Home Index Site Map Up: Insulators Navigation
Up: Insulators
Sediver Insulators
Home  > Insulators  > Sediver
First: Babson Bros. & Surge Insulators Last: Tree Insulators Prev: Patent Index Next: U. S. Army Signal Corps Insulators Navigation
Ref: 11 of 15

Bullet The story of Sediver (say \sed·ih·VARE\, it's French) starts in 1665 when the mirror and flat glass works Saint-Gobain was founded as part of the economic revival program of XIV and Saint-Gobain castle & worksMinister Colbert. The company prospered and grew, dominating the market through the 18th century. Eventually, desiring a fully European reach, they acquired glass plants in Germany (1857), Italy (1889) and Spain (1904). In 1906, Charbonneux & Co. (an early subsidiary in Reims) set up a new insulator factory called Nord-Verre; their trademark: ISOREX. SediverIn 1928 a new insulator works was established in Saint-Yorre and a new company Societe L'Electro Verre created by joining Saint-Gobain and La Compagnie General d'Electricitie. These companies were the first to produce toughened glass insulators in 1947 (Pilkington was the other pioneer). Finally, in 1959, Sediver was formed by the union of L'Electro Verre and Nord-Verre, with production kept at Saint-Yorre; the L'Electro Verre trademark was abandoned, and Sediver's insulators were marked EIV: Europeenne d'Isolateurs en Verre. In 1970, Sediver merged with La Compagnie Generale d'Electroceramique to form CERAVER S.A., (ceramique = ceramic + verre = glass). A year later, they merged with Great Britain's Pilkington Brothers forming SEDIVER Pilkington International. The history continues with yet more merges you can discover for yourself at Sediver's own Sediver Internationalhtm company history page (archived). This story doesn't have an end because Sediver remains alive and well today: click here to visit the official company site.

SediverWhen complete suspension units were produced, identification is easy: the cap is embossed "EIV YY" or (starting in 1988) "SED YY" where YY is the 2-digit year of manufacture. However, sometimes the bare dielectrics are sold, to be assembled by the purchaser with local metal parts, resulting in hybrid units. As the glass dielectric is typically not marked except for a mold number, the best hope for identification are the characteristic high quality glass and typical 'factory' colors: ice green, green-aqua, and the rarely seen beautiful yellow-green (see comparison pic of last two colors; insulators not to scale).


· P A P E R ·
Sediver high-voltage pin-type insulator for seacoasts and polluted atmospheres
Sediver suspension bell N8R