Lynchburg Insulators

A Collector's Guide

Site Menu

Lynchburg Glass
Site Contents
CD Styles
Insulator Features
Mysteries
Anomalies
Production Data
Historical Archive
Gayner
Birmingham

Support

Lynchburg CD 252 No. 2 Cable Double Petticoat Top Groove 1 1/4"

CD 252, Medium Power

Colors: Lt. Aqua, Aqua, Sage Aqua, Aqua w/Milk Swirls, Lt. Celery Green

As with most of Lynchburg's insulators, the CD 252 No. 2 Cable was made from recycled molds that were modified by Lynchburg. However, the origin of the CD 252 molds that Lynchburg used is not certain. While several companies made the CD 252 style, most are of a slightly different profile mainly in the shape of the cable "ears" that were somewhat flattened and extending to the sides.

Gayner No. 620	Knowles No. 2 Cable*	Hemingray No. 62 Cable

*maker is unknown but is generally thought to be Novelty Glass; Knowles apparently used different glass companies to make their insulators.

In most cases Lynchburg used modified Gayner molds if they were available for a particular style. We assume that William Gayner brought Gayner CD 252 molds to Lynchburg along with the other Gayner molds. However, it is unlikely that the Gayner CD 252 № 620 was used to make Lynchburg NO. 2 Cable molds since the Gayner style is a considerably different shape that would require extensive reworking of the mold (see above). Yet, since Lynchburg records indicate that a No. 620 insulator was shipped, some of these Gayner cables may have been made at Lynchburg without retooling them with the Lynchburg name (see Gayner Insulators at Lynchburg?).

While most CD 252s had more flattened cable ears, there are a few CD 252s that resemble the shape of Lynchburg CD 252 with upward pointing ears.

No Name Canadian Style	No Name American style	E.S.S.Co. *

*this is generally assumed to be a Brookfield product. CD 252s marked M & E Co also occur is this shape as well as in the Knowles shape above.

The Lynchburg version of the CD 252 most closely resembles the American style of the No Name No. 2 Cable. While it is not certain who produced this style, it is generally agreed that it is a Brookfield product. It seems likely, then, that Lynchburg acquired molds from Brookfield for the CD 252, as they had acquired Brookfield molds for the CD 102, which were modified into the CD 112, as well as molds for CD 145, CD 162, as well as perhaps the CD 251. So, the conclusion is that Lynchburg's CD 252 was made from modified Brookfield molds.

Brookfield's "No Name" № 2 CABLE (left) compared with Lynchburg CD 252 Mold D (right).

On all Lynchburg CD 252 molds, the sides at the bottom rim extend about 2mm past the base collar. Also, the outside skirt dimensions of the Brookfield CD 252 are about 92-92.5 mm, while the skirts on Lynchburgs measure about 94 mm. This 2 mms of extra width would suggest that Lynchburg machined the skirt of the Brookfield molds by that amount in order to engrave new lettering. This seems to be confirmed by the fact that in a Lynchburg advertising brochure and price list from late 1923, the illustration for the No. 2 Cable is taken from a Brookfield catalog.

On some molds (Mold C, Mold H) there are faint remnants of previous lettering that apparently reads № 2 CABLE. This could be the remains of original lettering or evidence of Lynchburg retooling their own lettering. Given the short production run of CD 252 (Dec 2, 1923 to Feb 23, 1924), it seems unlikely that Lynchburg would have retooled their own lettering. This provides some evidence that Lynchburg used retooled No Name No. 2 Cable molds that are attributed to Brookfield.

There are variations in the height and profile of Lynchburg CD 252s due to irregular heights of the original Brookfield molds as well as Lynchburg's modification of the molds. As a result, like Lynchburg CD 112.1 (see The Origin of the CD 112.1), each mold of Lynchburg CD 252 is slightly different in both height and profile (see comparison below). The most common version appears a little short and squatty. Other molds range from between 1 mm taller (CD 252, Mold H) to as much as 2-3 mm taller, which gives it a more slender profile (CD 252, Mold D). Since these variations are unique to each mold, they are not considered different types.

CD 252, short variation (left, Mold A) compared with the taller version (right, Mold D).

There have been reports since the mid-1970s of one mold that reads № 62 CABLE, a Hemingray style number. It is usually reported as a lettering error. However, I cannot confirm its existence. In talking to dozens of collectors, I have not been able to locate anyone who has ever personally seen this piece. It may exist, since other pieces reported by early collectors have eventually surfaced. But at this point it remains unverified and suspect.

All lettering on the molds is hand engraved. The CD 252 is the only Lynchburg style that does not have mold numbers (a few individual molds in other styles lack mold numbers). Since the lettering was engraved by hand, the various molds can be identified by the unique way the letters were incised. Since the "2" on the reverse is never exactly the same, it provides a good method to help identify various molds. Here molds are classified by letters (CD 252-A, etc.) based largely on the appearance of the "2" as well as other features. The sequence of molds is purely arbitrary since we have no way to know the order in which they were made or used.

Lynchburg produced 143,033 of CD 252, all made in a single thirteen week production run between November 26, 1923 and February 23, 1924. At present I have confirmed eight molds. This may be the entire mold set for this style.

Mold A	Mold B	Mold C	Mold D	Mold E	Mold F	Mold G	Mold H

Additional Information

Related pages

Top of page