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Old 22nd Jun 2012, 12:47 pm   #1
Herald1360
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Default Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I picked this up yesterday from my sister's place- thanks Pamphonica and the FCS

Well worth it (to me anyway)- highlights include a lovely "dinky" Grelco two way adaptor (2A 3-pin round type) with a Crabtree switched socket to plug it into, several of those spike onto a flat twin cable type bayonet lampholders (as used on building sites and chunky fairy light strings) plus various assorted bayonet-2-pin adaptors and plugs and some fascinating dross to paw over.

I never was an anorak person, but after years in wax jackets I have a sudden nostalgia for another Donkey Jacket.....
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Old 24th Jun 2012, 7:26 pm   #2
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Got any nice pictures?
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Old 24th Jun 2012, 8:04 pm   #3
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

All right, here goes:

Mini Grelco with socket and 15A plug for scale

Spike on line bulb holders and other odds.
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Old 25th Jun 2012, 10:43 am   #4
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Heck, I remember most of those! Second from the the left on photo 2; used to have a electric fire plugged into light socket in the 50s.
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Old 25th Jun 2012, 12:34 pm   #5
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I hope it was only 750W or so
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Old 25th Jun 2012, 12:47 pm   #6
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I have and brand new (NOS) example of the bakelite light switch on the LHS of picture 2.

It's in perfect condition but I just haven't thought of a use for it yet.

Colin M
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Old 25th Jun 2012, 4:58 pm   #7
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Use it for the bypass switch on your lamp limiter?
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Old 26th Jun 2012, 10:54 am   #8
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Smile Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Hi,
That switch-socket was made by Crabtree and I have a couple of flush versions of it. Interestingly, I also have a couple of 2amp two way adaptors made by MK and they were actually designed to fit the angled Crabtree socket without fouling the switch! I got the adaptors before getting the sockets and wondered about the odd shape of the body. I think, perhaps, the socket was angled so as not to kink the flex too much when the socket was mounted low on the skirting board.
I'll post a couple of pics.
The Duraplug 15amp plug was (still is?) very popular for theatre lighting. Yours might be marked "Hercules" and sold through Woolworths.
Cheers, Pete
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Old 26th Jun 2012, 12:34 pm   #9
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Yes, I saw Crabtree moulded into the porcelain bit of the socket.

The 15A rubber plug didn't come with the other bits, I just used it for scale in the picture. There was a 15A plug with a missing pin though

Re theatre lighting, ISTR that "Grelco" is used in that area as a generic term for two way adaptor (like "Hoover" in domestic parlance for vacuum cleaner). At least it was when I was at uni.

Off topic anecdote:

I heard that a present day techie in said dramatic society was heard to wonder why the small storeroom next to the tech workshop was known as the "choke" room. I knew- it originally (and still did when I was there) contained the saturable reactors (chokes) which were the main dimming elements of the state of the art (in 1956 or thereabouts) stage lighting control system. I replaced a few dead selenium rectifiers in the dc saturation current drives with 1N4007s during my techie tenure in the '70s.
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Old 27th Jun 2012, 8:08 am   #10
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Smile Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Hi,
I think (I may be wrong) that "Grelco" was one of the few companies that made two way adaptors for two 15amp plugs especially for theatre use. Possible out of tough rubber.
I have a bakelite two way 15amp adaptor made by "Clang". Never seen another one, though. It's on the right of the picture.
Cheers, Pete
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Old 27th Jun 2012, 12:34 pm   #11
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Yes Grelco certainly did make 2*15A adaptors- they look just like the little 2A one only bigger. I don't think they ever did rubber ones, certainly we just used the big bakelite ones. They were pretty tough unless they landed on concrete!

Interestingly a Google image search for 15A Grelco turns up many pictures, but none of them seem to be actual Grelco manufactured specimens. There is one of the Clang ones called a Grelco, though.
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Old 2nd Jul 2012, 11:28 am   #12
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Herald1360 View Post
Use it for the bypass switch on your lamp limiter?
Good idea Chris.
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Old 4th Jul 2012, 12:56 am   #13
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I have a genuine Grelco 15A 2 way adaptor that came with my present house. 15A in, to either 15A or 5A 3 pin, plus either 10/15A or 5A 2 pin. When I rewired my house I used one of the old 15A switched sockets for the output from a wall-mounted battery charger [via a lamp board to control charging current], and the 2-pin sockets of the adaptor provide a convenient connection for the croc clips of a voltmeter.
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Old 4th Jul 2012, 1:29 pm   #14
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

That's an interesting one! I've only ever seen the variety with two 3-pin 15/5 amp outlets one straight through and the other on the angled side position.

Maybe we should start a new thread on "Original Grelcos"
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Old 4th Jul 2012, 2:48 pm   #15
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I still have one of those Crabtree switches functioning in my house - I originally installed it many years ago.

Peter
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Old 4th Jul 2012, 7:36 pm   #16
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Smile Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Hi,
A "Grelco" thread would be interesting. I've got some Grelco barrier terminal blocks of various lengths. I've also got a 2-way 5amp adaptor that will accept a 2amp plug as well. Oh, and a Grelco 2-way 15amp 2pin adaptor as well. Sad, isn't it?
Cheers, Pete
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Old 5th Jul 2012, 9:07 am   #17
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

I remember seeing 2 pin, 15 amp outlets installed in an old large country house.
The premises originaly had no grid supply but was reliant on private generating plant and a battery bank, at a nominal 110 volts DC.

AFAIR, the lighting circuits, including both fixed lights and 2 amp lighting sockets were live 24/7, from the battery when the engine was not running.

The 15 amp sockets were designated "power" and only energised when the engine was running, so as to avoid excessive load on the battery.

The lighting circuits had a regulated voltage, the power outlets would vary a bit according to conditions, probably up to 150 volts when the dynamo was charging the battery, and the battery was nearly full..

The prime mover was probably a steam traction engine originaly, but a diesel had been fitted.
When I viewed the installation in about 1975 it had only recently been taken out of use.
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Old 5th Jul 2012, 12:45 pm   #18
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Default Re: Old case with electrical odds and ends.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tractorfan View Post
Hi,
A "Grelco" thread would be interesting. I've got some Grelco barrier terminal blocks of various lengths. I've also got a 2-way 5amp adaptor that will accept a 2amp plug as well. Oh, and a Grelco 2-way 15amp 2pin adaptor as well. Sad, isn't it?
Cheers, Pete
OK then, here we go:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...891#post541891
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