Things You'll Need:
- Access to Ebay or other places to buy glass insulators
- Collector guides
- Small amount of money to spend on your hobby
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Step 1
Begin by learning some basics about glass insulators. Look through several websites or eBay auctions to see what strikes your fancy. While you can of course collect pieces and hope they gain in value, most collectors simply enjoy certain colors, sizes, or shapes.
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Step 2
Visit garage sales, antique malls and flea markets, and be on the lookout for inexpensive insulators. Many sellers have no idea what these objects are, and you can sometimes pick up excellent bargains.
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Step 3
If you enjoy walking or bicycling, you may want to visit old railroad beds in your area. Many telephone and telegraph lines ran along railroad tracks, and these systems used glass insulators over the past 100 years. Modern fiber optics and other technologies have largely replaces the beautiful old insulators, and pieces of broken insulators may remain along old rail lines. You may find them among the weeds or at the sides of the rail bed. Never remove existing ones from poles - they may be private property or still useful.
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Step 4
If you're ready to take the plunge, bid on some eBay auctions. You can start small, since many common insulators start as low as a dollar. While they're heavy, and the shipping costs may accumulate, you can indulge your hobby to your heart's content and not break the bank!
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Step 5
Once you've acquired a few glass insulators, display them proudly. They make great decorative paperweights, or place them on windowsills for sparkling stained-glass effects.
