I knew five years ago this line was going to be upgraded. We farm a 200 acre field that this line runs through, so I had a special interest in the insulators. Last year I got hold of the head honcho for the area and got his okey-dokey go- ahead to acquire them when they came down. He would even let me know when that was going to happen. Well, I got his ok, but getting the line crew to co-operate was a no-go. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 150 big porcelains came down. Out of the 100 or so garden variety, 1960's brown OB's that came down, I got six undamaged; and just one 1934 M-3330 intact ( out of about 50 replaced). This pic shows the few M-3330's that have at least one good part, and migh be of some use. [id=365770930; the first four]

Thanks to Mid Norris providing detailed information on how to separate and rebond the shells, I now have a summer job. Sorting the shells and making a few kitsulators. I'd much rather have a dozen good ones but if all I wind up with is a couple repaired ones, so be it. (Better than nothing but not by much). At least I don't have to worry about matching the shells for colour !

Why they wouldn't unscrew the insulators and bring them down in the bucket, they wouldn't say. Instead they cut the crossarm with a chainsaw and 'let the chips fall where they may', so to speak. They have to undo the tie wire, but won't take 30 sec to unscrew the porcelain. Brittle porcelain with a 30 foot drop onto frozen ground, make a good outcome unlikely.