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an interesting piece of glass. A small amount of uranium oxide is added to the molten
glass mixture. This makes vaseline glass fluoresce unbelievably bright
yellow-green under longwave ultraviolet.
Vaseline glass was used in making insulators that support high voltage
power lines on utility poles. During an electrical storm, lightning may strike the
power lines, causing some insulators to break down and develop cracks. Any insulators
that has cracks often cause problems, such as radio & TV interference
or power loss through cracked insulators.
Most power line insulators are usually
made of porcelain, which are dark brown
or light gray. Small hairline cracks are sometimes difficult to
find.
If the insulators were made of vaseline
glass. These hairline cracks are easily
seen under longwave ultraviolet light. The only drawback is, it has
to
be done at night.
Vaseline glass also used in antique glassware started far back as 1820.