Item 241
Current bid: $80 |
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Item: 241 Description: CD 289 Locke (020) Blue. This beautiful blue insulator played an important role in the development of electrical transmission. In 1889, individuals in Oregon came up with the idea of generating power at Willamette Falls and transmitting it an unheard of distance (for the time) to Portland. The distance was 13-miles. They tried to order generators from General Electric, but were turned down because the company couldn’t guarantee their equipment would work over such a long distance. The individuals responded by not requiring a guarantee. And, perhaps, curried some favor by naming their company Portland General Electric. The generators were installed. Not knowing how to transmit power over such a distance, the company used 46 insulators per pole to transmit the power. Those insulators were CD 180 Liquid’s and CD 180.5 Fluid’s. An estimated 22,000 of them were used. But the oil cup style insulators failed over the next half-dozen years because dust would settle on the oil and diminish the insulating capability. This style of insulator, the CD 289, was chosen as the replacement. Of course, by then, it had been learned that not nearly as many were needed per pole. Many CD 289’s were still in use in the 1960’s when insulator collecting became popular. This insulator is Grade B-Plus for a couple small flakes / nicks on the surface and one small flake on the innermost skirt. Estimate: $120 - $150 Open: $80 Current bid: $80 |
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