Coat Hooks From Old Telephone Line Insulators

Was given a large collection of these from someone who was a wireman for the old Bell Telephone company.

Step 1: Parts

This is all recylcling: waste wood from other projects, glass insulators from ancient communications system.

Step 2: Turn the Wood

Mark the center of the pieces on the ends and place on the lathe.
Narrow them to a point that will fit in the glass insulator
Change the chuck and detail the lower hook

Step 3: Drill Hanger Screw Hole

A single 3 inch dry wall screw will hold this up, I used a dowel to both cover the screw and create a second hanger hook

Comments

[LasVegas]

Do take care of those insulators. The colored ones are especially valuable to collectors!

[s666666666666]

depends on colors and/or words on them. You could figure it out more on this website

http://www.insulators.com/photos/

[ehmbee]

Yeah, I work there (Verizon) as a lineman-they are not all valuable-when you replace old poles they are often in the hole...Green are pretty common-blues and purples are worth a lot. Depends on a lot of factors.

[kevrone]

Wow, they are valueable! Makes me wish I had paid more attention to the ones we found in my grandma's basement when she passed away. There were 8 or 9 of them. I think they're all in the trash heap now :(