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a glass insulator

demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
in Metal Detecting
been a long time since posting here. been busy dodging the rain. found this on wed at work. some trenching work uncovered this and some old fire brick.
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Comments

  • pcgs69pcgs69 Posts: 4,336 ✭✭✭✭
    Hey demo,

    good to see you back! Been finding anything else good over there? Nice pickup on the insulator. It has a nice look to it. Any idea on age?
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    going out to a large dump tomorrow. should have sunshine. not sure of the age, early 1900's? whats cool, is this is the style i like and collect. they are called beehives. this one that i found is only worth $1. here's some i bought:
    image
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Neat find...definitely collector interest in those. I often encounter them at yard sales and they want $$ for them - varies but usually $5 or up...Cheers, RickO
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    this is a super rare insulator that i found while detecting back 1996. i sold it 3 years ago for $2200. got hooked on insulators after that.
    image
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,667 ✭✭✭✭✭
    way cool find demo. nice shape as well. happy new year all
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow.... did not know they could be worth that much..... never saw one like that either. Cheers, RickO
  • pcgs69pcgs69 Posts: 4,336 ✭✭✭✭
    As Ricko said that expensive one looks odd. Not sure I would have even known to have picked that thing up. Was it found at an old dump site?
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    this flat insulator is known as a fisher insulator. it was used in an electric railroad here in san jose CA, during the 1870's. i found mine at a huge demo project in 1996. the spot had a saloon, hotel, dump and 1860's homes. i've always felt that if you found something odd or intersting, then take it home. had no idea what this thing was till about 3 years ago. was digging in another 1870's spot, that was loaded with bottles and early coins. i had dug 2 halfdimes and a cool 1850 calendar coin. another guy there dug the same insulator but a little nicer. he and his brothers were really excited about it. said it could be worth 3K. i went home found mine laying in drawer and showed to some friends. turns out mine was the 7th known of its type to exist.

    so....an insulator show came and i sold it. it sparked my interest in insulators. took that money made and bought my family the finest tent and camping EQ for camping/fishing vacations.

    so make sure you pick up everything and don't throw away until your completely sure it is trash
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,661 ✭✭✭✭✭
    WTG! I have heard those are good finds? I mean, pretty sought after by collectors? They look nice on a windowsill, at any rate.

    Hey, since that last one is kinda blue, and you took a picture of it in the car, tell us the truth. When you drove outta there and encountered some traffic, you put that blue insulator on the roof and made "woo-woo-woo" siren sounds to clear everybody outta your way, didn'tcha? image

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    imageMAO.... Good one LordM...Cheers, RickO
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    california is full of weirdos, so it may have gone un noticed.
    i saw an insulator with the price of around 30k. it did'nt sell. there are many worth way more than mine. insulators are like coins in many ways and collectors can be very serious. there are hundreds of varieties, shapes and colors.
    this me at the show
    image
  • GBurger717GBurger717 Posts: 575
    WoW I feel like an ASS. About 3 years ago I had over 60 of these things in my junk pile from digging trips. All diffrent types and colors. I did not feel like carrying them around when I moved so I put them on craigslist for FREEEEE. Some guy called around the PA/NY line and drove almost 3 hours for them. My wife and I thought he was crazy!!! Now I know why he drove that far!! I am not saying mine were worth big bucks I just dont know but after reading this I start to wonder.... image
  • dumbodumbo Posts: 45
    Wow that amount of money would raise my interest in finding also. You can find holes along the railroad beds that are full of them. When they updated insulators the lineman just dug a hole and threw them in at the base of the pole. I have white and green. I wish I could find some blue and red and yellow. congratulations on the findimage
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    I work for/ on the railroad. Its not as easy as you may think to find insulators. Railroads are private property, so beware about digging
  • dumbodumbo Posts: 45
    Our railroad was turned back to the State for rails to trails. The poles are intact, the wire is gone. I understand the railroad is private property. I appreciate the heads up though.
  • LochNESSLochNESS Posts: 4,829 ✭✭✭


    << <i>... i had dug 2 halfdimes and a cool 1850 calendar coin ... >>


    What is a calendar coin??? Any photos???
    ANA LM • WBCC 429

    Amat Colligendo Focum

    Top 10 • FOR SALE

    image
  • aj2525raj2525r Posts: 120 ✭✭
    Hello,

    My grandfather used to pick up everything (depression era mentality) and had a couple of 5 gallon buckets of these glass insulators. After he died I picked out one in the best condition and got a common Hemingray No 12. The rest my great aunt got.

    I've also met a guy who collects the glass balls they used to use as fishing net floats in ?Japan. You can find those around if you look.

    Cheers

    I still call my accumulation my collection!
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