Old 3 pin plug identification sought. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

sashheathcote · 19th Apr 2011, 6:23 pm

hi all,

First time on here...can anyone identify these old plug tops??

manufactured by Britmac I belive?

Many Thanks

Sash

Lucien Nunes · 19th Apr 2011, 8:59 pm

That's a non-standard variant of BS1363, evidently an early one by the use of BSS rather than BS. Since the introduction of the 13A plug to BS1363, some manufacturers have introduced non-standard variants from time to time, for special applications that must not be interchanged with general purpose ones. A typical scenario is clean-earth supplies for sensitive equipment, which can be connected via non-standard sockets to prevent people plugging general appliances into the same circuit.

Different manufacturers have offered proprietary designs based around BS1363 over the years, some of which are distinguished by a peculiar earth pin. Crabtree used a round pin, MK a T-shaped one, Walsall turned all three pins through 90 degrees. Your Britmac plug seems to have a normal earth pin, rotated neutral pin and a live pin similar to a BS546 15A round pin. I haven't seen this layout before.

Do you have any sockets or other plugs to fit them? Oof Oud at the Museum of Plugs and Sockets would be interested! http://www.fam-oud.nl/~plugsocket/

Lucien

audiomagpie · 19th Apr 2011, 9:11 pm

I haven't seen one like that before, but probably used to prohibit use of unauthorized equipment.

A few years ago, we were fitting door entry systems on some local authority owned flats. In the common passage ways and landing areas, there were 13 amp sockets fitted but the live pin was turned by 90 degrees to stop anyone plugging in and powering their flat! Only the cleaners equipment would have the matching plugs. I 'made' one from a standard plug using a large pair of pliers and brute force (sometimes one has to improvise on site

) so we could plug in our drills/radio/hoover and most importantly the kettle! I've kept it in case we ever come across them again:

Greg

G8UWM-MildMartin · 19th Apr 2011, 9:38 pm

The first type was being replaced by the second type at a research establishment in Oxfordshire in 1983 due to obsolescence.
They were used for 110V and had two fuses.

Tractorfan · 20th Apr 2011, 6:58 pm

Hi,
It would be interesting to see the full range of 13amp variants. I've seen ones with normal L & N pins and a round earth pin. And there's a vertical neutral pin and horizontal live pin, vertical neutral & round live pins. The list goes on.
I've got one here with all three pins at right angles to the norm. Yours was made by Britmac.

Cheers, Pete

sashheathcote · 13th May 2011, 6:09 pm

Thanks for the comments, i came across this plug whilst working at Queens medical Centre in Nottingham, there are sockets dotted all around the service voids and plantrooms throught the hospital, these are for 110v power and it makes sence now that maybe these were manufactured as a one off purley for this use, i have been trying to get hold of one for a long time and an engineer down there kindley let me sign one out for a day (only a small number remain)

I think i will need to use Gregs method to get another!

Anyway i will be happy to get in touch with the museum but i dont think the hospital would be too happy about me screwing one off the wall for them!

Thanks

Sash

broadgage · 14th May 2011, 12:42 pm

They are certainly rare, but I doubt that they are unique to that building, probably a few knocking around elswhere.

19th Apr 2011, 6:23 pm	#1
sashheathcote Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: nottingham uk Posts: 2	Old 3 pin plug identification sought. hi all, First time on here...can anyone identify these old plug tops?? manufactured by Britmac I belive? Many Thanks Sash Attached Thumbnails

19th Apr 2011, 8:59 pm	#2
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. That's a non-standard variant of BS1363, evidently an early one by the use of BSS rather than BS. Since the introduction of the 13A plug to BS1363, some manufacturers have introduced non-standard variants from time to time, for special applications that must not be interchanged with general purpose ones. A typical scenario is clean-earth supplies for sensitive equipment, which can be connected via non-standard sockets to prevent people plugging general appliances into the same circuit. Different manufacturers have offered proprietary designs based around BS1363 over the years, some of which are distinguished by a peculiar earth pin. Crabtree used a round pin, MK a T-shaped one, Walsall turned all three pins through 90 degrees. Your Britmac plug seems to have a normal earth pin, rotated neutral pin and a live pin similar to a BS546 15A round pin. I haven't seen this layout before. Do you have any sockets or other plugs to fit them? Oof Oud at the Museum of Plugs and Sockets would be interested! http://www.fam-oud.nl/~plugsocket/ Lucien

19th Apr 2011, 9:11 pm	#3
audiomagpie Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 822	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. I haven't seen one like that before, but probably used to prohibit use of unauthorized equipment. A few years ago, we were fitting door entry systems on some local authority owned flats. In the common passage ways and landing areas, there were 13 amp sockets fitted but the live pin was turned by 90 degrees to stop anyone plugging in and powering their flat! Only the cleaners equipment would have the matching plugs. I 'made' one from a standard plug using a large pair of pliers and brute force (sometimes one has to improvise on site ) so we could plug in our drills/radio/hoover and most importantly the kettle! I've kept it in case we ever come across them again: Greg Attached Thumbnails __________________ Greg BVWS committee chairman

19th Apr 2011, 9:38 pm	#4
G8UWM-MildMartin Heptode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 827	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. The first type was being replaced by the second type at a research establishment in Oxfordshire in 1983 due to obsolescence. They were used for 110V and had two fuses.

20th Apr 2011, 6:58 pm	#5
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,180	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. Hi, It would be interesting to see the full range of 13amp variants. I've seen ones with normal L & N pins and a round earth pin. And there's a vertical neutral pin and horizontal live pin, vertical neutral & round live pins. The list goes on. I've got one here with all three pins at right angles to the norm. Yours was made by Britmac. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

13th May 2011, 6:09 pm	#6
sashheathcote Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: nottingham uk Posts: 2	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. Thanks for the comments, i came across this plug whilst working at Queens medical Centre in Nottingham, there are sockets dotted all around the service voids and plantrooms throught the hospital, these are for 110v power and it makes sence now that maybe these were manufactured as a one off purley for this use, i have been trying to get hold of one for a long time and an engineer down there kindley let me sign one out for a day (only a small number remain) I think i will need to use Gregs method to get another! Anyway i will be happy to get in touch with the museum but i dont think the hospital would be too happy about me screwing one off the wall for them! Thanks Sash

14th May 2011, 12:42 pm	#7
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,129	Re: Old 3 pin plug identification sought. They are certainly rare, but I doubt that they are unique to that building, probably a few knocking around elswhere.