Out of Print Porcelain Reference Material

There are a number of references to Porcelain insulators and related items that are not generally available. There is some very good information contained in these, and I think it is important to keep track of what is out there. These books frequently show up on sales lists or at insulator shows, so you may be able to locate one of interest.

I am very interested in expanding this list to include new material including:

• Books on porcelain insulators
• Catalog reprints
• Articles on insulators (from bottle magazines, papers, etc.)
• Actual old catalogs
• Old Trade journal articles of interest (Content and where found)
• Vintage advertisements (Content and where found)

If you have anything to add to this list, please contact

Please send your questions and comments to Bob Berry at

List of Out of Print Books

• A History of the Electrical Porcelain Industry in the United States
  • By Jack H. Tod
  • 180 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", soft bound (1988)
  • This book describes non pin-type porcelain insulators including [spools, knobs, cleats, wall tubes, nail knobs, strains, radio strains, and other unique insulators. It also lists dozens of manufacturers including a short history and some of their markings. It also lists over 100 patents. This is quite an interesting book which covers many items that aren't covered elsewhere.
    
    
• Collectible Porcelain Insulators (second Edition)
  • By Gerald Brown
  • 169 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", soft bound (1973)
  • Drawings, photos, information, and patent data on all types of porcelain insulators. I do not have this book so can only use the description from Gerald's ad in the Oct. 1973 Crown Jewels.
  • There is also a 3rd edition of this book copyright 1983 -- I will update as soon as I get additional information.
    
    
• Collectible Porcelain Insulators Supplement
  • By Gerald Brown
  • 68 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", soft bound (1974)
  • This book is quite interesting. It covers all types of porcelain from nail knobs to large multiparts. There are some photographs and drawings in the book that I have not seen elsewhere!
    
    
• Unique Collectible Insulators (Non-glass, Non-porcelain, Wooden, Rubber, Composition, and Metal)
  • By Gerald Brown
  • 94 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", soft bound (1975)
  • Although not really a porcelain insulator book, this needs to be listed somewhere. This book covers all the unique and hard to categorize pieces (San Francisco Wooden insulators, Electrose pin types and strains, Ram's horns, Brook's insulators, the Continental rubber works pony, as well as the lowly H.K.Porter!). Lots of pictures and illustrations.
    
    
• The Story of Fred M. Locke and His Insulators
  • By Gerald Brown
  • 82 pages, 8 1/2" x 7", soft bound (1977)
  • This book covers some limited history of Fred Locke and the Locke insulator Co. There is quite a bit of information on Fred Locke insulators and markings. It is worth reading, but most of the material is covered in much more extensive detail in Elton Gish's Fred M. Locke: A Biography.
  • There is also a one page supplement dated 1979
  • And an 11 page supplement dated 1980
    
    
• Porcelain Insulators Photographed and Priced
  • By Frances M. Terrill
  • 116 pages, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", soft cover (1972)
  • This book contains over 330 black and white photographs of many classic and rare porcelain insulators, including the description of the colors, sizes, and markings. There are a large number of seldom seen items pictured. This was Book Six of the Terrill's Old Insulator Collector's Library (The others were primarily glass).
  • Submitted by Bob Stahr
    
    
• Dictionary of Glass & Ceramic Insulators
  • By Gary Cranfill, Greg Kareofelas, and John Fountain
  • 167 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", softbound (1969)
  • This book contains reprints from old catalogs of numerous porcelain and glass insulators and related subjects.
  • Submitted by Bob Stahr
    
    
• Collector's Guide To Porcelain Insulators
  • By David Bethman
  • (1982)
  • I do not have any additional information on this yet.
  • Submitted by Bob Stahr

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Please send your questions and comments to Bob Berry at

Last updated Saturday, December 23, 1995