Who’d a thunk it? I’ve
read all kinds of zines dealing with esoteric subject matter but this one
really surprised me. Crown Jewels of the
Wire (published since 1969) is a
magazine for insulator collectors. I didn’t even know that people collected
insulators! Insulators were first used extensively in the mid-1840s with the
invention of the telegraph. They were necessary to prevent the electrical
current passing through the wire from grounding out on the pole and making the
line unusable. The first insulators were a beeswax soaked rag wrapped around
the wire. They worked well in the dry laboratory but soon broke down when
exposed to the weather. The next concept was a glass knob, which looked much
like a bureau knob one might still find. By 1860, original insulator models
could be found in both porcelain and glass. While glass was more common from
the beginning for telegraph and telephone line insulation, porcelain would
later gain a firm foothold as the preferred material for insulating high
voltage power lines. Over time, glass manufacturers would produce hundreds of
designs; millions of insulators were made of glass and porcelain, then later of
rubber, plastic and other composite materials.
The February 2012 issue of
Crown Jewels of the Wire is packed
with photographs of colorful insulators and well written articles. There is
even an article about foreign postage stamps that featured insulators in their
artwork. There are descriptions of rare insulators, letters to the editor, even
some comics! This zine is an education unto itself & highly recommended for
those of us who enjoy curiosities & learning about new topics – and who
knows? You just might find a new hobby or passion. For more information see www.cjow.com
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