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How to Collect Glass Insulators

Collecting antique glass insulators can be an affordable and rewarding hobby. Glass insulators are the bell shaped devices that were used in the 1800s and 1900s to insulate utility lines where they connected to utility poles. They came in a wide variety of shapes and colors, making them an attractive item for collectors. The most common types of insulators can be found for a few dollars each, but rarer specimens can sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Instructions

- 1
  Familiarize yourself with the types of glass insulators and their values. Invest in a good glass insulator reference book or price guide. You also can find out a lot about glass insulators by visiting collectors' and dealers' websites.
- 2
  Visit a local or national insulator show. You will see a wide variety of glass insulators and get a better idea of which ones are common and which ones are rare. You will also be able to purchase a selection of insulators to get your collection off to a good start. You can find a list of shows at insulators.info.
- 3
  Look for insulators at local flea markets, garage sales and junkyards. You will usually find the more common insulators at these places, but you never know when a rare insulator will appear.
- 4
  Search in the "wild" for discarded glass insulators. Railroad right-of-ways are a favorite place for glass-insulator hunters because utility lines often ran along railways. Make sure you do not trespass on private property and do not take anything that is still in use.
- 5
  Keep an eye out for insulators that have some type of deformity or foreign object such as a rock or coin inside the glass. These insulators may be worth more money because of their uniqueness. Look for insulators that are a different color than the usual green or blue. Insulators with bubbles or swirls in the glass can also be worth more.

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