Welcome To
O.hio L.ightning R.od I.nsulators
Hello, My name is Spencer Grueninger. I have started O.L.R.I. An Insulator web page. This site was created by a collector for collectors. I hope to enable other's who enjoy the hobby a place to veiw, comment and buy Lightning Rod Insulators. If you vist my page, please let me know at Bisket@msn.com I hope you enjoy.
I live 20 miles north of the orignal home of Gray & Hemingray. The facility was located on 68 Walnut street, Cincinnati Ohio. Cincinnati is a hot bed for LRI items. Hemingray, J.H. Weston, Chamber's. J Spratt along with others set shop in this fine town.
Hemingray was located in Cincinnati from ca.1848-1852. Hemingray started out as Gray & Hemingray and changed several times. In 1870 the name became Hemingray Glass Company. Hemingray produced more styles of insulators than any other manufracture in the world. Hemingray then transfered to the Covington Kentucky facility on Madison street, staying some 38 years before moving to Muncie Indiana in 1888.
As the plant was comming to completion in 1892, a devastating fire claimed most of the facility. The factory was filled with storage boxes of glass packed with straw to protect the contents, and surly contributed to the fire. The Hemingray's promply rebuilt the facility and operated it untill 1933 when it merged with Owens Illinois. Insulator production remained untill1966.
Little is known about Hemingray's contribution to the production of lightning Rod Insulators.
Advertisments from 1850-1851 and 1852: located in "The Williams' a Cincinnati directory of business", directly mentioned Lightning Rod Insulator production by Hemingray. I have noticed on more than one occasion, how the Hemingray "Pin Type" insulator colors fit the lightning rod insulator colors. Just one of many possible links to the Hemingray heritage.
Hemingray and J.H. WESTON, Spratt and Chambers, may have started producing Lightning Rod Insulators as early as c.1850, but again little is known. I always look forward to any and all information you may have about Lightning Rod Insulators. Please e-mail me at bisket@msn.com with your stories.
James Spratt applied for his patent # 7069 7076 and 8930 along with many others in Cincinnati Ohio as a resident of Hamilton County. Example of dark greenish aqua mushroom side-tab. Spratt LRI Here are some other Spratt lightning rod insulators. Other Spratt L.R.I.'s
Josephus C. Chambers owned the Chambers' National Lightning Protection Company. It was located across the Ohio river in Newport Kentucky. His popular lightning rod insulators started with his 8/14/1877 patent # 194,220. Chamber's Lightning Rod Works produced 4 CD's of insulators. They also incorperated mounting brackets, tips and lightning rod. I have the rare pleasure of being able to drive a few miles to see a complete 6 insulator system still in working order. The 4 CD's are 317 "CANDLE STICK" and the companion piece, CD 132.2 "COMPANION" There was the "POOR MAN'S " CD of 317.5 and it's companion piece CD 124.5 "WINGTIP" which were considerably smaller in size and cost. Chamber's Examples
J.H.Weston Co. produced Lightning Rod Insulators from it's Cincinnati, Ohio facility located on 6th street in Cincinnati, Ohio. The facility was shared with the "Ohio Lightning Rod Works". The J.H.Weston LRI is embossed as follows on lower body just above lower skirt " J.H. WESTON " on one side and " CIN O "on the opposite side. Colors found are many different Aqua shades, dark blue, light blue, light green, clear, light gray, SCA, pink and purple. J.H. Weston produced side-tabs LRI'S also. Weston Examples
Since so many names are out there for Lightning Rod Insulators. I listed the names I use to discuss and define them. Click on link to see pictures and nicknames I use I Define LRI Insulator Types
I also like to collect Lightning Rod Tips. The tip was the highest point of a lightning rod system. The tip was there to accept the lightning strike. They were a tell to the customer that the system worked, as the tip was bent into weird shapes by the heat of the lightning bolt.They come in many shapes and materials. I like the "branch" tip as it looks like a tree branch. This is one of the oldest types out there and it's orign goes back to c.1850. Lightning Rod Tip Examples
I also would like to share mounting equimpment that was used in the field. Pictured are different mounting rings, connectors, trypods and copper clad star lightning rod. Mounting Hardware Examples
During my adventures, I have come across many different types of metal lightning rod. There are many different types, thickness and materials. I have found round rod, twist rod, star rod, cooper cladded star rod. I'm sure you will find the different rod intresting. Types Of Lightning Rod
I always chuckle when seeing some of the advertisements lightning rod companys issued. I like to call them "scare tatics" . Advertisements show how companies frighten potential customers into buying systems. Take a look at some Advertisement Examples
On the subject of
Lightning Rod Balls or Globes.
