Glass Telephone Insulator Stem Threading Tool?

[Rick3478 428]

So how many of y'all remember the glass insulators that used to be seen on telephone/telegraph poles in the millions before PVC insulation allowed all that wire to be buried?  For those not familiar, they usually screwed onto a wooden stem, which in turn could be bolted to a pole, crossarm, or building.  This stem was usually a rectangular stick cut down to round and threaded on one end.  So, I'm looking for the tool(s) (or information about them) that cut the threads onto the stem.  Anyone have any leads or relevant knowledge?

[Ed Kennell 37,998]

Wood Threading - Bing images

 

 

Edited February 4, 2023 by Ed Kennell

[ri702bill 8,279]

Sorry Rick, gotta dig out my "Wayback" thinking cap for that one......

[oldlineman 1,481]

Those insulator pins where usually made out of locust wood for its rot resistance, or other hard wood.We actually called them Locust pins.I have seen them supplied so that they could be replaced in an arm without replacing the hole arm.  I have a nice collection of old telephone and power insulators that I have saved from the garbage bin over the years.The pin was installed into the cross arm in a round hole and then a nail was driven through the arm and pin to secure it to the arm.  Bob

Edited February 4, 2023 by oldlineman

[formariz 11,987]

I don’t have information about the specific threading tools or their availability today. However if you are looking to make some I can instruct you how to make them using simple hand tools. It is not difficult just needs a little practice and patience. Tools for them were most likely proprietary to them since they are tapered.  

[Oldskool 6,640]

https://reference.insulators.info/publications/view/?id=8634

 

This was some interesting info.

 

I have a few of those wooden pins somewhere. Not a common thing to find around here now

 

[Rick3478 428]

4 hours ago, oldlineman said:

Those insulator pins where usually made out of locust wood for its rot resistance, or other hard wood.We actually called them Locust pins.I have seen them supplied so that they could be replaced in an arm without replacing the hole arm.  I have a nice collection of old telephone and power insulators that I have saved from the garbage bin over the years.The pin was installed into the cross arm in a round hole and then a nail was driven through the arm and pin to secure it to the arm.  Bob

Interesting, I don't remember round pins, but that would work.  The ones I've seen were rectangular so you could lag or bolt them to things, reduced to round on the threaded end.

[Rick3478 428]

47 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

https://reference.insulators.info/publications/view/?id=8634

 

This was some interesting info.

 

I have a few of those wooden pins somewhere. Not a common thing to find around here now

 

Thanks for good reference doc.  I didn't realize they were a tapered thread, but I guess that makes sense, easy to start and get tighter as you go so would not tend to strip out as easily as you might think for wood.

[oldlineman 1,481]

The rectangular pins were used to attach directly to poles when not using a cross arm, they were staggered on the side of the poles and attached with lags, I have removed some of this type from old poles. Bob

[Oldskool 6,640]

Do you have a project in mind?

[Rick3478 428]

20 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

Do you have a project in mind?

 

I always have projects in mind, whether I ever get a round tewitt is another matter.  But yes I have an outbuilding that could use electricity, and rather than dig a trench thought I might go overhead.  I have enough insulators, but none of the stems or pins, so would have to acquire or fabricate some.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,485]

16 minutes ago, Rick3478 said:

whether I ever get a round tewitt is another matter.

 

Here ya go...

 

 

Here's to it to do it. If you don't do it when you get to it to do it, you won't get to it to do it... 

[Ed Kennell 37,998]

53 minutes ago, Rick3478 said:

rather than dig a trench thought I might go overhead. 

A wheel horse could plow a trench in minutes.

[oldlineman 1,481]

then throw some 1 in or so conduit with UF cable in it depending on how much power you need and you're good to go, much better than overhead. Bob

Edited February 4, 2023 by oldlineman

[Rick3478 428]

4 hours ago, oldlineman said:

then throw some 1 in or so conduit with UF cable in it depending on how much power you need and you're good to go, much better than overhead. Bob

 

If I have to go underground, it's gonna be below frost line with at least 2 inch conduit.  It might eventually go down like that, but I like the style of the old school stuff and considering options.