Lynchburg Insulators: CD 251

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Lynchburg CD 251

NO. 1 Cable

CD 251, Low Voltage Power

Original Molds: NEGM

Number of molds known: 6

Mold Types: 1

Major Lettering Arrangements: 1

Lettering Variations: 1 (placement of lettering)

Crown Lettering: No

Retooled molds: No

Base Types: CDP (SB unconfirmed)

Number made: 8,796

Original price 1924: $92.50 per 1,000; 9.25 cents each

Colors: Aqua, Light Aqua. Lt. Aqua with Milk Swirls

The Lynchburg CD 251 was created from retooled NEGM molds. It is unknown from where or how Lynchburg obtained these molds. New England Glass Manufacturing of Somerville, MA, only made insulators for a short period of time around 1899-1900. It is possible that molds for the CD 251 came to Lynchburg through Brookfield along with the Kribs presses and other molds from the defunct company. Some have suggested that Brookfield obtained the NEGM CD 251 molds after a January, 1900 fire at the NEGM plant, and put them into production without altering the lettering. But that is only speculation. William Gayner and the Gayner family had widespread contacts in the glass industry, so the NEGM molds could have been obtained from another source.

NEGM CD 251 Lynchburg CD 251
Comparison of NEGM (left) and Lynchburg (right) CD 251

The skirts of Lynchburgs are slightly wider and shaped a little differently than most original NEGM molds since the molds were machined slightly to remove the original lettering. There is some overall variation between the molds due to slight variations in the original NEGM molds. On most molds, traces of the original lettering N.E.G.M.CO. (front) and PAT JUNE 17 1890 (reverse) can be seen.

All lettering on the molds is hand engraved. Lettering is bold and even and fairly uniform on all molds. There are no lettering variations beyond placement on the skirt, and the molds are fairly consistent in size and shape. These occur with CDP. A smooth base version has been reported but I have not been able to confirm that it exists.

Lynchburg produced 8,796 of these, all made between February 24 and March 8, 1924.

There are 6 confirmed molds of CD 251. There is one mold reported without a mold number, but I have not been able to confirm it. Often, the mold numbers are weak and hard to see since they were placed high on the skirt and subject to wear from the forming press. However, it is possible that some pieces were made before a number was added to the mold, as happened with CD 112.1 and CD 145.

Mold 1

Mold 2

Mold 3

Mold 4

Mold 5

Mold 6

Additional Information

Known Lettering of Lynchburg CD 251

Lettering: [] = described text; / = next line of text; // = text beneath other text;
{} = blotted-out text

EIN	Front Lettering	Reverse Lettering	Molds
[010]	[L logo] / LYNCHBURG	[Number] / MADE IN NO. 1 U.S.A.	*
[015]	[L logo] / LYNCHBURG	[Number] / MADE IN NO. 1 U.S.A. // {blotted out PAT JUNE !7 1890}	*
[020]	[L logo] / LYNCHBURG // {blotted out N.E.G.M.CO.}	[Number] / MADE IN NO. 1 U.S.A. // {blotted out PAT JUNE !7 1890}	1,2,3,4, 5,6

* while the Price Guide lists three lettering variations with various blot outs visible, on all pieces I have examined some trace of the blotouts are visible on both front and reverse. I have verified no examples of EIN [010] or [015]. Since these molds are all previous NEGM molds, it is likely that all CD 251 molds used by Lynchburg bear traces of the blotouts, although more visible on some pieces than others.

CD 251

Mold 1
Mold 2
Mold 3
Mold 4
Mold 5
Mold 6