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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets. |
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22nd Aug 2008, 11:38 am | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,127
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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.
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22nd Aug 2008, 12:08 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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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.
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If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments. |
22nd Aug 2008, 1:06 pm | #3 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,127
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Re: Bakelite 4-pin connector
Quote:
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:
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Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
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23rd Aug 2008, 9:39 am | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 613
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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 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,127
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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.
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Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |