Most insulator collectors with a knowledge of pole-line hardware and other go-withs would be familiar with the phantom and split-phantom transposition brackets. Many collectors with a knowledge of open-wire line operation understand the idea of the phantom circuit. This article is on the phantom insulator, which I would describe or define as one which appears in various references, but which is almost never seen. I'm describing seven insulators which would fit this category. 

The first I'm considering is an amber Armstrong 51-C3, found in Lynn R. Stuart's Insulator Guide, 1972 ed., p. 9. Instead of being the usual CD217, Stuart's line drawing shows this as a CD 154-shaped insulator. It is described as follows: Amber, double petticoat; 3-1/4" x 4-1/4"; Embossing: ARMSTRONG A / 51-C3//MADE IN U.S.A./10-48::::: According to the dating code, this would have been made in 1958. Does anyone have an explanation for this one? 

Next is the Hemingray 517, on p. 64 of Stuart's Insulator Guide. It is a clear, cable-top power insulator; 4-1/2" x 5-1/2", and embossed in the following way: HEMINGRAY - 517//13-46. Evidently 13 is the mold number; 46 would be the year made. According to the line drawing the style is somewhat similar to the Hemingray 514 or the Kimble 830. Was the 517 an experimental type, or was it made on special order? Have any of these appeared? 

The third on p. 17 of Stuart's Insulator Guide, is a Barclay embossed spiral wire groove beehive. The description follows: BARCLAY// PATENTED/OCT. 8th 1907; aqua; 3 x 4-1/4". Do any of these exist? 

This next one I would call a baby "Mickey Mouse", which is found on p. 37 of Bill Schroeder's 800 Insulators, 1971 ed. It was made in aqua and green; it is 3-1/4" x 2-1/2", making it considerably smaller than the usual "Mickey". It carries the following embossing: HEMINGRAY//PATENTED/MAY 2 1893. It would be a pleasure to find one of these if indeed they exist! 

Another phantom is a rather large -- 5" x 3-1/4" -- single skirted, two wire-groove insulator with a somewhat flattened dome. From the drawing, it resembles a large version of the CD 115 or exchange style. This also is a Hemingray with both the June 1890 and the May 2 1893 patent dates. Drip points are shown, and it was made in both aqua and green. This is also on p. 37 of Schroeder's 800 Insulators. What was the intended purpose of this insulator? The rather large size might suggest a power insulator, but if so, why then the two wire grooves? The wire grooves are far too close together to use this as a transposition. Again, an interesting insulator! 

The next two are found in Milholland's fourth edition. One is the Pyrex CD 111. Has anyone seen one? The other is the H.G. CD 152, described as follows: Embossing: H.G.CO./No 40//PETTICOAT; aqua; smooth base. I've never come across anyone who has seen this H.G. 

Undoubtedly there are other insulators, both glass and porcelain, which are listed, but are extremely elusive. I would be very glad to hear from any reader who has any information on any of these. William C. Ogden 1205 Cedar Lane Virginia, MN 55792 Phone:218-741-0198.