Hemingray Embossing Styles

Over the decades, Hemingray used many different styles for embossing their insulators. In the beginning, insulators were hand-engraved, and later they used metal stamps. Here we will detail the main embossing styles that were used by Hemingray over the decades, with picture examples. Please note that the dates are only approximate, and may change in the future as we learn more.

This is the first style of embossing that was used on most of Hemingray's earliest insulators (bearing the December 19, 1871 patent date.) As each mold's embossing was hand engraved, letter forms are not always consistent. These insulators were embossed on either the front crown (one or two lines), or the front skirt (always two lines).

Known CDs with this embossing style: 116, 120, 121.4, 124, 124.1, 124.2, 124.3, 124.5, 125, 126.3, 126.4, 127.4, 130.2, 131.4, 132, 132.4, 133, 133.1, 133.4, 134, 317, 317.5, 732.2

The earliest insulators embossed with H.G.CO. are in larger, hand-engraved letters. Insulator styles produced by Hemingray for other companies during this time period, such as S.B.T.&T.Co., also have this embossing style.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 112, 133, 145, 151, 160, 162, 164, 185.2, 201, 204, 287.1, 287.2, 1073, 1085

Hemingray added the May 2, 1893 patent date embossing to several molds which were originally smooth base. Note the larger "H.G.CO." with the smaller patent date squeezed in underneath it. Also, note the uniquely shaped "2", which is referred to as the "swan 2" by embossing specialists.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 133 (unverified), 151 (unverified), 160, 162, 164

Also referred to as "Evo Script" or "Evolutionary Script". Around this time, new insulators styles such as the No.9 and No.11 were introduced, and these were embossed with "Hemingray" instead of "H.G.CO." (although new molds for other existing styles were still being embossed with "H.G.CO."; this would last well into the early 1900s and the stamped era). They were still hand-engraved at this point.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 106, 112.4, 113, 114, 134, 160, 162, 164, 185, 196, 196.2, 257

Also referred to some collectors as Prism or Prismic, this embossing style has a sharp, chiseled look to it. The number "2" usually has a distinctive "looped 2", although a "wedge 2" also exists.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 106, 113, 116, 121, 124, 133, 134, 145, 160, 162, 164, 178, 185, 190/191, 196, 201, 280, 281, 282

This is the first of Hemingray's stamped style embossings. Unlike the previous hand-engraved embossings, these were embossed with metal stamps. The main distinguishing feature of the Large Stamped Old Style is the serifs on the "1". This is also the last embossing style where the "H.G.CO." embossing appears; after this, "Hemingray" became the standard and "H.G.CO." was phased out completely.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 102, 106, 113, 115, 121, 122, 124, 125, 133, 134, 145, 147, 150, 151, 152, 152.2, 154, 157, 160, 162, 164, 169, 185, 190/191, 196, 196.5, 201, 202, 205, 208, 213, 251, 252, 254, 257, 263, 280, 281, 291, 295, 304/310, 1070

This stamped style is very similar to the Old Style, but note that the "1" does not have any serifs; it appears as a straight vertical line.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 106, 113, 115, 122, 125, 128, 134, 142, 142.4, 145, 154, 155, 160, 162, 164, 168, 175, 183, 186, 186.1, 186.2, 190/191, 197, 202, 205, 208, 214, 219, 220, 221, 230, 233, 237, 238, 238.1, 241, 241.2, 242, 243, 251, 252, 254, 257, 271, 281, 295, 301.5, 1052, 1070, 1087, 1104

A couple of styles were produced with stamped letters that are significantly narrower than normal. All of the ones that I've seen have longer, sharp drip points and are Hemingray Blue in color, indicating an approximate manufacturing date of late 1910's or early 1920's.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 122, 154

Some of the large stamped molds have an alternate "G". Instead of a traditional "G" with a crossbar, it appears to be more of a "C" with a tail on it (see example). Despite the similarity to a "C", this was intentional and is not considered to be an error.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 106, 115, 122, 134, 145, 154, 162, 214

Some large stamped embossings have an alternate "3". Unlike the standard "3" with a rounded top, the alternate "3" has a flat top like a "7" (see example).

Known CDs with this embossing style: 128, 128.4, 197

This stamped style is slightly smaller than the large style shown above. To date, all examples I've found were used exclusively on the rear skirt where a two-line embossing was used, whereas the front skirt embossing used the Large Stamped, New Style.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 115, 122, 155, 197, 233.2, 251

For some unknown reason Hemingray reverted back to hand-engraved embossings for some molds created in 1940 and 1941. Some of these have slight flares at the ends of the letterforms which resemble serifs.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 113, 115, 128, 155, 165, 216, 230

This is the last of the stamped styles. With the exception of the purple CD 194/195, all Hemingray styles with this type of embossing are found in clear or near-clear colors such as straw.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 106, 107, 113, 115, 122, 129, 154, 155, 160, 163, 165, 167, 194/195, 203, 214, 218, 219, 220, 230, 231, 231.2, 238, 238.6, 239, 239.2, 1032, 1049, 1052, 1053, 1071

This extra small stamped style only appears on a handful of Hemingray and Kimble embossed power pieces. The smaller letters are used for embossing "TEMPERED" on CD 231, 231.2 and 239, and also used as the main embossing on the rare CD 1050 Hemingray-519.

Known CDs with this embossing style: 231, 231.2, 239, 1050