Just something to hang on the wall.....

[Alchymist]

This came off an old lean-to on the back of a 100+ year old barn. No idea how old it is, but managed to get it down, cleaned up, and the hardware sprayed with cold galvanizing paint. Didn't get the scaly look of hot dipped galvanized, but then it's not a $1000 antique either. Ran the insulators through the dishwasher, now need a place to hang it.

 

[MFolks]

An old Lightning arrestor?

 

[Alchymist]

I believe it to be insulators for stringing electric wires? Or perhaps telephone?

 

[Alchymist]

Google search turned up just one like it out of pics of a zillion different types:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/antique-1909-pp-inc-porcelain-spool-electrical-wire-lang-asselmeier

 

[DC73]

I believe it to be insulators for stringing electric wires? Or perhaps telephone?

Looks like the insulators used by power companies for running secondary wire overhead. Power companies used to run wire known as open wire secondary (non-insulated wire). In residential subdivisions, a transformer would be installed on one pole in the alley. These insulators would be installed on several poles on either side of the transformer pole. The secondary voltage wires (2 120V hot, 1 neutral) would run to these insulators where they would connect to the wires going to each house. The houses and other buildings would have similar insulators. For stand alone houses, the wires would leave a transformer pole and head directly to the house and these insulators would be on each pole (if any) and the house as well.

Phone company may have used them or something similar back when their wires were not insulated.

DC

 

[4x4_G30_Sportvan]

Sppol insulators.
Typical low voltage usage. Telephone, cable, or the guy wires for running 110-120.

 

[Bigbandguy]

I expect it was used to run 4 individual service drop wires to a house or barn. I remember seeing houses with setups like this in the rural South years ago.

 

[softailgarage]

Looks like the insulators used by power companies for running secondary wire overhead. Power companies used to run wire known as open wire secondary (non-insulated wire). In residential subdivisions, a transformer would be installed on one pole in the alley. These insulators would be installed on several poles on either side of the transformer pole. The secondary voltage wires (2 120V hot, 1 neutral) would run to these insulators where they would connect to the wires going to each house. The houses and other buildings would have similar insulators. For stand alone houses, the wires would leave a transformer pole and head directly to the house and these insulators would be on each pole (if any) and the house as well.

Phone company may have used them or something similar back when their wires were not insulated.

DC

Great explanation, I always wondered how they worked. Ceramic/porcelain insulators.