What is this??

[parsniiips]

I've often noticed these on some old houses around where I live and I've always wondered what they actually are, or were for? They are always just under the roof near the gutter. Most of them look very old and rusty.

Houses were built 1920-30.

They look like some kind of candle /lamp holder ?

I'm clueless and it's starting to bug me every time I see one

It's for telephone wires from the telegraph pole.

Insulator for old electricity connection I think. They come in lots of colours, we used to find them as kids on waste ground around our village or digging in gardens.

Ohhhhh ok! Thank you.

I can sleep at night now