Chester N.Y.

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", May 1981, page 38

Hi Dora: 

Thought I would send this on. I guess no one else thought to take a picture of this at the National. On the following two pages is the message that accompanied this display.  
Tom G. Moulton                                                                                                      

Displayed here are the two types of rim-embossed CHESTER N.Y. insulators known to exist -- CD 724 and CD 740.2. It is interesting to note that both are apparently only known in the cobalt blue color. 

Founded in 1855, the firm of Charles T. and John N. Chester succeeded John W. Norton in a telegraphic engineering and supply business at White and Leonard Streets in New York City. Mr. Norton had had an early start in the telegraph business (1846); however, it is unknown if the Chesters were associated with Mr. Norton during this time.

Around the year 1861 the Chesters moved their business to 104 Centre Street where they remained in business until the late 1870's. 

While the advertisement on the reverse of this sheet lists the firm as manufacturers of all types of telegraphic equipment it is doubtful that they, in fact, manufactured the glass insulators which carry their name. It is more likely that they had the pieces manufactured to their specifications by a third party. 

The CHESTER N.Y. embossing is found on the glass insert for the wood shielded "Wade" type of insulator (CD 724) which was in use during the mid 1850's to 1860's. This insulator is found cataloged in the 1857-1861 Chester catalog but is not listed in 1863. 

There are several "Hat" style insulators with the CHESTER N.Y. embossing, but only one which is rim-embossed -- CD 740.2. The CD 735 threadless hat which is found in various shades of aqua to green, has the CHESTER N.Y. embossing on the side and may additionally have the name of the telegraph company for whom they were made embossed on them. There has also been reported one CD 728 amber colored insulator embossed CHESTER N.Y. which was found in the Panama Canal Zone. 

CHESTER N.Y. is also found on two threaded types of insulators. The CD 123 has the additional embossing PAT. JAN 25, 1870. The CD 158, segmented thread, is embossed -- CHESTER 104 CENTRE ST. N.Y. -- PATENTED on the inner skirt. The latter of these two is probably the last to be manufactured with the Chester name, as the segmented thread design was not filed for patent until 1872 by Mr. Samuel Oakman.