Last summer we had the good fortune to spend a day at the Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Kevin had made an appointment prior to our leaving for the Williamsburg, Virginia National, with Nance Briscoe, the Specialist in charge of the Museum's technology exhibits, including the insulators. That meeting was set for the morning of Monday, August 3.

Doug MacGillvary and Nance Briscoe, Smithsonian Institution Specialist

Neither of us had a clear idea of what we would get to see and who we would meet. but Nance was a most gracious hostess and, after a brief meeting to get acquainted with one another and discuss our various goals for the day, along with some concerns with some aspects of our hobby and with the collection itself, Nance took us on a private tour of the entire collection of insulators. 

Stacked drawer cabinets which house the insulator collection.

The collection is housed in a locked and caged storage room. The majority of the insulators in the collection, of course, are pretty common. There are also quite a few, however, that knocked our socks off. Among the outstanding pieces in the collection are:

Several wood-covered Wades, one (above) donated 
in 1904 has its original pin.

A CD 731 Tillotson in dark sapphire-cobalt blue (not pictured) was donated to the Western Union Museum in 1942 by W. Ralston, New York City Engineering Department and several early Pond's insulators show in the open drawer (below).

Nance holds an unusual wooden insulator on a side pin.

An early donation in 1898 brought a CD158 Boston (not pictured), a glass block, a no hook "Kenosha", a Lefferts hook and several Ponds insulators.

The only two known examples of what is presently identified as U-978 
were loaned to the museum by William Kline of Toledo, Ohio and 
donated through George C. Maynard in 1904. This insulator was 
thought to be threadless, but they are THREADED, and at some 
point in time the U-number assignment will need correcting.

large glass block in ice aqua

and two Yandell's patents.

One on the left is completely exposed, while 
the other is still embedded in a piece of wood.

CD 140.6 "blob" in cobalt blue - in factory mint condition 
was donated in 1904 by A.E. Roome. 
Also pictured, one of four cobalt blue EC&M's in the museum.

CD 154 Whitall Tatum No.1 in red amber

A CD 130.1 Cal. Elec. Works in aqua

CD 737 No Name in aqua

a MINT House insulator.

The insulator :vas used on lines that provided current for the telegraph printing instrument designed by Royal House...a direct competitor of the system developed by Samuel F. B. Morse.

(David Sztramski, who visited the archives March, 1997, sent photos for use whenever appropriate.. this was it! Thanks, Dave.)

Nance Briscoe shows the original pole, ribbed 
glass liner still intact within the metal housing.

We photographed several of the most interesting pieces and left the rest of the day for researching in the museum's archives of telegraphy documents, as well as some of the histories of the insulators in the collection. We learned that most of the rare pieces in the museum were donated between the years 1894 and 1913, as each piece is inventoried with a museum inventory number and documentation as to who donated the piece, when and, wherever possible, location where the insulator was used are included.

A 1915 donation -- an unusual threaded unfired porcelain signal...

The J.C. Waite ramshorn style telegraph insulator patented October 22, 1867.

A threadless sidepin....

And, a very unusual threadless hat insulator made 
of petrified wood donated by J. C. Vail in 1913.

On the second floor of the museum is an exhibit called "Hands On History", where many technological marvels of the past are exhibited, some with "hands-on" educational interfaces. In that room, with bicycles and telegraphs, are a makeshift pole with eight insulators displayed. This exhibit is staffed by volunteers and is geared toward the younger audience. It was not open to the public when we were given the opportunity to view it and, as I recall, is only open 9 hours per week due to lack of funds and staff.

The Telegraph Station....

Nance's job duties required her time, but we spent the rest of our day in the library reading original copies of The Telegrapher and other 19th Century publications.

Part of the telegraph display....

Other items donated for display, including three carnival insulators...
two CD 142 Hemingray pieces and a CD 234 Pyrex.

Display pole with eight insulators... Two cobalt EC&Ms, two Brookes
 ramshorns, a CD 131 Brookfield, a WGM toll, an unembossed CD 737, 
and an English white porcelain piece.

We were elated to have the opportunity to spend a day at the Museum of American History. We learned about the museum's collection, where it originated from, the problems with keeping a massive undertaking as the museum afloat with very limited funding and manpower, and the dedication of staff like Nance Briscoe. Our next trip to our Nation's capital will assuredly bring us back to the Museum of American History!