Insulators With Special Character

Special character can add value to an insulator - value that is somewhat difficult to measure, and not covered in any price guide.

There are several traits that resulted from various quirks in the manufacturing process that make an insulator unique. They are generally considered anywhere from desirable among collectors, to highly coveted. We have listed some of them below.

There is no technical way to gauge the amount of value such character adds to an insulator. Generally speaking, the more substantial the character, the greater appeal the insulator will have. Although it is universally agreed that insulators are worth more when they have such character, some collectors place a little less emphasis on it while others will pay more than a premium for it.

Topics:
Amber Streaks
Amber Wisps
Annealing Lines
Bubbles
Carbon and Other Blackened Bits
Champagne Fizz/Small Bubbles
Cold Mold Pours
Dome Glass
Inky Streaks
Milky Streaks
Milky Swirls
Rocks and Other Debris
Snow
Wrinkles and Creases

Amber Streaks
The most common cause of an amber streak is a rusty ladle or other tool that came into contact with the glass in liquid form. The result is various, swirling amber lines and shapes that become trapped in the glass. When the insulator cools, an amber streak is left inside. Most collectors agree, the more the better!

Amber Wisps
Created the same way as amber streaks (above), but with a more diffused appearance, amber wisps, or amber tinges, take on a variety of forms. In some cases, they create swirling color variations in an insulator. When they are more pronounced in one area, an insulator can take on a two-tone effect. If the amber is distributed fairly evenly through the insulator, the result can be an aqua insulator that has taken on a glowing green appearance (like the one pictured above).

Annealing Lines
Annealing lines are the result of pouring hot glass into a cold mold. They are small cracks in the glass, most often on the inside of the skirt or in the pinhole. It is the general consensus of several of the highest authorities in the insulator hobby that annealing lines are not considered damage, since they are part of the manufacturing process. Brookfield insulators have a tendency to have them, as do some Diamond styles.

Bubbles
Bubbles come in many shapes and sizes. We've seen quarter-sized bubbles, tadpole-shaped two-inch-long bubbles and everything in between. Bubbles are very popular, because any insulator that has them is very likely unique.

Carbon
Carbon is often the result of ash or other foreign matter becoming trapped in the glass. Since the glass was heated to temperatures well over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit during manufacturing, most materials would quickly be dissolved to black ash. Carbon sometimes takes on the appearance of streaks, and other times is dispersed like pepper sprinkles.

Champagne Fizz/Small Bubbles
Bubbles of any type are a result of air entering the glass. Tiny bubbles throughout are considered highly desirable, and can transform an otherwise common insulator into something very special. 

Cold Mold Pours
Pouring cold glass into a cold mold results in charmingly lumpy, uneven glass. Some collectors call it "whittle molded". Often, the embossing and mold lines on such pieces are less crisp and defined.

Dome Glass
Insulators were manufactured by pouring the glass into a mold upside-down, and inserting a piece that would fabricate the pinhole inside. How far it was inserted would vary from piece to piece. When it was not inserted as far, the result was a solid glass dome. Solid dome glass is considered an added bonus. It's even better if there are tiny bubbles, rocks, amber streaks or other character inside. Some collectors even specialize in insulators with extraordinary dome glass.

Inky Streaks
Inky streaks are a result of foreign substances being mixed in with the liquid glass (see amber, above). Certain Star insulators tend to have some of the most pronounced ones we've seen. The result can be very dramatic.

Milky Streaks
Milk streaks were usually created unintentionally, and therefore have great appeal among collectors. Something became mixed with the glass that would give it an opaque appearance.

Milky Swirls
Milky swirls were created much like milky streaks (above), the difference being that they give most or all of the insulator a jade-like appearance. Sometimes milky swirls were unintentional, but most of the time, it was the intention of the manufacturer to make a jade-colored insulator. All jade insulators are all somewhat rare, with the unintentionally milk-swirled ones being the most coveted of all.

Rocks and Other Debris
Because glass objects are produced at such a high temperature, not many objects trapped inside would survive. Still, insulators were considered functional objects, so there were often low quality control values. Whatever was swept along with the cullet ended up being melted along with the glass. That included small stones, bottle caps, nails and other bits. Generally, the larger the object, the more amazing the insulator, especially if none of the object protrudes from the glass at all.

Snow
What is widely referred to as "snow" in insulators is actually bits of brick oven, chipped off the kiln, that became trapped in the glass while it was still in a liquid state. It differs from rocks and other debris because it most likely did not get swept in with the rest of the cullet. Even light amounts are nice, but the more dense it is, the more snow adds value.

Wrinkes and Creases
Wrinkles and creases, sometimes referred to as "straw marks", are the result of glass that was slightly cooler than the optimal temperature being poured into a hot mold. Earlier insulators tend to have them quite often.