|
Post by pastlifepea on Feb 1, 2016 14:50:03 GMT
I collect sea glass and finding a big chunk of one of these is always a special treasure!
|
|
|
Post by Crack-a-lackin on Feb 1, 2016 15:32:16 GMT
They come in several colors of glass. They pop up fairly frequently at estate auctions. Seems like everyone kept a few. Occasionally, there's a huge box full. And the comments are entertaining to say the least! I just went wandering to see if I remembered my colors right. Turns out, I have two white porcelain ones, one green and one a light purple. I am almost positive I have another green one somewhere, but can't seem to find it. I texted my mom to ask if she remembered where they came from but haven't heard back. No one in my family has any kind of relationship with electrical industry so I am sure they were picked up from some kind of junk store. The comments are pretty funny. Oooh, I think the purple ones are the most valuable. You hardly ever see those.
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Feb 1, 2016 15:42:03 GMT
I just went wandering to see if I remembered my colors right. Turns out, I have two white porcelain ones, one green and one a light purple. I am almost positive I have another green one somewhere, but can't seem to find it. I texted my mom to ask if she remembered where they came from but haven't heard back. No one in my family has any kind of relationship with electrical industry so I am sure they were picked up from some kind of junk store. The comments are pretty funny. Oooh, I think the purple ones are the most valuable. You hardly ever see those. I know where there are at least a few miles of these on a disconnected, unused old power line. But they're up so high, I can't get to them! I tried to get my husband to pull up the Jeep below the lowest one because I think I could have reached it on top of the car and he refused and told me I'd either die or be arrested (lol, it's out in the country alongside a train track, I doubt either is even a remote possibility). I know the line is unused because several sections don't have wire anymore or it's just hanging in the wind. Some day I'm going to get those purple ones...Though now they're 900 miles away from me since I moved. I bet I could get my sister to cone with me and pull off the heist.
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on Feb 1, 2016 15:46:37 GMT
they're collectible, too... I'm surprised to see them in a Savers-- but I don't know what anyone would want with them, besides to collect them.
eta: I have two or three- clear and green ones-- I think they came from my Grandma's house, but I don't know where they came from before that. There are still electrical poles with them on around where I grew up in NW Illinois... small town, rural county, lots of back roads. I think they were popular targets for shooting, too.
eta2: I just have mine sitting on a shelf, but I really like the night light idea, using a battery operated tea light. I'll have to try that with the green one, to see how it looks! and LOL at the phallic comments (although now I do see it), and I agree with the Dalek shape!
|
|
|
Post by micpea on Feb 1, 2016 18:04:21 GMT
My Dad retired from the phone company several years ago & we've had several of these in our home off & on over the years. I ran across this on the internet a year or so ago. I found it interesting
|
|
|
Post by wallyagain on Feb 1, 2016 18:27:17 GMT
I have some, too. The aqua color and some clear ones. They are decorations in my house, as they are unique and add interest. Of course, around here, most everyone still knows what they are.
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on Feb 1, 2016 19:20:48 GMT
micpea, thanks for that photo! there are so many really pretty colors! I'll have to compare the ones I have to the ones in this photo...
|
|
blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,985
Jun 25, 2014 20:53:57 GMT
|
Post by blue tulip on Feb 1, 2016 19:27:40 GMT
Oooh, I think the purple ones are the most valuable. You hardly ever see those. I know where there are at least a few miles of these on a disconnected, unused old power line. But they're up so high, I can't get to them! I tried to get my husband to pull up the Jeep below the lowest one because I think I could have reached it on top of the car and he refused and told me I'd either die or be arrested (lol, it's out in the country alongside a train track, I doubt either is even a remote possibility). I know the line is unused because several sections don't have wire anymore or it's just hanging in the wind. Some day I'm going to get those purple ones...Though now they're 900 miles away from me since I moved. I bet I could get my sister to cone with me and pull off the heist.
I got 2 boxes full from a line next to a country railroad track! I remember driving that road with my grandma growing up, and looking at all the pretty glass. even when they decommissioned them, they still left the poles and insulators up. finally 3 years ago they were doing work to the rail lines and started taking the poles down.. and just left them, tipped over, in the snow! insulators and all! I had a suspicion it was coming so I had been driving by daily with pliers and wrenches in my car, so I was prepared when I saw them down. some had already been stripped but I got a good haul. I love them! I use them as décor everywhere and eventually want to make a grand outdoor chandelier, hence the need for boxes of them.
|
|
|
Post by peanutterbutter on Feb 1, 2016 21:04:33 GMT
My husband is an avid collector. They come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors. Purple ones were not made that way. They were clear, and became that way through chemical changes caused by the composition of the glass interacting with light (generally the sun). That's why purples are less common .
|
|
my3freaks
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,206
Location: NH girl living in Colorado
Jun 26, 2014 4:10:56 GMT
|
Post by my3freaks on Feb 1, 2016 21:15:24 GMT
Insulator knobs from power/phone lines. They look like knobs alright!
|
|
|
Post by anxiousmom on Feb 1, 2016 21:21:12 GMT
My husband is an avid collector. They come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors. Purple ones were not made that way. They were clear, and became that way through chemical changes caused by the composition of the glass interacting with light (generally the sun). That's why purples are less common . After this thread started, I tried to look up values and had a hard time finding any information. Do you think he could point me in the right direction?
|
|
|
Post by peanutterbutter on Feb 1, 2016 21:48:07 GMT
anxiousmom - the values really vary depending on the manufacturer, the type of insulator, how common they are, the color, the condition, there are variations in the embossing, if there is "junk" in the glass...etc, etc. You could go through www.nia.org and see if they have someone in your area to help you, or if they can value them through pictures - there are an awful lot of them out there that are only worth a buck or a few.
|
|
|
Post by anonrefugee on Feb 1, 2016 22:57:59 GMT
I had no idea there are so many colors. Thanks micpea
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 4:42:27 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2016 23:45:33 GMT
Around here they sell for $8 to $15, with the colored ones fetching more at antique stores and markets.
The electric table top lamp in my picture on page one, with the hand-turned wooden base sold for $65.
|
|
|
Post by AussieMeg on Feb 2, 2016 2:15:17 GMT
I was just planning on hanging/installing a coat rack my father made out of these probably near 50 years ago. Something like this one that has the original post tops on them. Only mine isn't painted but the natural weather worn wood. That looks so good, you definitely have to do it! I mean, who wouldn't want to hang their coat on a penis? I'm just kidding, it really does look great. micpea thanks for sharing that photo, I didn't know they came in so many colours and now I want one of each!
|
|