4 pin Socket (Actually a Fuse Holder)

[robin coleman]

On a recent Downton Abbey there was what appeared to be a 4 pin ceramic socket about 2 inches across. I have never seen one like this, can anyone shed some light what this would have been used for?

Regards
Robin

[P.Pilcher]

Well, I missed it but it may have been a three phase connector. I would imagine that Highclare Castle is large enough to have its own three phase supplies and there is bound to have been some appliance or other, possibly in the early days which needed its electricity in this form. Three phase motors are much smaller than their single phase counterparts, run more smoothly have a higher starting torque and do not require such additions such as pole shading or capacitors to enable them to start.

P.P.

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
This is an ancient French two pin socket in a house in our village which looks like a four pin one at first glance. The other two 'holes' are fixing screws. Is it anything like the one you saw?
Three phase supplies were far more common in French domestic premises than in the UK. It was mainly used for heating rather than motors.
Cheers, Pete.

[Mr Moose]

Hello,

There were ceramic fuse holders, that look like sockets, that had ceramic covers with four holes in them which could be unscrewed to replace the fuse wire.

They were often mounted in the open near the switch or socket they fused.

I found this picture from the internet

Yours Richard

[emeritus]

The fuse holders in the photo in #4 look like those shown in the 1911 GEC catalogue; 5A rating = 2 1/8" dia, 8A rating = 2 3/8" dia. Higher current versions (10A, 20A) were oblong.

[robin coleman]

That certainly looks like it. It was by the back door so was probably for the outside lights. Another one I will have to look out for for my plug collection.

Regards, Robin.

[robin coleman]

Richard were (where) on the internet did you find this photo.? Aare there any more as I tried looking for them on there?

Regards, Robin?

[Brigham]

Originally Posted by robin coleman

It was by the back door so was probably for the outside lights. Another one I will have to look out for for my plug collection.

Usually found on a square pattress along with a double-pole switch consisting of two linked tumbler switches; the original 'consumer unit'.

Often seen on internet auction sites; some carry a brass plate for 'Newcastle Electric Supply Co.' or some such.

[emeritus]

Here's the round cut-outs and double switches from the 1911-12 GEC catalogue.

[robin coleman]

In the end I bought the one in Richard's picture from eBay. another one for the collection.

Regards, Robin.

[robin coleman]

Very nice catalogue extract emeritus I wish I could find a copy of these catalogues. I have found a few wiring and repair articles in some of the early Odhams DIY books .
Regards
Robin

[Okto1984]

They look like pepper pots to me.

Seems odd that every light would be individually fused though. Did old bulbs blow fuses often, or perhaps higher amp fuses that could serve a number of bulbs were harder to make/obtain back then?

[Mr Moose]

Hello,

Here are some more pictures of similar fuses owned by a friend of mine.
I have removed the cover to reveal the insides.

Yours, Richard

[robin coleman]

Thank you for those pictures. They are built similarly to the ceiling roses I have in my collection. I love the white ivory dolly switch in the photo, the switch for the upper classes an old electrician friend of mine called them. One of the switches I still have missing from my collection.

Regards, Robin.

[emeritus]

The fuses in the photos have a continuous bridge, whereas the GEC ones (which seem to be made by "RT", and patented by RT if you zoom in on the woodcut picture) have a gap in the bridge to accommodate the fuse wire.

One of my old catalogues shows a house wiring diagram (for a private installation) with individual fuse links at each switch, but in the opposite wire from the switch, to facilitate isolation of each branch for testing. This was in the era when wiring was by individual wires laid in pairs of grooves on strips of wood and coved with a wood cap.

[robin coleman]

This is getting interesting when considering the days when they fused live and neutral. Emeritus, could you do me a scan of the house wiring as I would be very interested in it.

Regards, Robin.

[emeritus]

The house (and warehouse) wiring plan is in the GEC 1893 catalogue. PDF attached. I have incuded other pages from that section with pricing estimates.

There are also extensive tables of contemporary wire data that I can post if of interest. They supplied a number of different grades of cable, at 150M, 300M, 400M and 800M Ohm insulation ratings, at correspondingly progressively increasing cost. Electrolier cables were rated at 2,000 MOhm, with 5,000 MOhm available to special order. Various conduit wiring systems were also available, including a flexible conduit system using bitumen-impregnated papier maché.

[robin coleman]

I find all things electrical very interesting as I played with quite a few old electrical fittings as a child. My grandfather got many such articles as scrap including old gas mantle fittings and old witnesses to take the parts out of to add to my Radionics set.

Regards, Robin

[Herald1360]

Fascinating!

What is particularly interesting is the tacit assumption that a private house lit by electricity would be either very large or a mansion!

[Station X]

old witnesses to take the parts out of

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