[Trade Journal]
Publication: The Electrician Commercial and Industrial Supplement
London, England
p. 35, Supplement, col. 1-2
INSULATORS AT THE EXHIBITION.
One of the features of the Manchester Electrical Exhibition was a high-tension testing transformer for applying high voltages up to the breakdown point of various patterns of insulators. A somewhat similar display has been made at Olympia by the firm who were responsible for the Manchester exhibit, Messrs. Bullers Limited. The exhibit is, however, rendered more imposing by the fact that the height of the hall has admitted of the erection of a latticed steelwork mast, as employed abroad for carrying extra high-tension transmission lines. Associated with this portion of the exhibit is a display of extra high-tension insulators of the suspension type, suitable for voltages of 80,000 or 100,000. We understand that this pattern of insulator is now being manufactured by Messrs. Bullers. From the public point of view this interesting section of the exhibits is, unfortunately, somewhat lost, but we sincerely hope that those engineers who are interested in high-tension power transmission will, even at this late hour, take an early opportunity of visiting the stand. The transformer referred to above for testing the insulators can be used for obtaining a potential as high as 100,000 volts. The latticed steelwork mast referred to is, we are informed, one of an order recently executed. The company's products in the shape of telegraph and telephone material, both insulators and their metal supports, also telegraph and telephone tubular steel poles, are well known, and Bullers' patent ventilator is employed by many central station and tramway engineers. This is a special type of box duct ventilator, which eliminates the risks of explosions. In addition to the above we may mention the representative display of various patterns of vitreous porcelain and china for electric light accessories of every description.
Messrs. Laing, Wharton (Ltd.) also make an effective show of high-tension insulators of a pattern which is in extensive use on the Continent. These are known as link insulators, and comprise a series of porcelain pieces, which are hung together in a vertical plane, the number of links depending upon the voltage of the line. At the Turin Exhibition we understand there is a mile length of line which is shown in operation at 105,000 volts. These insulators are manufactured by Vedovelli, Priestley & Co., of Paris.
Messrs. W. F. Dennis & Co. also make a comprehensive display of insulators manufactured by the Karlsbader Kaolin-Industrie-Ges., of Austria, for which they hold the sole agency in the United Kingdom, the exhibit comprising high-tension porcelain insulators for working pressures of from 3,000 to 100,000 volts, telegraph and telephone insulators, porcelain electric light fittings, shackles, knobs, cleats, switch and fuse bases, &c. The insulators are all tested before leaving the factory, the Karlsbader Company having laboratories for testing up to 250,000 volts.
A comprehensive exhibit is also made by Krausse & Auerbach of steatite, china and earthenware for electrical accessories of all kinds. Designs are carried out to order, but we understand that only large quantities will be considered.
