Here's a really RARE and UNLISTED cream porcelain no-tie insulator that was recently found in Spain. Marked with "S4" on the lower crown [click here]. An insulator nearly identical to this one is shown in a rare R Thomas catalog found in the Smithsonian Museum as "Standard #43" and dates the insulator being made circa 1900. It is now known that Thomas no-tie insulators were only made in dry process porcelain and were snow white color (and some chocolate too). This example is cream (or off-white) and made by wet process.

Measures 4" tall x 2 1/2 wide. The pinhole is 1/2" wide. Only 2 known! 2 examples are marked (and possibly seen another one unmarked). No-tie insulators were used as service line drops on turn of the century homes in Spain.

This insulator was initially assumed to be of UK manufacture (despite no catalog proof) because the porcelain color is cream (ivory?)- a color commonly used by Buller Jobson and Taylor Tunnicliffe insulators AND because this insulator is wet process made. (Photo makes insulator appear white when it is cream or off-white color). UK is also known to have made pinholes in larger than normal sizes to facilitate the cementing of the pin. This example also has widely spaced (transition) threading made to accommodate cementing of the pin in the 1/2" pinhole.

UPDATE #2: I recently received a French insulator catalog that shows this no-tie insulator MADE FOR THE SPANISH market. It is called "Asturies" [id=708803208]. which is the same region of Spain where the rare blackglass Asturias insulator was used! It was made in 3 sizes. The second size listed matches (within manufacturer's normal variations) this insulator! [id=708803834]. And yes the transition threads match this new catalog discovery too.

Displays excellent but has a 1/2" x 9/16" lower skirt flake [id=703646664], very light use marks and some sulfur left in the pinhole.

First email gets this very desirable UNLISTED insulator (NOT in the books nor NIA website!) for only $375 shipped (U.S.). Thanks!