Lynchburg Insulators

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No Name CD 153 NO. 48 New Western Union Standard

CD 153, Telegraph

Colors: Aqua

This is the only style presumably made by Lynchburg that does not carry the LYNCHBURG name (with the possible exception of some blotted out GAYNER transitional pieces; see Lynchburg CD 154). Without precise information, the conclusion is that Lynchburg made CD 153 without LYNCHBURG using the lettering No. 48-40 on the insulators, and recorded as No. 48. Lynchburg had the molds for Gayner's CD 153, as evidenced by Mr. Gayner's notation on a 1919 AT&T spec sheet. It is likely that Lynchburg added the No. 48 to their first catalog because this style had been approved as the standard line communication insulator for AT&T in October of 1920 (see Lynchburg Insulator Product Flyer, 1923). Yet by 1921, the CD 154, Lynchburg's No. 44, had already begun replacing the old standard CD 152 as well as the newer CD 153. While Gayner had produced both CD153 and CD 154, it was obvious that the newer style CD 154 was becoming more popular. Yet, it is reasonable to expect that Mr. Gayner would offer them both at Lynchburg since even by 1923 users were in transition between the older and newer styles. It is also reasonable to conclude that because of these factors they were not immediately produced but were in the catalog as an "on demand" item.

The first shipment of No. 48 recorded is February 5, 1924, during the first week of production of the No. 48 (see Lynchburg Production Records). An educated guess is that Lynchburg produced the No. 48 in response to orders from early price lists and catalogs, and put the No. 48 into production quickly without re-lettering the molds LYNCHBURG. There is no way to know if these were originally No Name molds or were blotted out GAYNER lettered molds, or both. If the style were put into production because of orders from the catalog, and production was "on demand" rather than stockpiled in inventory, there was likely not enough time to letter the molds LYNCHBURG. The fact that the first shipment was sent early during the first week of production suggests that this was a rush job. This style was only in production for three weeks and was never produced again.

Lettering is consistent and the color is fairly uniform. There are 10 confirmed molds; likely 12 exist since Gayner trnded to make molds in sets of 12. These pieces are relatively common.

For more information on this style and the reasoning for it being attributed to Lynchburg, see The Elusive No. 48.

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For more information on this style see
The Elusive No. 48

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