Chicago Insulating Company making new insulating knob

[Trade Journal]

Publication: The Electrician

New York, NY, United States
vol. 2, no. 8, p. 238, col. 1-2


SOME RECENT INVENTIONS IN

INSULATING APPLIANCES


IT is well known to all practical electricians, that there is room for improvement in the matter of insulation. In all the practical applications of electricity, insulation plays an important part. The electric current, for whatever purpose it is used, must be prevented from escaping into its great natural reservoir, the earth. If current is lost, force is expended, cost increased, and in case of the electric light especially, danger to life and property incurred.

The appliances in ordiniary use, for the purpose of insulating wires, have thus far been tolerated because they were the best of their kind, but serious objections exist to all of them, as is well known to practical men. If in any way, insulation is made more perfect, a commercial advantage is sure to result.

A new departure has been taken in providing insulation for various purposes, by the Chicago Insulating Company, 122 La Salle Street, Chicago, Ill., which has for its object the correction of these imperfections in insulation.

Ths company is now manufacturing insulating appliances of various kinds and qualities, and is now placing on the market a new knob for electric light wires. These knobs are made of a continuous and homogenous material, and do not depend on a glaze for their durability, a smooth surface being obtained by the method of manufacture. The knobs for indoor use are ornamental, being made in a variety of colors, so as to suit the decorations of rooms. These materials are non-hygroscopic, are not affected by heat, will not collect dust, and there is no danger of firing them by the electric current.

For telegraph and telephone companies, the company has prepared a new pole and knob insulator, claiming to possess superior qualities, and which we understand have been very favorably received.

In addition to these, the company manufacture a fireproof insulation for electric light wires, by which, it is said, danger, either by fire or by contact through them, is entirely obviated. On this insulation the wires are loosely enclosed in a contiuous tube, formed of sections two feet in length, cemented together. The wires may thus be inserted and withdrawn at pleasure, and may be either bare or covered. Besides its high insulating quality, and its being fire-proof, this insulation will not be affected by the weather, or attacked by rats and mice, and will prevent induction from other wires. This is also made ornamental, by covering the tubes with paper, in imitation of any woods desired, or by enclosing them in mouldings of the room, thus getting rid of the unsightly wires about the walls and ceilings. This insulation is warmly endorsed by the superintendent of the city telegraph department, the fire marshal, and the principle underwriters of Chicago, and has already been adopted by some of the electric light companies doing business there.

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Keywords:Chicago Insulating Company
Researcher notes: 
Supplemental information: 
Researcher:Bob Stahr
Date completed:July 23, 2008 by: Bob Stahr;