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California Insulator CD 162 Purple Tinge 1912-1916

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JImam's loves380 of 5422African Storage Basket1:1  Version 1965 Chevrolet Truck Murrieta Rod Run
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    Posted 2 years ago

    (2115 items)

    Or perhaps a CD 162.1 I fear I do not know the difference. This insulator has a faint purple tinge. It looks black when taken outside. I took away the purple insulator to the right in the first photo and it still had the purple tinge.
    The company that made California insulators was destroyed in a flood in 1916 so that makes it a 100% genuine antique going by the 100 year rule. It doesn't really mean a huge a bunch of bunches but is nice to have something that has passed the century mark.


    1. SpiritBear, 2 years ago
      I think the rim-dome difference on the 162 is more defined and tapered, versus the more abrupt sight on the 162.1 (so there's less of a rim jutting out and it's more flat on top).
      There shouldn't be a CD difference, though, as the CD number is just a way to describe a general style for collectors; every CD has its severe variants across glass-houses, yet whomever crated the numbering didn't see all of the variants and thus left out some important ones. If the hobby grows and becomes strong, the 162.1 will likely vanish. There's also 162.2 and 162.3. LOL.
      Purple tinge from Manganese changing colour due to natural irradiation of the sun.
    2. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you very much SpiritBear. That is a good amount of information. I have a third California insulator which is a similar style for comparison which is similar.
      Had a feeling this one was naturally irradiated.
    3. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you
    4. SpiritBear, 2 years ago
      They look like the same CD.
    5. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      SB the 3rd one is not quite in the photo. I'll look it up later.
    6. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you
    7. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you
    8. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago

      This was my first insulator I think. Not much of a description I fear.
    9. waggy21 waggy21, 2 years ago
      I live in Australia and travelled through remote areas in the 70s and it was very common to see the insulation caps purple in colour. We did collect a couple along the way.
    10. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you very much waggy21. Good chance those are over 100 years old.
    11. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Thank you

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