Item 46

Price realized:  $170
U-1573 Orange Colored Top - Back Story Added
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Item: 46  Description: U-1573 Taylor, Tunnicliffe & Co. Orange Colored Top. The only place in the world “colored top” U-1540 and U-1573 insulators have been found is South Africa. Collector Mike Berridge created quite a stir in the insulator community when he found five-or-six dozen of these in 2015 and 2016. They had been used on railroad lines that went to gold mines outside of Johannesburg. At first he found the maroon (cranberry) colored ones and then the orange (butterscotch) colored examples. At the time, the orange ones were considered quite sensational. These were made in the United Kingdom for export to South Africa. The purpose of the colored tops is unknown. The last of Mike’s stock has been consigned to Eagle Cap. We offer four different varieties in this auction; and have enough for three or four more auctions. Then, who knows how scarce these will turn out to be? The full story of their discovery was published in the December 2016 issue of Crown Jewels of the Wire magazine.   Grade A .
Estimate: $200 - $250  Open: $120
Price realized:  $170