I have this insulator (yes, I collect insulators, I am that kind of nerd) that was tinged very slightly light lavender when I got it. Often if you expose these ones to sun the purplish color darkens. I’ve had it in the brightest window I have for a few years and it has definitely darkened!
I was not aware of color change with time, sunlight. I have one, dark green.
awesome! I also started collecting insulators. They’re rad.
“Purple in insulators is caused by the addition of manganese, a de-colorizer originally used to remove the green or aqua cast caused by iron inevitably found in batch sand. After exposure to radiation—natural solar or artificial—the manganese ionizes to a purple form…” glassian.org/Gallery/purp...
So pretty! I was super disappointed when I “accidentally” spilled potassium permanganate on my lab coat and it oxidised from royal purple to brown in seconds.
Oh my god, these are beautiful.
Oo, so it's like the glass sidewalk skylights in the old parts of Seattle seattlemag.com/food-and-cul... Apparently parts of California as well www.kqed.org/news/1179166...
I love those!!! Thanks for the story link
That’s a neat trinket.
Does that mean your insulator was never in service?
I wonder!
Hmm not purple. Dang.
Manganese purple seaglass is a real beach combing find! (still haven’t collected a whole glass insulator yet though i have ceramic and possibly bakelite-style ones)
It might change color faster outside. Treated glass in windows may be blocking the kinds of light that lead to the color change.
My mother has a couple of those.
Is there low-E glass in your window? Low-E glass filters out much of of the UV spectrum.
Good question! I have no idea. I think this window is quite old, and there’s no markings on it as to what kind it is. Do you have suggestions on how I might I be able to figure this out?
Old glass bottles too.
Giving off strong Dalek vibes
ooooooooh i love this
My mom also has a whole collection of these, and they become covers for outdoor Christmas lights each year along their front walkway 😃 🎄
Nice!
I went to the Museum of Dinge (mass produced things) in Berlin. They had cabinets full of glass and ceramic insulators #Energysky
Very nice!
Pretty sure that's a miniature dahlek that you've got there. Does the windowsill ever smell of burnt flesh?