Fred Locke Display
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Note the all glass Locke 25 (CD 342) center left. Mike Spadafora found it and one
other CD 342 last year in Colorado. Note the "Locke Model" on
the bottom left . This was an experimental glazewelded insulator model
fired at low temperature. It was probably made by Fred Locke just before
the Victor, NY factory was built in the summer of 1898 and fired John Lapp's
small kiln he constructed in his bicycle shop in Honeoye Falls, NY. It has
a multi-date ink stamp on the surface of the glaze. Also note the
"Locke Pigs" just to the right of the model. The pigs were
presented to Fred Locke when he "retired" from the Victor factory in
December 1904. Each of the nine pigs are different sizes and colors and
represent each of the Locke board of directors sitting around the money feed
trough. The thought is they were more interested in money than running an
insulator factory. One of Fred Locke's granddaughters recalled playing
with the pigs when she was a small girl.
Note the various forms of M-2842. From left to right: M-2842B (glass
bottom), M-2842A (small crown), M-2842 (normal crown), and M-2842D (large
crown).
The insulated platform shown in the photographs below was found by Ben Kirsten. These are the only known examples of Fred Locke M-3236's. A heavy cast iron cap is cemented to each insulator to which the platform is bolted. The platform was probably used to support electrical equipment. Similar platforms were also used by switchmen. They would stand on the platform to insulate themselves from ground so they could safely throw a high-voltage switch.
