These 6-pin lines were among Ma Bell's first ones here in New England ("lesser" lines used side-pins). These were built in the mid to late 1880s through 1910. Most had two lag screws affixing their crossarms to the poles. Quite probably the two-piece mold Brookfield and early Hemingray CD 104 insulators with the New Eng. Tel. & Tel. Co. lettering were used along lines like this one. After about 1910, ten-pin crossarms became the rule. As the older (original) poles rotted out, hardware such as crossarm braces as well as the older insulators were reused if they were in good condition. The then-new 10-pin crossarms had a single center bolt method of attachment. For many years these were creosote soaked arms designed to last virtually forever. A NET&T Co. pole tag was often used as an identifier half-way between the pole enter-bolt crossarm mount and the end of it. It was fun growing up with some of the latter day NET&T open-wire back in the 60s here in Massachusetts. Unfortunately most of it was converted to paired cable by the late 60s....

Joe

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