Research Division

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", July 1977, page 29

Hot Item!            Mystery Solved!

(Our thanks to Bob Larkin of Thorndale, Pennsylvania, for sharing the following letter with us regarding "Star" insulators and the Star Glass Company of New Albany, Indiana.)

NEW ALBANY 
FLOYD COUNTY 
PUBLIC LIBRARY

180 W. Spring St. 
New Albany, In 47150

May 16, 1977

Mr. Robert S. Larkin 
National Insulator Association 
Box 345 Thorndale, Pa. 19372

Dear Mr. Larkin:

We have your letter sent to the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, which was turned over to us for research.

The Star Glass Company of New Albany was in existence from 1869 to 1880 and manufactured plate glass, window-glass, bottles, jars and insulators, according to an article in the New Albany Tribune of December 11, 1962. They used a five-pointed star as their trade mark. W. C. DePauw was president after 1873.

About 1881, Mr. DePauw changed the name to DePauw American Plate Glass Works. There is no indication anywhere in our files or among local historians with whom we checked, that he ever used a star on his products after the name was changed.

We hope this information will help you identify the insulator marked with a star.

Very truly yours,
Ruth Ann Kramer 
Indiana History Room