Best Of The West Live Auction (November 13, 2026 5:30 PM PT)

Circa 1887–1889, CD 265, 4". Designed for use with Frank E. Fisher’s pioneering underground third-rail electric railway system. The first known embossed Fisher insulator was discovered in San Jose, with additional examples later recovered in Michigan. The Fisher Electric Railway operated between San Jose and Santa Clara after opening in 1888. Its underground conduit system proved unreliable, with mud and debris frequently interrupting electrical contact, and the line soon failed. Today, these remarkable insulators are prized for their rarity and their association with some of the earliest electric railway experiments in the United States.

Description & Condition: A light green example in very good overall condition. Has a chip to the right arm measuring approximately 1", along with two minor chips to the top measuring 1/8" and 1/16". The base is free of damage.

Min. Bid $2,500 - Est. $5,000–$10,000