Insulator Break Pad...OR....RFI Reducer?

"B" power piece with the B underlined on purpose, light yellow butter color, noticeable lean, with a rubber composite pad. Obviously the focus of this post is the hockey puck like rubber composite pad glued to the saddle with a slot punched out of it. This device has heavy wire wear marks suggesting it's original to the insulators installation. I have walked miles of downed power lines and never seen any hockey puck looking pads.

Is this a break pad of sorts used to stop a cable from moving back and forth in the saddle?.....OR.....Is it some sort of device used to reduce RFI (Radio Frequency Interference).?

Thanks for your time

Michael Golden, Co

Answer: The insulator is Ohio Brass and the underscore mark signifies the neck has the correct profile for pre-formed tie wires. The black pad that is stuck to the wire groove is an accessory that goes with a preform tie wire. The preforms that have the black wire covering usually come with this little pad to prevent wear damage and vibration between the conductor and the insulator (winging in the wind, IE wind-induced vibration).