This Antique Cole Brothers Glass Ball Lightning Rod with Brass Finial is in excellent condition. Glass ball has no problems and the rod is without rust and all metal is structurally sound. Both end caps are marked Cole Bros. Patd. Dec. 12 1893. The finial is solid brass and unscrews. The rod does not twist out of the tripod holder. Lightning rods were embellished with ornamental glass balls (now prized by collectors). The ornamental appeal of these glass balls was also used in weather vanes. The main purpose of these balls, however, was to provide evidence of a lightning strike by shattering or falling off. It measures 69 1/2" tall with a base of 18". SIZE MAKES THIS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM TO SHIP. Lightning rods were an important part of houses in the past since many areas did not have fire departments or insurance on houses. They were the insurance policy for the house against lighting strikes. A little history: (there is much more but limited space):
In 1865 the company incorporated, with a paid-up capital of $20,000. The new corporation began July 1, 1865, with a ten-year term. They formed a limited partnership with their employees, establishing branch sale stations extending through Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and other states, having in all at one time fourteen branch stations, and employing from 150 to 200 men. At the expiration of the limit of the first corporation, in 1875, they formed a new corporation for a fifteen-year term with a paid-up capital of $200,000, with each of the four brothers to receive 100 shares. The Cole Brothers built up an immense business and enjoyed a reputation for fair dealing and good work that marked a new era in the pump and lightning rod business.
During this time, the business of the firm greatly increased, and they commenced the manufacture of lightning rods themselves, instead of depending upon Eastern manufacturers, as had previously been their practice. With these advantages, their business rapidly increased, until they grew into the largest establishment of the kind in the United States, employing by 1885 about 175 men, with from 75 to 80 teams traveling constantly through the country. In the early 1870's the company expanded the lightning rod division, with the main manufacturing plant being located at St. Louis.
In 1876 the lightning rod factory was moved to Greencastle from St. Louis and the building was enlarged for the two lines of products. This was primarily due to economic difficulties felt throughout the entire country. John Cole, the youngest of the four brothers, was vigorously against this consolidation and left the firm entirely, starting his own lightning rod company in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The firm ownership was changed to Cole Brothers. But by December 15, 1881 John Cole's business was brought back into the Cole Brothers Company for $1,093.70 of inventory plus $5,000 of goodwill. A newspaper article in 1907 reported that the payroll of the company was $900 every two weeks. Their rate of pay was considerably more than the $1/day which was typical for laborers at that time. Five styles of lightning rods were put out at the rate of 10,000 feet a day. The newspaper article further stated that the company shipped 1,600,000 feet of rods in 1906 to all parts of the United States and to foreign countries. The Cole Brothers Company was the undisputed second largest manufacturer of lightning rods in the country, with the largest being located in Philadelphia, home of famous kite flier Benjamin Franklin. The Cole brothers also offered a $1,000 insurance policy for purchasers of their lightning rods. Records of the company indicate no claims were made against the insurance policies for any losses.

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Location: This item ships from Texas

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