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.

[Set My Event Preferences]

Sunday, September 13, 2026
Special Events
Upcoming Insulator & Bottle Shows Shows
Insulator Show The Border States Antique Show & Sale
  Lawrence, KS Sat, September 19 6 days
Insulator Show Windy Knoll Farm Insulator and Bottle Show
  Bloomingburg, NY Sat, September 19 6 days
Insulator Show 27th Annual Merzoian Brother's Taligater
  Porterville, CA Sat, September 26 almost 2 weeks
Insulator Show Great Northern Insulator Club show
  Freeport, MN Sat, September 26 almost 2 weeks
Insulator Show Triple Ridge FALL-TIME Get-Together in the Rockies 2026
  Colorado Springs, CO Sat, October 3 almost 3 weeks
Insulator Show Yankee Pole Cat Fall 2026 Swap & Picnic
  Manchester, CT Sat, October 10 almost 4 weeks
Insulator Show Cramahe Insulator and Bottle Sale
  Cramahe, ON Sat, October 17 almost 5 weeks
Insulator Show Garland Insulator Show
  Richardson, TX Sat, October 17 almost 5 weeks
NIA show The 58th NIA National Show, Sale & Convention
  Lee'S Summit, MO Fri, July 9 almost 10 months
More shows
Insulator show listings courtesy National Insulator Assocation
Happy Birthday!
age 52 Today!! Sun, September 13
age 53 Today!! Sun, September 13
age 61 Today!! Sun, September 13
age 35 Today!! Sun, September 13
age 67 Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
age 57 Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
age 64 Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
age 37 Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
Happy Anniversary!
58 years Today!! Sun, September 13
43 years Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
11 years Tomorrow! Mon, September 14
What's New? Insulator Collectors On the Net! Go to the Porcelain Insulator Pages Navigation banner
Updated Tuesday
July 1, 2025		 Are you  a member?
Why don't you join?
Donate to ICON		 Porcelain Insulator
Pages

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 9/2026
*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 9/2026

 Read it Online:
*Research Articles and StoriesUpdated 9/2026
*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 Websites
*Online Contacts
*PicturePoster Insulators For Sale Updated 9/2026
*Insulators For Sale and Trade Updated 9/2026