Themes and Variations on a Common Insulator: The Hemingray C.D. 121
by William C. Ogden
Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 1980, page 15
Some collectors might consider the Hemingray toll to be so common as not to be worth
a second glance, let alone one to be collected and valued. However, I have found
there is a considerable difference in color, drip points and embossing. I have
four base variations, three basic color variations, and eight different
embossings.
I have numbered the embossing variations as follows:
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1.
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HEMINGRAY//
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No 16
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2.
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HEMINGRAY//
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PATENT
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MAY 2 1893
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3.
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HEMINGRAY//
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PATENTED
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MAY 2 1893
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4.
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HEMINGRAY//
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PATENTED (no date)
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5.
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HEMINGRAY//
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PATENTED
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MAY 2 1893 (Note the
off-center embossing)
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6.
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HEMINGRAY//
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PATENTED
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MAY 2 1893 (Another variation of
the off-center embossing)
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7.
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HEMIGRAY//
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PATENTED
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MAY 2 1893 (Hemingray is
misspelled. I have seen EMINGRAY and HEMINGAY, but never this before.)
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8.
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The
skirt embossing is the same as number three, but I'm including it as a variation
because the style of lettering is different. The letters are beveled. This is
the smooth-based toll.
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9.
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This is a variation which I do not have, with the
numeral on top of the dome. Which numerals appear, and what is the skirt
embossing?
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The Hemingray C.D. 121 seems to come in four base variations. There
is the smooth-based one, which carries the patent date for drip points. Some I
would classify as having sharp drips. A few have long drips rounded on the ends.
There are some which I would describe as having large, short, rounded drips.
I
have three basic color variations: medium aqua; dark aqua -- some are more toward
green, while others are more blue; and a dark blue. I've heard of an olive-green
and a green in this insulator: I have neither. What shade is the green? Are
there any more base, color, or embossing variations that I have not mentioned?
Hemingray tolls are still plentiful, inexpensive, and, to my mind, an attractive
insulator.
I would be very glad to hear from other collectors. My new address
is: William C. Ogden, 1205 Cedar Lane, Virginia, MN 55792. Phone 218-741-0198.
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