1977 >> February >> Pyrex Pictorial Essay  

Pyrex Pictorial Essay
by Jeffrey McCurty

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", February 1977, page 3

I have collected insulators for six years and started specializing in Pyrex three years ago. It has been a real challenge. Although Corning-Pyrex manufactured their insulator line quite recently, from 1924-1945 (approx.), some have been very difficult to get.

I wrote a short article in April 1975 Crown Jewels describing some Pyrex insulators and a history of "carnival glass" usage. I stated the people at Corning Glass Works had told me it would be impossible to obtain a complete line of Pyrex. I am still trying to prove them wrong.

Patent dates relative to Pyrex are #1,304,623 of May 27, 1919 for improvements to glass composition, and #1,700,006 issued to Corning January 22, 1929.

I have included in this pictorial essay some of the Pyrex items I have that do not seem to be in any insulator books. The titles I have given to each item are what I think them to be. When looking at the photos, keep in mind they are not in scale to each other, so go by the measurements.

I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have helped me in acquiring these Pyrex beauties, especially Dee Willett, Chuck Irwin and Pete Bishop.


PYREX C.D. 100.5 
2-3/4" tall, 1-7/8" across at base. Clear. 
Embossed: PYREX REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. 
MADE IN U.S.A. 1

The display case shown was made from three jar tops glued together and painted. Glass is from, ironically, a type of glass set made by Corning.



PYREX STAND OFF INSULATOR 
11-3/4" tall, 4-3/4" across at base.
Base is brass with 1922 stamped into it. 
It is embossed PYREX on the fourth ridge down. It is a two part mold. Clear.



PYREX RADIO STRAIN INSULATOR 
20" long. 

Glass section is 1-7/8" thick and has a hollow center about 3/4" diameter. No embossing. Clear. Metal ends are each embossed: PYREX MADE IN U.S.A. PAT. 1700066. Base shown is a 2"x4" with two rests for the insulator, because all surfaces are rounded.



CORNING BATTERY JAR 
13-1/2" tall, 6-3/4" opening. Clear. 

Embossed: MADE IN U.S.A. 9BJ4 CORNING on side and T.M. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. above one handle. Ceramic top, white glazed, embossed: EDISON MADE IN U.S.A. #BP39757.



PYREX SOMBRERO 
3-1/2" tall, 6" across at base. Clear. 

Embossed: PYREX T.M. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. MADE IN U.S.A. from the underside. Used 3/4" peg.



PYREX POWER FUSE 
25-3/4" long, 3" wide at glass ridges. 

Decaled on glass: S & C LIQUID POWER FUSE S & C ELECTRIC COMPANY, CHICAGO. Glass embossed: PYREX T.M. REG. U.S. PAT. MADE IN U.S.A. Small brass end stamped 4 22 58. Dates? Large brass end stamped CAT. NO. 94466 69KV. AMP 30E TCC. 111-5. Interior: 6-7 copper wire strands surrounded by one continuous copper coil. When resting horizontally, as shown, carbon tetrachloride inside fills approx. one half of the hollow chamber. (I still need to build a display base for this because it does not rest flat without support.)



PYREX BABY BOTTLE 

An insulator go-with! C. 1950. Body is of 6 panels that slope to neck. 6-3/8" tall, 2" across at base. Clear. Embossed: PYREX down one panel and PYREX horizontally, both using the same R. Also: T.M. REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. 58N around base. Bottom: MADE IN U.S.A. This Pyrex specimen fed five hungry children, including yours truly.



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