Spanning more than 350 pages and filled with more than 575 color photos, “Lightning Rod Balls – The Complete Guide” by Phil Steiner and Randy Parish is an important tool for collectors as well as history lovers. Included in the softcover book are price trends, rarity guide, terminology, ball/pendant colors, examples and much more. According to the dedication page, the book, “was written for the novice enthusiast of lightning rod collectibles with the goal of providing an introduction to the amazing variety of colorful and beautiful glass ornaments that make up this hobby.
” Benjamin Franklin, one of our nation’s founding fathers, was also a celebrated scientist, and is credited with the invention of the lightning rod in the 18th century. In the early days, farmers used weathervanes and lightning rods outside as functional pieces. Adding the lightning rod balls brought some beauty to their surroundings, according to the book.
The book details the various styles of lightning rod balls, many of which are quite beautiful – milk glass, colored glass, and some interesting moldings as well. This reporter has seen these pieces at sales and flea markets but wasn’t sure what they were used for. After reading through this book, I confess to having gleaned a better understanding of these delightful, colorful pieces.
The vibrant colors used in the lightning rod balls stand out –cobalt blue, ruby red and amethyst, to name just a few. In addition to using the glass or porce.