Collections - Steven Homewood
Steven has kindly sent me some images of his collection, items found whilst moving around the UK in the last few years digging up old Victorian bottles. Find out more of Steven's Bottle Collecting here
The Obligatory Varley
This insulator was recovered from a trackside dump on the Dingwall to Wick railway line in Scotland
A Red Taper, very nice!
This insulator originated from under a bridge on the Whemyss Bay to Paisley line and was one of a pair
As can be seen from the underside shot, the insulator is cream / white porcelain overglazed red and the overhead shot shows what appears to a wear mark caused by the wire sitting in the groove.
I believe this insulator was made by Bullers possibly prior to 1940
The Highland Pattern!
This rare Highland Pattern came from a pole top dump well away from the originating railway. As with many disused telegraph poles the top was discarded after the pole body had been reused as a fence post.
It is unknown if this insulator is threaded and as a consequence the spindle has been cut off rather than risk attempting to unscrew it. This allows it to be displayed upright on a shelf.
A Sinclair Outer
This insulator was recovered from a disused building on the south shore of the Clyde along other example. The inner shed is still fixed to the spindle as is often common with these insulators.
3rd Rail Insulators
Steve sent the following images along with this description
Me again! Thought you might like to put these up on your site? They are 3rd rail or conductor rail insulators from The line between Seaford and Newhaven in Sussex.
The line runs along the beach and was electrified about 1934/5 and the very first insulators were experimental glass made by Pilkinton's. They were set into a hand hammered base which is quite extraordinary and this is the only one I've seen. The idea of glass was so as to shed the salt water from sea spray to prevent short-outs but they were unsuccessful as they shattered with the vibrations from passing trains.
They were followed later in the 1930's by the very attractive impessed lettered Doulton SR(Southern Rail) pedestals....
... and then in the late 1940's and beyond by the underglase printed Bullers.
