Tips for Finding Glass Railroad Insulators? - Antique-Bottles.net

Tips for Finding Glass Railroad Insulators? - Antique-Bottles.net

Minuteman Archaeologist said:

Where could I likely be able to find a good concentration of intact glass railroad insulators? I just started following the telegraph poles with some success, but still looking to broaden my scope of research. Any tips would be helpful.

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I have discovered thousands of insulators in nature. While I could author a book on the subject, here are some essential pointers to get you started:

1. Do Your Homework

Researching beforehand significantly increases your success rate. Identifying which side of the tracks the poles were on gives you a 50% better chance of locating what you are looking for. Visiting libraries and studying old railroad station photos can aid in this. Generally, poles stay on the same side but can occasionally switch.

2. Understand Pole Spacing

Determine whether there are 32 or 34 poles per mile. More wires on the pole typically indicate closer spacing.

3. Use Metal Detectors

Metal detectors are effective for locating tie wires, often discarded with the insulators.

4. Proper Equipment

Modify a ten tine fork to make a two-tine pitchfork for easier probing. Potato hoes are particularly useful for digging, and a pruner and spade also help.

5. Analyze Siltation Rates

Deciduous trees add an inch of soil every 10 years, while conifers add less. On hills, the siltation rate reduces proportionally to the slope's steepness.

6. Learn Line Habits

Recognize that some companies disposed of insulators in old pole holes, dropped them randomly, or grouped them in hidden piles.

7. Marking Your Path

Red and yellow duct tape can help track your discoveries. Yellow indicates a pole hole, and red signifies threadless glass. This system assists in deducing pole spacing with 58 paces equating to approximately 30 poles per mile.

8. Reference Books

Many valuable resources include "Wiring a Continent," "The Telegraph in America," "Electricity and the Electric Telegraph," "In Search of Threadless," and others. These can provide deeper insights and guidance.

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What Are Good Insulators Aside from Glass?

Contrary to popular belief, glass itself is not a great insulator. For instance, on a cold winter's day, a simple glass pane can get very cold, indicating its poor insulating properties.

When used in fibrous glass insulation, the material is chosen not for its insulating properties, but for its fireproof nature. Asbestos was once utilized for similar reasons. The primary insulator is actually the air trapped within the fibrous material, which is poorly conductive, while the glass prevents air circulation.

In this context, any fibrous material can insulate effectively. Even conductive materials like fibrous copper or aluminum would perform similarly, though they would be significantly more expensive.

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