Clermont, Iowa Historical Society Collection

In June 2004, Russ Frank and Rick Soller stopped in Clermont, Iowa on their way to a swap meet in Toledo, Iowa and talked with Maryann Gibson, local antique store owner, about insulators. She put us in contact with the local historical society and plans were made to catalog the collection of the society. A year later, Bill Snell, Rick Soller, and Jim Hamlyn spent time photographing and cataloging the collection. Although not a valuable collection, it does suggest the kinds of insulators used in the area. Listed below is an inventory of the collection. Click on the description to see a picture of the insulator.

Two of the CD 145s had 8-shaped blotouts of them that looked very similar. You can see the pair of them by clicking here. A close-up of the CD 145 Bar/Bar blotout can be seen by clicking here. A close-up of the CD 145 H.G. Co. blotout can be seen by clicking here.

The town also boasts an interesting power house on the river. The turbines have been removed from the power house but you can still see indications of where power left the building. While tourning this site, Rick Soller found in the ground a heavily damaged CD 162 in peacock blue that was probably used in the area. A bill owned by Maryann Gibson from the power house indicates that at one time double petticoat, deep groove (DPDG) insulators were ordered for use in the area.

Museum Number Hobby # Description Color Condition Cataloger Date Notes
1 CD 101 [050] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD, sharp drip points Aqua with amber wisps in dome 6 chipped drips, cleaned Snell, Bill, Rick Soller, and Jim Hamlyn 2005 June 17
2 CD 102 [080] (dome) [backward 2] (front skirt embossing) W. BROOKFIELD (rear skirt embossing) NEW YORK, smooth base Light aqua 5/8" base chipping, cleaned Snell, Bill, Rick Soller, and Jim Hamlyn 2005 June 17
3 CD 102 [050] (dome) 11 (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Light aqua Dome ding, lower ridge nick, rim bruise, rust in wire groove Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
4 CD 106 [010] (front skirt embossing) O.V.G.Co., smooth base Light green 1.25" front rim slice, 3 small rim chips, upper ridge nicked about 85% around Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
5 CD 106 [140] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY-9 (rear skirt) MADE IN U.S.A / 17A-9. , round drip points Clear Some minor wire abrasion in groove, skirt has slightly sick sheen Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
6 CD 106 [010] (front skirt embossing) O.V.G.Co., smooth base Blue aqua Uncleaned, some rust in top groove, white chalky substance in threads, open bubble below top groove, open rim bubble, ding on lowest ridge at left moldline Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
7 CD 113 [150] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY / N o 12 (rear skirt) PATENTED, sharp drip points Aqua, minor amber wisp in dome 1" rim bruise, 3 chipped drips, uncleaned, rust in upper wire groove, soot on lower skirt at left mold line Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
8 CD 121 [110] (front skirt embossing) AM.TEL. & TEL.CO., smooth base Aqua BB ding on dome, 2 upper ridge dings, 2 small rim flakes, uncleaned, some dirt on front skirt Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
9 CD 121 [110] (front skirt embossing) AM TEL & TEL CO [no periods], smooth base Aqua Upper ridge flake (size of a rice grain), some rim moldline roughness Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
10 CD 121 [110] (front skirt embossing) AM TEL & TEL CO [no periods], smooth base Aqua Small chip on upper ridge near left moldline, 2 small rim flakes, potstone in first "T" of embossing, uncleaned - dirt in threads, gray paint (?) splattered on right side of skirt Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
11 CD 121 [110] (front skirt embossing) AM TEL & TEL CO [no periods], smooth base Aqua Some tiny dome pecks, minor rim mold line roughness, uncleaned-some soot in back wire groove Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
12 CD 121 [110] (front skirt embossing) AM TEL & TEL CO [no periods], smooth base Aqua Small upper ridge flake at right mold line, 2 rim flakes Snell, Bill 2005 June 17 With side mount pin, see museum item #44
13 CD 122 [120] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY-17 (back skirt) MADE IN U.S.A. / 37-50:, corrugated base Straw tint Some minor wire abrasion in groove, otherwise mint Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
14 CD 122 [050] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY-16 (back skirt) MADE IN U.S.A. / 35-44:: , corrugated base Straw tint 2 lowr ridge dings, rim ding, uncleanted-black wire rub on lower ridge Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
15 CD 129 [010] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY / 11-57. (back skirt) T.S., corrugated base Clear Mint Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
16 CD 145 [020] (dome) H (front skirt embossing) H.G.CO. / ["8" shaped blotout] / [circular blotout], smooth base Aqua Bruise in left mold line area of wire groove, wire bubble on rim Snell, Bill 2005 June 17 The front blotouts are like item #17's.
17 CD 145 [015] (dome) H (front skirt embossing) [bar] /["8" shaped blotout] (back skirt) [bar], smooth base Aqua Skirt ding near left mold line, under wire groove, minor flaking around rim mold line Snell, Bill 2005 June 17 The front blotouts are like item #16's.
18 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Aqua Dome ding, small cooling crack in upper ridge at right mold line, inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
19 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Aqua, amber glob in dome Dome ding, crack in wire groove runs down through "B", upper ridge ding above "K", inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17 With side mount poin, see museum item #45
20 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Aqua Upper ridge ding above "BR", lower ridge ding above and to left of "N", inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
21 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Dark aqua Piece of white junk in upper ridge above "RO", scuffing on dome on "NEW YORK" side, rim mold line nicks under "NEW", inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
22 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Aqua Wire abrasion in groove above "BROO" and "YORK", inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
23 CD 160 [040] (front skirt embossing) BROOKFIELD (back skirt) NEW YORK, smooth base Dark aqua Bruise in upper ridge at right mold line, open rim bubble under "RO", rim flake under "OK", inner skirt almost completely chipped away Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
24 CD 164 [010] (front skirt embossing) H G CO / PATENT MAY 2 1893 (back skirt) PETTICOAT, sharp drip points Aqua 4 upper ridge dings on front, 1: rim bruise under "PATENT", 1.75" rim bruise from "2 1893" to right mold line, 1" rim bruise under "ETTICOA", chipping on all but 10 drips Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
25 CD 190 [030] (front skirt embossing) TWO PIECE / TRANSPOSITON [note misspelling], smooth base Aqua Top pinhole opening roughness, .25" shallow flake on skirt near rim, near left mold line, 3/8" bruise at rim to left of final "N", small chip at base of pinhole threads Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
26 CD 191 [030] (front skirt embossing) AM. TEL & TEL CO, smooth base Aqua Very minor roughness on inside rim mold line Snell, Bill 2005 June 17 "B MOTT" label - donated by Betty Mott
27 CD 190 [050] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY-50 / O-4. (back skirt) MADE IN U.S.A. / 31, smooth base Blue tint Top opening roughness, cooling rack marks on rim with black deposits, ding on rim under "4" Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
28 CD 196 [010] (front upper skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY (front lower skirt) HEMINGRAY (back lower skirt) N o 51, sharp drip points on umbrella and lower skirt Blue aqua Ding near rim under "51", 7 drips on bottom skirt have minor chipping, ding on umbrella near right mold line Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
29 CD 203 [010] (front skirt embossing) HEMINGRAY-56 (back skirt) MADE IN U.S.A. / 10 68:. , corragated base Clear Mint Snell, Bill 2005 June 17
30 U-57 (Embossed in center) MACOMB, bottom rest Greenish tan with black around bottom of wire grooves 3 dings on upper wire groove of top wire groove, 1 ding on lower wire groove of bottom wire groove, wire groove strain Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Glazed pinhole
31 U-48 [No name], bottom rest Dark Chocolate 2 crown dings, ding on lower wire groove edge of bottom wire groove, 6/10" pinhole chip, still has wire rust in wire groove, light soot Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Glazed pinhole, flat at top of pinhole, 2.45" - 2.5" diameter x 3.4" height (Nominal=3-3/8" x 3-3/8")
32 U-292

