Have you ever looked at a telephone pole and noticed those glass or porcelain pieces on top? They might look like just decorations, but they actually have an important job in communication. These helpful items are called insulators, and they help keep our electrical wires safe and our phone calls clear.
Safeguarding the Flow of Electricity
Insulators have a key job: they stop electrical wires from touching the pole or the ground. Imagine trying to make a long-distance call, and your voice suddenly cuts out after a little while. That wouldn’t be fun, right? Insulators make sure all the electricity stays in the wires so our important phone calls can keep going without any problems.
The Variety of Insulators
These simple objects come in many different styles and colors. While a lot of the older insulators were made from glass or porcelain, some were made from wood and glass, and even animal parts! You’d be surprised at some of the unusual materials used. The size of the insulator is important too. Smaller ones are used for telephone and telegraph wires, while larger ones are made for high-voltage electrical wires. It’s like having a special section for insulators based on how much voltage they can handle!
Keeping Voltage in Check
When it comes to power lines, the voltage affects how big the insulator needs to be. Electricity can be a bit tricky and might try to jump across a distance. That’s where the design of insulators helps out. Insulators with wide “umbrella” shapes and large lower parts act like careful bouncers at a nightclub, keeping the wires away from the pole and stopping any accidents from happening.
A Surprising Hobby
Believe it or not, collecting insulators is a popular hobby! This started becoming popular in the 1960s when utility companies began burying their wires, leaving a lot of old insulators behind. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. People who collect insulators come from all different backgrounds. Some like these glass pieces for how they look and use them to decorate windowsills and gardens, adding a bit of shine to their space. Others look for specific types of insulators. Prices can vary a lot; you might find one for less than a dollar or even get one for free at flea markets!
A Historical Touch
Most insulators that collectors have are between 70 and 145 years old, and some types haven’t been made since the early 1900s. Anything that’s old and no longer being produced often becomes collectible, and insulators are no different. They hold a piece of history and connect us to a time when communication was just starting to grow.
Appreciating the Role of Insulators
The next time you see one of those interesting glass or porcelain insulators on a telephone pole, take a moment to appreciate how important they’ve been in the history of communication. They might seem like old items, but they’ve made a lasting impact on how we connect with each other, whether through a phone call or a quick text message. Who knows? You might even feel inspired to start your own collection and join the many people who find beauty and history in these simple artifacts!
Shirley MacLaine and Carol Burnett share the most hilarious fan letters.
Recently, fans of The Carol Burnett Show took a fun journey down memory lane. Online users have started sharing a video clip of Shirley MacLaine’s performance on the comedy show. Watchers laughed throughout the whole Season 9, Episode 4 episode in question.
In a timeless skit, Vicki Lawrence plays Carol Harper’s mother, Mrs. Harper, who is shown waiting for her daughter and son-in-law, Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman. The audience was in stitches during the entire performance because of its clever banter and funny one-liners.
Shirley MacLaine later appeared with Carol Burnett, and together they read a selection of the funniest fan letters they had ever received. The two women made fun of themselves and had the audience in fits of laughter.
According to one letter, their cat would come and cover Carol’s lips each time she sang on the show. The crowd erupted in laughter as the two sang a humorous song about the fan letters they had received
In a particularly memorable skit, Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman played the King and Queen, with Tim Conway as the Queen’s guard. Watchers laughed throughout the performance as the three interacted with clever conversation and humorous antics.
In a different sketch, Shirley MacLaine and Carol Burnett portrayed two mothers whose daughter, eight years old, had suffered a baseball game loss. There were several humorous moments in the play as MacLaine attempted to persuade the other parent, played by Carol Burnett, and the coach, Harvey Korman, to retain her daughter on the squad.
A lovely song and dance performance starring Shirley MacLaine and Carol Burnett, supported by multiple male dancers, brought the episode to a triumphant close. The crowd was filled with joy and optimism after watching the piece.
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