N. R. "Woody" Woodward is the author of THE GLASS INSULATOR IN AMERICA, 1988 Report and developed the Consolidated Design Numbers identification system for glass insulators. 

The first question comes from Lee Lickiss of Buena Park, California.

QUESTION: I have two Pyrex pieces which are CD 327. However, one is embossed No. 441 on the skirt and one is embossed No. 461 on the top of the ear of the insulator. Any information?

Thanks for the question on Pyrex No. 441 and 461. Unfortunately I really have nothing upon which to build a report. I've never heard of a 461 and just to be certain, I reviewed my Corning file in detail. No mention of it. 

Since its physical characteristics are so near that of the 441, it seems impossible that would have had a bearing. Since the glass is a different color, I can only guess that a run was made using a slightly different formula and that they were marked differently to ensure proper identification on any follow-up observations in service. But that is only a guess and hardly ought to be published.

Too bad that Corning trashed all the records of their insulator production. I've written numerous letters through the years and visited their plant as well, with no results insofar as details of product.

NORMAL 441 A =4-5/8" B = 3-7/8" C = 1-5/8" Height = 8-1/16" Color = yellow tint		EMBOSSED 461 A = 4-15/16" B = 3-718" C= 1-7/8" Height = 8-5/16" Color = Green tint, similar to a CD 155 Armstrong green smoke, only a little lighter
Drawing is from Woodward's 1988 Report and records the CD 327 height as 7 5/8" in height.

	A: Location of embossing on the Pyrex CD 327 numbered 461.
	B: Location of embossing on the Pyrex CD 327 numbered 441.

P .S. An afterthought: Those slight variations in crown dimensions could have related to desired use of a specific style of preformed tie that did not fit the conventional 441 quite as they should, although those measurements are not usually quite that close.

Our second question is submitted by Bob Berry of Stanfordville, New York.

QUESTION: I have a CD 553 Pyrex, but it does not match the existing two known pieces. It appears to be an exact match to the N.R. Woodward drawing from the Corning catalogue. It has a height of 9-1/2" and the top skirt measures 12". As can be seen from the pictures, the bottom skirt extends 1-1/2" below the center skirt. and there is no mini-skirt under the top skirt. The top skirt appears identical to the two known. The embossing is slightly different. The embossing is on the inside of the skirt as follows:

1st quadrant: PYREX T.M. REG. U.S. PA 
2nd quadrant: T. OFF. MADE IN U.S.A. 
Split between 3rd and 4th quadrant: 553 
The second quadrant also has a "C" embossed on the outside of the skirt.

Amazingly enough, I found this at an antique car flea market -- it just shows that you never know! The guy who had it said he got it at another flea market about ten years ago! It seems significantly different from the other 553's, but it does match the original drawings. It seems that it should not be the same CD number. What do you think?

I really can't write much about the Pyrex 553, since I've never seen one. BUT I do have catalog drawings of BOTH variations: I have 2 Pyrex catalogs with the big power styles, not dated but one is obviously earlier than the other. I had not realized before how different the two 553s are: In checking, I see there are minor differences in 2 other styles, but not nearly so pronounced as the 553 and probably not needing a separate CD number.

So -- Bob Berry's "new" 553 remains CD 328, as per the drawing from the newer catalog that was used in assigning the number originally. The earlier one, of which Bob says there are two, is now CD 328.2.

Photo of Bob's CD 328 Pyrex 553

As a follow up to the information from Lee Lickiss, Bob sent a photograph of a CD 327 Pyrex 441which has the 461 embossed on the top. Bob comments that the 461 is about 1/2 inch taller than the 441.

Our last question is from Charles Lindsay from Modesto, California.

QUESTION: I was wondering if you could help me to identify this insulator and maybe what it would be worth. The glass portion is 5-3/4" high, 2-1/2" in diameter. The top has a metal wire nut connector, and there is a wire (bare) running the length of the insulator (about the #12 wire size). On the base is the marking T3. There are threads inside. it is smooth. It had to be some kind of hanging insulator. Thank you for any help that you can give me.

The insulator that you have is, in fact. not a line insulator but rather a bushing. These bushings are used on electrical equipment where the primary line is brought in. Probably yours is from a capacitor, although similar bushings have been used for large transformers and other equipment. Bushings are more often made from porcelain, although glass ones such as yours can be seen atop capacitors, typically in capacitor banks located on poles near rural communities or small towns.

The purpose of the bushing is to prevent the line from being grounded to the case of the capacitor or transformers. The long corrugated surface prevents an arc from forming in wet weather. Longer bushings are used for higher voltages.