• Home
  • Weathervanes
    • In-Stock Weathervanes
    • Animals
    • Aquatic
    • Arrows & Banners
    • Birds
    • Boats
    • Cars, Trucks, & Airplanes
    • Custom Weathervanes
    • Dogs
    • Fantasy & Mythology
    • Fish & Whales
    • Horses
    • Plants & Insects
    • Sports & Culture
    • Repairs and Restorations
  • Roof Finials
    • In-Stock Finials
    • Ball Finials
    • Ball & Cone Finials
    • Figurative Finials
    • Rotating Finials
    • Round Finials
    • Scroll Finials
    • Spike Finials
    • Finial Bases
    • Repair and Restorations
  • Roof Caps
    • Bases for Vanes or Finials
    • Copper Roof Caps Quick!
  • Parts and Accessories
    • All Parts and Accessories
    • Balls and Ornaments
    • Bases
    • Dedications
    • Directionals
    • Hooks
    • Lightning Rod Parts
    • Mounting Brackets
    • Posts
    • Rings
    • Spacers
    • Time Capsules
  • Other Interests
    • Antique Lightning Rods
    • Cupola Plans
    • Repairs and Restorations
    • Weathervane Workshops
  • Information
    • About Ferro
    • Contact Me
    • Choosing A Weathervane
    • Custom Quote Request
    • Directions to the Studio
    • FAQs – And answers!
    • Finishes
    • Grounding
    • Policies
    • Reading List
    • Repairs and Restorations
    • Scrapbook
    • Sizing Weathervanes and Finials
  • Installation
    • Aluminum Weathervanes
    • Assemble Copper Vanes
    • Grounding
    • Installing Copper Vanes
    • Roof Finials / Roof Caps
  • Projects

Weathervanes, Finials, Spires, Roof Caps, Parts, Repairs, Restorations, Stock or Custom.

ferrovanes@gmail.com
$0.00
No products in the cart
Go to shop
Ferro Weathervanes Ferro Weathervanes Ferro Weathervanes Ferro Weathervanes
  • Home
  • Weathervanes
    • In-Stock Weathervanes
    • Animals
    • Aquatic
    • Arrows & Banners
    • Birds
    • Boats
    • Cars, Trucks, & Airplanes
    • Custom Weathervanes
    • Dogs
    • Fantasy & Mythology
    • Fish & Whales
    • Horses
    • Plants & Insects
    • Sports & Culture
    • Repairs and Restorations
  • Roof Finials
    • In-Stock Finials
    • Ball Finials
    • Ball & Cone Finials
    • Figurative Finials
    • Rotating Finials
    • Round Finials
    • Scroll Finials
    • Spike Finials
    • Finial Bases
    • Repair and Restorations
  • Roof Caps
    • Bases for Vanes or Finials
    • Copper Roof Caps Quick!
  • Parts and Accessories
    • All Parts and Accessories
    • Balls and Ornaments
    • Bases
    • Dedications
    • Directionals
    • Hooks
    • Lightning Rod Parts
    • Mounting Brackets
    • Posts
    • Rings
    • Spacers
    • Time Capsules
  • Other Interests
    • Antique Lightning Rods
    • Cupola Plans
    • Repairs and Restorations
    • Weathervane Workshops
  • Information
    • About Ferro
    • Contact Me
    • Choosing A Weathervane
    • Custom Quote Request
    • Directions to the Studio
    • FAQs – And answers!
    • Finishes
    • Grounding
    • Policies
    • Reading List
    • Repairs and Restorations
    • Scrapbook
    • Sizing Weathervanes and Finials
  • Installation
    • Aluminum Weathervanes
    • Assemble Copper Vanes
    • Grounding
    • Installing Copper Vanes
    • Roof Finials / Roof Caps
  • Projects

Lightning Rod Balls Guide

Lightning Rods and all the wonderful gadgets that accompany them are an interesting part of our history. Beautiful glass balls were first created to sell lightning rods during the mid to late nineteenth century.  Today, balls of glass, ceramic and plastic are created for Lightning rods and weather vanes and these obscure articles of Americana continue to be highly collected.

This guide includes antique, vintage, and newer ball styles. Most of these balls are made in small numbers and are quality examples of American craftsmanship. Even currently made balls are receiving the attention of collectors. The lure of a gorgeous piece of glass can be intoxicating regardless of its age or value.

It is the goal of this guide to educate collectors to make confident informed decisions but this list does not include any speculation of value. The market is always the best place to obtain an education of current pricing trends.

This is a guide only,  CLICK HERE  for balls available for sale.

Click images for more information

10637

TERMS

Cased – A layer of clear glass adhered to a layer of colored glass.

Flashed – A thin layer of colored glass adhered over another layer of a      different color of glass.

Caps– A thin metal cover to bushing the glass collars from the metal rod.

Collar – The raised ends surrounding the balls holes.

ABBREVIATIONS

BMG – Blue Milk Glass

WMG – White Milk Glass

SCA – Sun Colored Amethyst

Merc – Mercury Glass (mirror coating inside reflecting color of ball)

Every effort was made to compile accurate information. Any errors in this guide are unintentional.

Feel free to submit any corrections and additional information is very welcome.

Sources:

-Internet

-Lightning Rod Ball Collectors Guide, Patterns, Variations, Colors, Prices. Dale Frazier. 1973

-The Lightning Rod Collectibles Price Guide, Russell Barnes. 1997

-The Complete Book of Lightning Rod Balls, With Prices. Rod Krupka, Mike Bruner. 1995

-Various Old Issues of ‘The Crown Point’ Magazine

Contact Information

Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap!

Send Message

© [2020] · FerroWeathervanes.com. No portion of this site may be reproduced for profit. Feel free to reproduce portions for educational purposes as long as credit is given to Ferro Weathervanes. | Sitemap