This 5-inch tall porcelain pin sleeve was dug in a Victor, NY dump behind Fred Locke's place. It never made it to California where it was meant to be used on one of the very first long distance, high voltage lines (40K - 60K volts) back in 1900 between the Electra hydroelectric power plant to Mission San Jose/Oakland/San Jose built by the Standard Electric Company. It was meant to be used with the very first multiparts, the classic Locke Guttertop with the porcelain top and glass bottom, M-2795.

Fred Locke wrote about these pin sleeves as followed: " On the base of the pin is used a porcelain sleeve 5 inches long, which rests upon the crossarm and projects up beneath the glass petticoat. The object of this porcelain sleeve is to protect the pin in the event of an arc tending to strike from the eave of the insulator to the base of the pin. It also protects the pin from weathering."

This stinking rare sleeve is covered in glazing warts on the outside and inside (See pic of inside here [id=536100141]) and has maximum character. Difficult to say if it was actually a factory reject, as Fred Locke insulators with glazing warts have been found formerly in service on old power lines. I like to think that Fred Locke had his own porcelain insulator collection, before the children threw it in the dump.

This wart-covered, Locke guttertop pin sleeve is offered in trade only for a killer Cal. Want list is here [id=549405707] and here [id=534699619]. No future sale is contemplated.