Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Alvin · 10th Dec 2011, 11:08 pm

I bought this curiosity at a car boot sale the other day - the seller had two of them last week but by the time I'd trekked round I forgot to go back and talk money with him so was pleased to see he had one left this week and 20 shillings changed hands.

I've not heard of Brit/Lektrik before, it appears to be designed for surface mounting rather than to split a single wall socket 5 ways but would that be for the domestic environment or did it have some industrial or maybe theatre application?

Alvin

Lucien Nunes · 11th Dec 2011, 1:30 am

That's an unusual adaptor. Lektrik was a brand of A. P. Lundberg under which they sold a wide range of electrical fittings including some unusual and complicated switches etc., the significance of Brit escapes me.

I expect the idea was to run a flex to an inline domino-style socket fitted onto the two pins, rather than to insert it into a fixed socket, much as we would use a multiway trailing socket today but with a detachable cable. I suspect it was for domestic and general usage - there wouldn't really have been an application for it in the theatrical lighting systems of the era.

I think you were lucky, I'd have snapped them both up the moment I saw them.

Lucien

Tractorfan · 11th Dec 2011, 11:42 am

Hi,
Certainly unusual, I've never seen one before. Definitely meant to be screwed to a skirting board. Is it for 5amp plugs or 15amp ones? Yes, I'd have grabbed the two of them too. It'd be interesting if another forum member bought t'other one

.
Cheers, Pete

Alvin · 19th Dec 2011, 8:10 pm

It's 5 amp.

Alvin

D.Finney · 29th Dec 2011, 11:39 am

A few years ago adaptors were available for converting a standard 3 pin 13 amp plug into a 2 pin shaver socket. Could this be something similar perhaps for use in a barber's shop?

10th Dec 2011, 11:08 pm	#1
Alvin Heptode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: East London, UK. Posts: 761	Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter I bought this curiosity at a car boot sale the other day - the seller had two of them last week but by the time I'd trekked round I forgot to go back and talk money with him so was pleased to see he had one left this week and 20 shillings changed hands. I've not heard of Brit/Lektrik before, it appears to be designed for surface mounting rather than to split a single wall socket 5 ways but would that be for the domestic environment or did it have some industrial or maybe theatre application? Alvin Attached Thumbnails

11th Dec 2011, 1:30 am	#2
Lucien Nunes Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2,508	Re: Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter That's an unusual adaptor. Lektrik was a brand of A. P. Lundberg under which they sold a wide range of electrical fittings including some unusual and complicated switches etc., the significance of Brit escapes me. I expect the idea was to run a flex to an inline domino-style socket fitted onto the two pins, rather than to insert it into a fixed socket, much as we would use a multiway trailing socket today but with a detachable cable. I suspect it was for domestic and general usage - there wouldn't really have been an application for it in the theatrical lighting systems of the era. I think you were lucky, I'd have snapped them both up the moment I saw them. Lucien

11th Dec 2011, 11:42 am	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter Hi, Certainly unusual, I've never seen one before. Definitely meant to be screwed to a skirting board. Is it for 5amp plugs or 15amp ones? Yes, I'd have grabbed the two of them too. It'd be interesting if another forum member bought t'other one. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

19th Dec 2011, 8:10 pm	#4
Alvin Heptode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: East London, UK. Posts: 761	Re: Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter It's 5 amp. Alvin

29th Dec 2011, 11:39 am	#5
D.Finney Pentode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 147	Re: Brit/Lektrik 5-Way Adapter A few years ago adaptors were available for converting a standard 3 pin 13 amp plug into a 2 pin shaver socket. Could this be something similar perhaps for use in a barber's shop?