The earliest "cup" insulator, patented by Brett and Little on 2-11-1847

THE EARLIEST CUP INSULATOR.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ELECTRICIAN.

SIR: As a contribution to the history of insulators I send you herewith a tracing, showing the insulator patented by Brett and Little in 1847. This insulator was used on the line from Maryport to Carlisle, where I saw many of them in 1852. This appears to be the earliest example of cup insulator with support below the insulator and wire on the top. The patent was dated below the insulator and wire on the top. The patent was dated Feb. 11, 1847, yet it was not until 1856 that the cup insulators supported from below were introduced as a novelty on the principal lines of the Electric Telegraph Company, and in the nine years intervening insulator far inferior to Brett and Little's were employed.

The following note from Mr. Little I found with the tracing when looking over some old papers.

F. C. WEBB.

"Steamship Office, 150, Leadenhall-street, E.C.,

"London, April 8th, 1867.

"SIR: As promised, I herewith send you the exact size and form of the insulator invented by me in 1846, and now used with trifling modification throughout the United States of America and all parts of the world where overland lines are at work.

"A, the insulator, made of glass, earthenware, or other suitable material, secured to the arm H by means of the cement J J, which is run in so as to fill up the spaces I F. C, top of insulator, with its groove D, showing the line wire G G secured in the same. B, shoulder for supporting the winding or stretching apparatus.

"Claim — Insulators, bell-shaped in the interior, so as to prevent the rain establishing a circuit for the electricity from the wire to the support of the insulator. — Yours, &c.

"GEO. LITTLE.

"F. C. WEBB, ESQ."