Lightning Rod Balls

I'm one of those people who really likes to watch educational shows on television.  If it is on Discovery or the History Channel, there's a good chance I'll stop to watch it.  When I find antique collectibles related to science, they almost always catch my attention.  That is how it was with lightning rod balls.


If you have never heard of a lightning rod ball, you are certainly not alone.  Many people do not even know what a lightning rod is, so many of these decorative add-ons probably get passed up at flea markets or estate sales just because no one knows exactly what the heck they are!  If you are a seller of collectibles on eBay, you might want to learn a little bit about these before you head out to your next farm house estate sale.

We are all taught when we are young that it isn't safe to run around outside during an electrical storm.  Lightning is a dangerous thing.  People figured out a long time ago that those unpredictable electrical charges are more likely to hit targets that are both made from metal and placed high above their surroundings.  That is the idea behind using lightning rods.  The thinking goes that if lightning is going to hit, we are much better off having it hit the lightning rod which will then lead the electricity safely to the ground rather than to the building itself which could catch on fire.  Many homes and other buildings (like barns) have had these installed on them for hundreds of years.

Lightning rod balls are an ornamental addition that came about to decorate the ever so useful rods.  These antique balls are one of those uncommon collectibles that are very popular and much sought after within their niche, but seldom noticed by those without a specific interest in them.  This is great news if you are looking for items to sell and get out to a lot of estate sales.  You should definitely consider adding this to your list of things to watch for when you are browsing.  Chances are that many people will not even know what these lighting rod balls are, but they can be very pretty, so it is possible that someone might pick them up just because they look like an attractive "knick knack" that they can stick somewhere in their home.

If you are a collector of these balls, then you probably already know that one of the best places to check for hard to find collectible items is eBay.  As I've mentioned in other posts, it is a lot like a giant online garage sale that is open 24 hours per day.  Being able to find such a nice collection of lightning rod balls in one place is a great example of why it is a must check resource for anything out of the ordinary (and more common items too).

Tags: Collectibles, eBay, estate sale, garage sale, garage sale treasure, lightning rod, lightning rod ball, lightning rod balls, lightning rods, vintage lightning rod ball