July 1997 Collecting Electric Fence Insulators Part One

Electric Fence insulators are not exactly the hobby's most popular specialty. In fact, I know of only two other people who actively collect fence insulators. Gene Condon, and Bob Wilson Jr., president of one of the worlds largest fence insulator companies. I intend to show that fence insulators and equipment can be a fun specialty, how to go about collecting electric fence equipment, and lastly a directory of electric fence insulator companies. In part one of this two part series, you will see a breakdown of insulators and equipment, which should be helpful in choosing a collecting specialty if you don't decide on how I collect. (Everything I can get my hands on.)

The electric fence industry dates back to the 1930's, when Parker-McCroy Mfg. Co. introduced the worlds first fence charger. Along with this charger, Parmak sold a small porcelain single groove insulator which Wisconsin Porcelain developed. Since then, porcelain, and plastic companies have been turning out a volume of different styles, in all shapes and sizes, plus many different gate handles, and a number of accessories. Collecting these items is both fun and a challenge.

There are about eleven different types of insulators being sold today. They are pinlocks, poly tape, wood post, porcelain, T-post, U-post, round post, corners, extenders, economy and ones with a metal clip.

	PINLOCKS for wood T -post. Pin slides in and out of hole to allow entrance and removal of wire
ECONOMY INSULATOR. The J-bolt attaches an insulator to a round post. The metal clip is for chain link fence.
	POLYTAPE for U-post attachment. The latch opens and closes.
This is a ROUND POST with one insulator.
	This a a WOOD POST EXTENDER insulator. Extenders are extra long insulators.
CORNER INSULATORS in plastic (left) and porcelain (right).
	T-POST TOP insulator.
All illustrations courtesy of Dare Products.

Go-Withs include; Lightning Arresters and protection equipment, gate handles, chargers, warning signs, testers, dealer displays and advertisement posters. Many of these go-withs are fascinating, and really set off a collection of fence insulators. Dealer displays and advertisement posters are in a class by themselves. The posters come in several sizes and show a company's line of products. The displays have the actual insulators attached to various posts, or a plastic backdrop. These usually have to be purchased from the company who makes the insulators, and are a bit space consuming, but look wonderful and are great attention-getters.

There are five displays that I know of that are currently available. They are offered by two companies, Red Snap'r (North Central Plastics, 1-800-533-2091), and Dare Products (1-800-922-3273). Red Snap'r has three of them, a partial line display, and a display with nine insulators that you can hang on a wall. They also have a high tensile fence insulator display. Call for prices.

Dare has a larger display than Red Snap'r, and a high tensile display. Call for prices. There are a couple of displays that are out of production, but are really neat. One is the old Accessories Mfg. Co., "Silent Salesman", which has their lightning arrester and a few other items. It is really neat. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has one of these displays. The second display is no longer in production, but is the best display I have ever seen. It is the Fi-Shock International display. I am not sure what all was on it, as I only saw it a couple of times two or three years ago. It has insulators mounted on the assorted posts, wires, and a switch. The display is made to be plugged in, and something moves on it. My memory is not clear. Hardware stores that sold Fi-Shock may have one of these displays for sale if you ask. Try either Ace Hardware, or Eagle Hardware & Garden. Fi-Shock now uses a poster showing their insulators. I have ordered one of these, and should get it soon.

One of the best ways to start a collection is to go to stores that sell fence insulators. Some stores will sell only full bags, others will sell you single insulators. Look through what is for sale; and either buy one of each, or what you like. Ask to see their insulator catalog, you may be able to order other styles not offered. Some insulator companies will also send you samples and all will send you their catalog. In part two of my article, I will present a directory of insulator companies, and show you how to "walk the lines" to collect fence insulators. I can assure you that it is just as fun as hunting line insulators, and sometimes more challenging.

I would like to do some question and answer articles, so if you have a fence insulator question, feel free to write me.

Trivia: We all know about the glass Surge insulators, but did you know there is another glass fence insulators. Do you who sells it? (Hint: The company is in Kansas, and the insulator has a white plastic coating. The first person (if any) who sends me the answer will receive free, the booklet "Collecting Electric Fence Insulators" which I am currently working on. It will show how to go about building a fence insulator collection, a directory of fence insulator companies, and possibly an illustrated dictionary of insulator types.

I am also assembling a list of "substitute" insulators used on fences; it is an interesting list. We all have seen porcelain wireholders, used on wood posts, but do you know of any other insulator, or non-insulator (such as Coke bottles used on round posts with a small steel rod)? If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me.