One of my pet peeves...people calling Lightning Rod Balls "Insulators".
Lightning Rod Balls are not considered an insulator and do not insulate. The lightning rod ball was an attempt to squeeze a few more dollars out of the customer. The ball and other ornamental items, such as arrows and pendants, were a way to personalize a dull system. The customer could pick from different colors and shapes, this is were the real money was made by the salesperson. So....If you sell a Lightning Rod Ball...please do not call it an Insulator. Thanks
Why Do Lightning Rod Systems Disappear ??
I am going to give my 5 cents ; worth about 3 cents now ; to this issue. I feel that the single most harmful element to Lightning Rod Insulators and Lightning Rod Systems has been time. Over the 150+ years that these items have stood watch, lightning rod systems have been expossed to many things. Here are my 4 selected reasons listed below.
#1 The Weather, Mother Nature, Storms, freeze and so on.
#2 Poor Asset Managment. Failure of owners to repair and upkeep.
#3 Re-Roofing the structure found many systems being ripped off.
#4 The advent of aluminum and vinyl sidings. Installing these sidings required systems to be removed. They were often broken during removal and spare parts were impossible to come by. Often owners refused to reinstall the systems on a newly sided home. Out with the old in with the new.
Question : How does a Lightning Rod System Work?
OK FOLKS,
I have been asked, emailed and written to.....asking how a simple Lightning Rod System works. I have added an illistration to help. I hope this explains things.
A Lightning Rod System does two major things.
(1) It grounds the structure. Since the building or home is grounded, a positive stringer of energy is less likley to reach out to a negitive electron. This process needs to happen for a lightning stike to occur. (please vist your library or internet and read up)
(2) It protects the building, home or barn...etc. if it does take a strike. Lightning likes to hit tall objects. Lightning rods need to be the tallest objects of a system.
The Lightning Rod Tip will accept the lightning strike. The volts or current of the bolt will travel down the tip to the rod. Connected to the rod is ether a Lightning Rod Cable or a Solid Rod. This cable or rod will pass the voltage or current along the roof-line and down the side of the home.
Connected to the run of cable or rod is a Lightning Rod Insulator. The insulator suports the cable or rod. The insulator holds the cable or rod 2 to 3 inches from the surfaces of the structure. In doing so, reduces the chance of an arch or engery transmission to the structure. ( see picture )
Located at ground level is the Grounding Rod. It is made of copper and comes in 8, 10 and 12 foot lenghts. It is driven fully into the ground near the foundation. The cable or rod comming down the building or home is connected to this grounding rod.
So in thery......Lightning strikes the tip. The energy travels down the insulated cable to the grounding rod and is harmlessly dispersed into the earth.
Lightning Rod Insulator Colors are abound and lightning rod hunting is just a blast. I have meet the best and worst people during my hunts. If your lucky, 1 out of 10 homeowners asked: will let you remove lightning rod items from there home. I guess this holds true in any indever. I cant express the life threating stunts I have done to pick a LRI. !i
I hope you enjoy this page, lightning rod insulators and go-withs. Please use the message board to inform me of events, finds or if you need a technical question answered. I enjoy hearing from lightning rod collectors.
I will be adding photos on a regular basis, as I come across new finds. The pictures contained in this website or any other online site are the sole property of Spencer Grueninger and O.L.R.I. These pictures may not be used for any reason, including Price Guides, catalogs, pubications ETC. To view my pictures Please click this link >>>> Pictures.
Thanks,
Spencer Grueninger
