Multipart Porcelain Insulators, Second Edition.

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 2000, page 16

Multipart Porcelain Insulators, Second Edition.
by Elton Gish, 380 pages, published by Infinity Press

There is probably no single person who has contributed as much to the hobby of collecting porcelain insulators as has Elton Gish. As most collectors know, he has been the editor of "Porcelain Insulator News" in Crown Jewels of the Wire since the early 80's and is the creator of the M-# Style Chart for multipart porcelains as well as the author of several other excellent books on porcelain insulators.

Since his first book Multipart Porcelain Insulators was published in 1988, a growing number of collectors have become interested in this segment of the hobby. Since 1988, so many new styles have been discovered that a new book was needed so collectors could accurately catalog their collection.

Although the first edition of the book was primarily a style chart, the second edition is much, much more. Not only is the style chart updated from 337 styles to a total of 568 styles but a price guide and listing of all known markings is included. 

But the really incredible part of the 380 page book is the in-depth stories on multi part finds and history from collectors around the country, hundreds of historical photographs, blueprints, catalog cuts, patent drawings and historical advertisements which adorn the pages of this incredible book.

The amount of time Elton had to dedicate to a book this detailed and complete is mind boggling. The book is worth the price alone just for the photographs, many of which have never been seen before by collectors. For example, one of the most interesting sections of the book I found is the series of 12 photographs of flashover tests of classic multiparts taken by Fred Locke on magic lantern glass slides in 1904. Some of these insulators in the tests have never been found. These rare and historical photographs are now available in this book for all collectors to enjoy.

As we have seen in his 1994 book Fred M Locke, a Biography, Elton doesn't do anything halfway. Multipart Porcelain Insulators, Second Edition is one of the most impressive books ever offered to the hobby. The wealth of information in this book will appeal not only to multipart collectors but to anyone with an interest in the history of electrical power transmission and insulators. Don't hesitate to order this book, I guarantee you will be very glad you did!

Ed Sewall, editor of Power Line Explorer Journal