape too, whithall tatum, and corning come to mind, I'm pretty sure there were others. This thread is making me want to go walk the tracks in the country here and look for drops and pole dumps......