Glass insulators were first produced in the 1850's for use with telegraph lines. As technology developed insulators were needed for telephone lines, electric power lines, and other applications. In the mid 1960's a few people began collecting these antique glass insulators. Today there are over 3,000 insulator collectors. Insulator clubs, local and national shows, and good reference books are available. Auctions of Vintage Insulators are available too.
Patent of the Day
Utility Patent 830,585 on September 11, 1906
By Samuel H. Mcdaniel
Miscellaneous: miscellaneous - block held by metal casing

[Set My Event Preferences]

Thursday, September 11, 2025
Special Events
Upcoming Insulator & Bottle Shows Shows
Insulator Show GCIC Swap Meet
  Rochester, IN Sat, September 13 in 2 days
Insulator Show WRIC 15th Annual Oktoberfest Insulator Show
  Richfield, OH Sat, September 13 in 2 days
Insulator Show Border States Antique Show & Sale
  Lawrence, KS Sat, September 20 in 9 days
Insulator Show 26th Annual Merzoian Brother's Taligater
  Porterville, CA Sat, September 27 in 16 days
Insulator Show Grand Canyon State Insulator Club
  Mayer, AZ Sat, October 4 in 23 days
Insulator Show Yankee Pole Cat Fall 2025 Swap
  Manchester, CT Sat, October 4 in 23 days
Insulator Show NW insulator Club Swap and Sale
  Freeport, MN Sat, October 11 in 30 days
Insulator Show Garland Insulator Show
  Richardson, TX Sat, October 18 in 37 days
NIA show The 57th NIA National Show & Convention
  Helena, MT Fri, July 10 (3 day show) in 302 days
More shows
Insulator show listings courtesy National Insulator Assocation
Happy Birthday!
age 62 Today!! Thu, September 11
age 66 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
age 65 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
age 81 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
age 69 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
age 46 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
age 53 Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
Happy Anniversary!
38 years Today!! Thu, September 11
9 years Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
16 years Tomorrow! Fri, September 12
What's New? Insulator Collectors On the Net! Go to the Porcelain Insulator Pages Navigation banner
Updated Tuesday
July 1, 2025		 Are you  a member?
Why don't you join?
Donate to ICON		 Porcelain Insulator
Pages

General Information:
*Insulator Profiles
*Frequently Asked Questions
*Glossary of Insulator Terms
*Style Number Charts
*Anatomy of an Insulator
*Ted's Top Ten Tips
*Search the Insulator Pages
*Most Popular Insulators
*Insulator Wiki
*Download Area
*Links to Related Sites

Photo Albums:
*North American Insulators
*Foreign Insulators
*Porcelain Insulators
*PicturePoster Gallery Updated 9/2025
*Shorpy Photographs
*Early Telegraph Insulators
*Insulator "Go-Withs"
*Insulators in Service
*Crown Jewels of the Wire
*Power Line Explorer
*The Greatest Insulator Find

Clubs and Shows:
*National Insulator Association
*Local Clubs
*Show Calendar Updated 9/2025

 Read it Online:
*Research Articles and StoriesUpdated 9/2025
*ICON Articles and Pictures
*Canadian Forum
*Books Online
*Show Reports
*Insulator News
*N.R. Woodward on the Web Updated 10/2019
*Taking Care of Your Insulators
*Classic Articles from RRTP
*Insulators and Computers

Reference Material:
*Reference Books
*Magazines
*Publications Reference Library
"The Insulator Gazette"
*Patent Reference Library
*Insulator Geography
Where were they used?
*Insulator Catalogs
*Design Specifications
*Insulator Research Service
*Out of Print Resources

The People Connection:
*ICON Mailing List
*Collectors' Pages
*Collectors Websites
*Online Contacts
*PicturePoster Insulators For Sale Updated 9/2025
*Insulators For Sale and Trade Updated 9/2025