AS UNBREAKABLE INSULATOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 88

AS UNBREAKABLE INSULATOR.

During the past eight years a gentleman of this city ha« endeavoured- to discover a composition which would take the place of porcelain* in the making of telegraph insulators, and at the same time produce an -unbreakable article^ and- has at- last been successful in that direction. The article is made -from a composition the greater portion of, wfcich exists probably in no other part of the world but New Zealand. Not only has he been successful in producing an insulator suitable for telegraph and 1 telephone purposes, but has also solved the problem of producing an insulator of sufficient strength to meet the requirements of high-tension currents of any voltage, and insulating parts and devices employed in connection with electrio railways, "etc. It is also suitable in connection with the insulation in electrical works, sUch aa insulator pintf, insulating strains, bushings, catenery spools, entrance tubes, switchboards, cable spools, oil switches, ball insulators for tramway strains, sheets, etc. Insulators of this material, once placed on the line, are there for ever. They cannot be shattered by stone-throw-ing, and will turn a rifle bullet. The number of insulators which are destroyed by these methods annually is beyond conception, and a large ampunt of money ;s; s expended annually in -the replacing of broken insulators, to say nothing of thei labour and inconvenience aused by breakage. The invention has been on the Government telegraph lines for a period of 16 months with the view of testing it. The test, it is claimed, has given every satisfaction in that direction — so much so that the Government feels disposed to give it ap. expensive trial. The cost of the article is considerably below that of the imported insulator. Recently a test of these insulator* took place in the presence of some of the most prominent electrical engineers of the Dominion, and all agree on its superiority as an insulating material, Tho invention is being patented throughout the world.