Glass insulators were first produced in the 1850's for use with telegraph lines. As technology developed insulators were needed for telephone lines, electric power lines, and other applications. In the mid 1960's a few people began collecting these antique glass insulators. Today there are over 3,000 insulator collectors. Insulator clubs, local and national shows, and good reference books are available. Auctions of Vintage Insulators are available too.
Patent of the Day
Utility Patent 2,684,228 on July 20, 1954
By Francois Emile Dion
Miscellaneous: Metal shaped like an open circle mounted temporarily on a corner pin to allow easy stringing of the line without possible injury to linemen.

[Set My Event Preferences]

Sunday, July 20, 2025
Special Events
Upcoming Insulator & Bottle Shows Shows
Insulator Show 7th Annual Michigan Insulator Show
  Berkley, MI Sat, July 26 in 6 days
Insulator Show 2nd annual Wabash Valley Insulator Show
  Shelburn, IN Sat, August 2 in 13 days
Insulator Show Jefferson State Insulator Club's Annual Tailgater
  Bend, OR Fri, August 8 (2 day show) in 19 days
Insulator Show Cheaha Bottles, Antiques, and Collectibles Show
  Munford, AL Sat, August 9 in 20 days
Insulator Show Chesapeake Bay Insulator Club 24th Annual Show & Sale
  York, PA Sat, August 9 in 20 days
Insulator Show North Western Insulator Club Summer Swap and Sale
  Nisswa, MN Sat, August 16 in 27 days
Insulator Show Dixie Jewels Summer Show
  Toccoa, GA Sat, August 16 in 27 days
Insulator Show The 2025 Big Sky Insulator Show
  Helena, MT Fri, August 22 (2 day show) in 33 days
NIA show The 57th NIA National Show & Convention
  Helena, MT Fri, July 10 (3 day show) in 355 days
More shows
Insulator show listings courtesy National Insulator Assocation
Happy Birthday!
age 77 Tomorrow! Mon, July 21
Happy Anniversary!
16 years Tomorrow! Mon, July 21
What's New? Insulator Collectors On the Net! Go to the Porcelain Insulator Pages Navigation banner
Updated Monday
January 1, 2024		 Are you  a member?
Why don't you join?
Donate to ICON		 Porcelain Insulator
Pages

Featured:
book cover
Catalog of Lightning Rod Insulators with Associated Brackets

General Information:
*Insulator Profiles
*Frequently Asked Questions
*Glossary of Insulator Terms
*Style Number Charts
*Anatomy of an Insulator
*Ted's Top Ten Tips
*Search the Insulator Pages
*Most Popular Insulators
*Insulator Wiki
*Download Area
*Links to Related Sites

Photo Albums:
*North American Insulators
*Foreign Insulators
*Porcelain Insulators
*PicturePoster Gallery Updated 7/2025
*Shorpy Photographs
*Early Telegraph Insulators
*Insulator "Go-Withs"
*Insulators in Service
*Crown Jewels of the Wire
*Power Line Explorer
*The Greatest Insulator Find

Clubs and Shows:
*National Insulator Association
*Local Clubs
*Show Calendar Updated 7/2025

 Read it Online:
*Research Articles and StoriesUpdated 7/2025
*ICON Articles and Pictures
*Canadian Forum
*Books Online
*Show Reports
*Insulator News
*N.R. Woodward on the Web Updated 10/2019
*Taking Care of Your Insulators
*Classic Articles from RRTP
*Insulators and Computers

Reference Material:
*Reference Books
*Magazines
*Publications Reference Library
"The Insulator Gazette"
*Patent Reference Library
*Insulator Geography
Where were they used?
*Insulator Catalogs
*Design Specifications
*Insulator Research Service
*Out of Print Resources

The People Connection:
*ICON Mailing List
*Collectors' Pages
*Collectors Web Sites
*Online Contacts
*PicturePoster Insulators For Sale Updated 7/2025
*Insulators For Sale and Trade Updated 7/2025