Lightning Rod balls are glass globes molded in many colors, sizes and shapes.

In the middle to late 1800's and beyond many companies that manufactured lightning rods commissioned glass companies to produce the ornaments for the rods known as Lightning Rod Balls. Traveling salesman would then go to the farms and houses in the Midwest and sell their wares. When they sat at the kitchen table with the farmer and his wife they would talk about the dangers of lightning strikes, how their rods would protect their homes and out buildings, and also how decorative the rods would look with their balls on the rods. There were always many colors to choose from and many had the name of the company selling the rods embossed in the glass. Some had beautiful shapes that may have been a selling point for their particular system. I equate this with the lawn ornaments and yard landscaping of today.