(black ink on dome)[in square] PP / -INC- [under square] 1956 (incuse on dome) Y, petticoat rest

Click here to see the mark up close

White Mint with tar specks Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 3.2 x 3.65" tall
33 U-334A [No name] White 1/16" chip on upper wire groove, base crack, uncleaned Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 3.8 x 3" wide
34 U-334A [No name] White Ding on upper wire groove lip Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 3.8 x 3" wide
35 U-710 (incuse on top rest) MAY 6 1914 [Pittsburg piece] Mahogany Mint, unclean Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Unglazed pin hole, 5.125 x 3.8" tall
36 U-709A (incuse on top rest) ?? 17 ?? [Pittsburg piece] Mahogany .25" glaze flake on side, uncleaned Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 5.21"-5.27" diameter x 3.825", unglazed pinhole
37 U-746 (incuse on top rest) MAY ? 1917 Mahogany Mint, wire marks Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 7" x 5
38 BS-3 rubber (embossed on dome) BS-3 (embossed around front crown) CONTINENTAL / RUBBER WORKS U.S.A. (rear crown) W.U.TEL.CO 6-a / pat. 2,218,497 Black Mint, uncleaned Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Rubber
39 R-4 rubber (embossed on dome) R*4 (embossed around front dome) CONTINENTAL RUBBER WORKS / ERIE, PA U.S.A. (rear dome) PATS 2218497 5-B / 2304483 Black Mint, uncleaned Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Rubber
40 Fuse Cutout (Recess-embossed on front) (arc) WESTINGHOUSE / S-147190-C / 30 AMP / 2500 VOLT Umber top, dark chocolate fuse stick .44 x .25" side/bottom flake, .35 x .35" back bottom flake, .5 x .35" back bottom flake, .35 x .2" stick chip Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Mismatched colors
41 Split knob tree forestry insulator (embossed on side) G White Edge chips on matching sides, uncleaned Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 Whiteout on insulator with "AMUNDSON" on it. We did not separate the halves to see if there was any marking on the matching edges. Has galvanized wire wrapped around twice
42 Pin, metal (embossed on shaft) B Grey metal VNM Soller, Rick 2005 June 17 "AD46" on sticker
43 Pin, wood [No name] Locust? New old stock Soller, Rick 2005 June 17

8 turns, 1" dia., 8" length, 4" cob, "Amundish" written on it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This page created February 20, 2008 by Rick Soller, Historian of the National Insulator Association

Thanks to Bill Meier for improvements on the formatting