Bakelite 4-pin connector - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dave Moll · 22nd Aug 2008, 11:38 am

I think this could be classed as a compenent...

I couldn't resist temptation yesterday at my local auction and bought a toolbox largely filled with old bakelite plugs, sockets, adaptors etc.

Along with all the usual 5-amp and 15-amp stuff, I found the connector pictured below, of which I have never seen the like before - and I would love to find out a bit more about it (such as what it would have been used for).

The larger terminal on the left is marked with an earth symbol (and the corresponding position on the other moulding - not visible without x-ray vision - confirms this with the letter "E"). Despite appearances, the other three terminals are the same size - the right-hand one looks larger simply because the middle two are set further back.

julie_m · 22nd Aug 2008, 12:08 pm

The fact that the pins are recessed into the housing suggests it's definitely for taking power into an appliance.

It's most probably a sewing machine connector. It would have carried two three-core cables, hence the wide entry slot; one from the mains with steady live (needed for the lamp), neutral and earth; and one to/from the foot pedal, with steady and switched lives and earth. The earth pin is a different size for polarisation, and to ensure that it engages first.

Dave Moll · 22nd Aug 2008, 1:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajs_derby

The fact that the pins are recessed into the housing suggests it's definitely for taking power into an appliance.

Yes, I should have said that the "pins" are female, so this clearly is (as suggested) the half of the connector which would be connected to the appliance rather than the supply.

And yes, neutral, live and switched live was my thought for the use of the other three connections.

Incidentally, even without the earth connector being bigger, the plug would be non-reversible owing to the offset of the two middle pins.

Here's the end-on view:

Mike-repairman · 23rd Aug 2008, 9:39 am

Yes, it's a sewing machine connector, probably 50's to 60's.
The modern ones are a lot larger and fancy now.
Mike.

Dave Moll · 23rd Aug 2008, 12:54 pm

As we've established that it's for a sewing machine (although the Singer electric sewing machines in my collection use a 3-pin connector and no earth

) and not related to the areas of interest of this forum, I'll draw this query to a close with thanks to those who have replied.

22nd Aug 2008, 11:38 am	#1
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Bakelite 4-pin connector I think this could be classed as a compenent... I couldn't resist temptation yesterday at my local auction and bought a toolbox largely filled with old bakelite plugs, sockets, adaptors etc. Along with all the usual 5-amp and 15-amp stuff, I found the connector pictured below, of which I have never seen the like before - and I would love to find out a bit more about it (such as what it would have been used for). The larger terminal on the left is marked with an earth symbol (and the corresponding position on the other moulding - not visible without x-ray vision - confirms this with the letter "E"). Despite appearances, the other three terminals are the same size - the right-hand one looks larger simply because the middle two are set further back. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

22nd Aug 2008, 12:08 pm	#2
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Bakelite 4-pin connector The fact that the pins are recessed into the housing suggests it's definitely for taking power into an appliance. It's most probably a sewing machine connector. It would have carried two three-core cables, hence the wide entry slot; one from the mains with steady live (needed for the lamp), neutral and earth; and one to/from the foot pedal, with steady and switched lives and earth. The earth pin is a different size for polarisation, and to ensure that it engages first. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

23rd Aug 2008, 9:39 am	#4
Mike-repairman Heptode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 613	Re: Bakelite 4-pin connector Yes, it's a sewing machine connector, probably 50's to 60's. The modern ones are a lot larger and fancy now. Mike.

23rd Aug 2008, 12:54 pm	#5
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,127	Re: Bakelite 4-pin connector As we've established that it's for a sewing machine (although the Singer electric sewing machines in my collection use a 3-pin connector and no earth) and not related to the areas of interest of this forum, I'll draw this query to a close with thanks to those who have replied. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)