French Insulators

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", August 1972, page 13

I've gotten quite interested in French insulators, and don't remember seeing very much in print about them. I'm listing what I have found out about them so far.

First, nearly all seem to come in just one of two styles - either straight sided with a pinched-in grooved top, Milholland's CD 822; or, a rounded top with two projections or "ears" extending out and up from just below the side groove, Milholland's CD 781. This second style is referred to as a "Gingerbread Man", or "Snow Man" when in white porcelain. They come in various sizes, colors, and embossing, but only in these two styles.

Second, they are all cemented onto steel pins. These pins are usually 1/2" or 5/8" in diameter, and in various shapes. Their outer end is either flattened for bolt holes, or has lag screw threads for screwing into the crossarm or pole. Their inner end narrows down to about 1/2 diameter and then ends in a thick round button; or sometimes is threaded. The inside of the hole in the insulator is also threaded (of necessity to permit removal of the plunger while molding the insulator), but there is about 1/8" gap between the pin and the glass, and this space is filled with cement. 

All the colors I have seen have been shades of green from light to dark, except some V A's in smoke color. The attached listing shows the varieties I have in my collection so far.

If you know of anyone specializing in these, or any sources of information on French insulators, I would appreciate hearing.

Sincerely,
Frank Miller

Gingerbread Men CD 781:

Groove Top CID 822: