CD 245

Example of an aqua T-H embossed CD 245 found in Pelzer.

Embossing

T-H

(F-skirt) T-H

(R-skirt) 9200

SB

No Name

(F-skirt) 9200

SB

Color & Value

T-H

Aqua $75-100

Light Green $200-250

No Name

Aqua $75-100

Green Aqua $125-150

Green $300-350

Example of a blue No Name CD 245 with the 9200 embossing.

Description

The rare CD 245 T-H 9200 insulator was designed by the Thomson-Houston Electric Company (1883) in the late 1880s for high voltage power transmission. Thomson-Houston merged with Edison General Electric Company in 1892 to form the General Electrical Company. The CD 245 style was manufactured by the Brookfield Glass Company for Thomson-Houston. After the creation of the General Electric Co., the Thomson-Houston insulators were stored until a transmission line required high voltage insulators. In early 1894, the General Electric Co. was contracted by the Pelzer Manufacturing Company to construct a hydroelectric power plant for driving a new cotton mill with spare electrical power to drive the existing mills and install lighting in the town. General Electric designed and constructed the Lower Dam, transmission lines, motors, transformers, and lighting while the Lockwood, Greene & Company designed the new cotton mill (Mill No. 4). CD 245 insulators were the choice used on the 2 5/8 mile transmission line. Each pole between the Lower Dam and the Lower Mill split held 20 CD 245 insulators. Two were installed on the up most crossarm as static wires and 18 for the 00 gauge copper power transmission wires.

By 1920, General Electric completed the Upper Hydroelectric Dam. This short transmission line used the CD 245 insulators between the Upper Dam to Mill No. 1's generator room. Throughout nearly 100 years of service, the broken or damaged CD 245 insulators were replaced by more modern insulators, ether glass or porcelain.

Images of CD 245 in Pelzer, SC

A downed pole in the woods with two CD 245.

Half of a CD 245.

Broken CD 245 near the Pelzer EMS building.

CD 245 in use near the Lower Dam in the early 1980s. Photo by Bill Cunningham.

Near-mint Green Aqua CD 245 near the Lower Mill. Photo by Dave Kingston.

CD 232

Embossing

Hemingray

(F-skirt) [Numbers and dots]/HEMINGRAY/MADE IN U.S.A.

(R-skirt) [Number]/D-513

SB

Color & Value

Hemingray

Clear $5-10

Description

The CD 232 was manufactured by the Owens-Illinois Glass Company's Hemingray Division of Muncie, IN. As a replacement insulator for high or low voltage lines, both the transmission and distribution lines used CD 232. Today there are CD 232 found on poles in town near the Lower Mill.

Images of CD 232 in Pelzer, SC

Three back-up CD 232 were buried under a pole support wire.

A mint CD 232 on a pole in the woods.

CD 280

Snowy Prism embossed CD 280 Hemingray from Pelzer.

Embossing

Hemingray

(F-skirt) HEMINGRAY/PATENT MAY 2 1893

(R-skirt) HIGH VOLTAGE/TRIPLE PETTICOAT/No 1

SDP

No Name

(F-skirt) No 135

RB

Color & Value

Hemingray

Aqua $20-30

No Name

Emerald Green $200-250

Very rare broken CD 280 No Name (Lynchburg product) found on a down pole near Pelzer.

Description

From 1900-1939 the Hemingray CD 280 was produced by the Hemingray Glass Company. This style was a popular replacement insulator in Pelzer on the transmission and distribution lines. Hemingray's early CD 280 insulator molds were 'prism' embossed letters. Most of the remaining CD 280 in Pelzer are on an abandoned distribution line behind mill homes in the lower village.

The CD 280 No Name is a very rare style and color. It was produced by the Lynchburg Glass Company with the style number 135. Few emerald green No. 135 insulators are in the hobby today with the only known place of use in Pelzer.

Images of CD 280 in Pelzer, SC

A single CD 280 on a leaning pole. This pole was removed in 2010.

Three CD 280 on an abandoned distribution line near the Lower Mill.

CD 287

Example of a CD 287 Locke not from Pelzer.

Embossing

Locke

(F-skirt) F.M. LOCKE VICTOR N.Y.

(R-skirt) [unknown]

SB

Color & Value

Locke

Aqua/Light Aqua $5-10

Description

Between 1900-1929 the Brookfield Glass Company manufactured the CD 287 for the Locke Porcelain Company. The CD 287 replaced damaged or broken insulators on the transmission line. There seems to be very few CD 287 remaining on the poles today.

Images of CD 287 in Pelzer, SC

Two CD 287 Locke on a tall pole near the P & N tracks.

A mint CD 287 on a short pole near the Lower Mill.

A light aqua CD 287 Locke still on a pole.

CD 162, CD 162.1 & CD 162.3

CD 162

Damaged CD 162 Hemingray from Pelzer.

Embossing

Brookfield

(F-skirt) BROOKFIELD

SB

Hemingray

(F-skirt) HEMINGRAY

(R-skirt) No 19

SDP

Star

(F-skirt) [5 pointed star]

SB

Color & Value

Brookfield

Aqua/Dark Aqua $1

Hemingray

Aqua $1

Star

Aqua/Green Aqua/Light Aqua $1

Example of a mint CD 162 Hemingray not from Pelzer.

Example of a CD 162 Star (GE) insulator not from Pelzer.

Description

The popular CD 162 'signal' insulator was used on the transmission line and on distribution lines. Three different types of 'signal' style insulators were used in Pelzer: Hemingray, Brookfield, and Star (GE brand).

CD 162.1

This example was removed from a pole near the Lower Mill.

Embossing

Brookfield

(Dome) ['00' or '0X']

(F-skirt) BROOKFIELD

SB

Color & Value

Brookfield

Aqua $1

Green $3-5

Light Yellow Green $10-15

Description

The CD 162.1 Brookfield is a slim version of the CD 162 Brookfield. Same as the CD 162 style, the Today, abandoned poles in the Lower Village have CD 162.1 in mint condition on them.

CD 162.3

The CD 162.3 pictured above was found by Mike Herron.

Embossing

Brookfield

(F-skirt) BROOKFIELD

(R-skirt) NEW YORK

SB

Color & Value

Brookfield

Aqua/Light Aqua $3-5

Description

The CD 162.3 was produced by the Brookfield Glass Company and was used in Pelzer on both the transmission and distribution lines. The example above was found in a creek behind a mill home.

Images of CD 162, CD 162.1 & CD 162.3 in Pelzer, SC

From Left to Right: CD 162.3, CD 162.1 and CD 162 on a junction pole.

CD 162 Hemingray about to fall off of a pole near the Lower mill. Photo by Mike Herron.

CD 162 Brookfield or Star on the middle crossarm. Photo by Mike Herron.

CD 162.1 Brookfield and CD 162 Hemingray. Both insulators are now in my collection.

CD 162 Hemingray and CD 162.1 Brookfield on a short crossarm near the Upper Dam powerhouse.

CD 162 Brookfield or Star insulator mounted horizontally with lightning arrestors and early GE transformer.