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The Museum of the Tambov power system, opened by IDGC of Centre - Tambovenergo division, got for its fifth anniversary a rare gift from Vice-Governor of the Tambov region Igor Kulakov. The representative of the regional administration, who oversees the region’s Energy and Utilities, donated to the establishment a ceramic insulator of the era of Emperor Nicholas II coated with symbols of Tsarist Russia (double-headed eagle with scepter and orb on the blue mark).
Such devices were produced in the Russian Empire from 1862, and in large quantities - at the end of the XIX century. Engraving "T-va M.S.K." on the insulator indicates that it was made by "Partnership Matthew Sidorovich Kuznetsov" - a known businessman and philanthropist who owned in pre-revolutionary Russia several factories to produce porcelain and semiporcelain. Apart from him, ceramic insulators were produced by partnership Kornilov Brothers, glassworks of Nechayev-Maltsov, plant of F.E. Yemelyanov in Murje.
"History of the exhibit is unique," says Igor Kulakov. "It was found in one of the storage areas of Kotovsky nonwoven plant, and stored in the home collection. I decided to give it to the museum after visiting its exhibition I saw in it the pre-revolutionary insulators. I am convinced that this sample will take its rightful place near them.
The Museum of the Tambov power system was opened in 2010, for the 50th anniversary of Tambovenergo. Its exhibition, housed in the building of the executive office of the company, is devoted to the formation and development of the energy sector in the region. On the site of the museum there are thematic exhibitions and on Open Doors Days there are guided tours for schoolchildren, students of post-secondary and higher education institutions.