IOTW U-274
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U-274 - Insulator of the Week on Wed, 03 Sep 2008
Nickname
None
Related Patents
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Details
Embossing: The U-274 O.P. Co embossed style. The embossing (yes, truly embossed porcelain) is on the top of the upper wire ridge. The O.P. Co marking is for the Ohio Porcelain Company of East Liverpool, Ohio. The company was established circa 1897 and merged with other companies in about 1913 to form General Porcelain Co. The U-274 is shown here
- center insulator of the three. (this was the only photo that I could readily find on-line. If other collectors can add links to OP CO pics, please do)
Location found: Not known to me.
Colors: various shades of brown, and white.
Comments
My purpose of posting this is to see if someone recalls finding these in the wild. Where were these found/used? Why are they so scarce?
Jim Colburn
Questions
None
Discussion
Jimmy Burns commented on Thu, 4 Sep 2008
Have you ever seen a 274 that wasn't chipped around the edge of the dome? My son, Christoper has two, a white and a brown that both have banged up rims. One theory is that the embossing on the rim made the OP inherently weak and subject to breakage. I have seen specimens that are cracked into at the embossing. It seemed to be the only insulator OP put their brand on and was probably for heavy telegraph which could have increased the damage factor.
Andrew Gibson commented on Thu, 4 Sep 2008
When it comes to porcelain, I'm fairly clueless. Does the U-274 come ONLY embossed as O.P.CO., or are there other variations from other companies? Is this shape from early in the existence of the company (i.e. nearer 1897), the end (i.e. closer to 1913), or throughout that time?
Jim Colburn commented on Thu, 4 Sep 2008
The the U-274 does come as a no name too. I think those are attributed to OP Co. As to the time frame for these pieces, I am not sure. I suspect a bit later in their company history. Neat pieces. Jim Colburn By the way, still no answer on where they were found in the wild.
