Bakelite pendant bayonet caps/connectors. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

whyperion · 12th Nov 2012, 12:05 pm

While looking for something else I found one of my mini piles of Bakelite I have hung onto. What's unusual, or not, all four and a half are different designs. One is embossed Crabtree, one does not have a permanent lampshade ring, some don't have brass circular inserts - just the spring loaded pips. Having had modern plastic in some new installations crumble already, are these safe and OK to use?

Herald1360 · 12th Nov 2012, 1:25 pm

I wouldn't use ones with no reinforcing insert on anything over about 40W. Should be fine with low energy bulbs, though. They would have been cheap ones when new, though they would still have lasted a year or two.

mike_newcomb · 12th Nov 2012, 5:23 pm

Hi Whyperion,

suggest not throwing any lampholder (or part) away, unless it has really 'had it'.

Reason is, that while the threads look the same, often there are slight differences such that parts are not easy (or impossible) to interchange with another lampholder.

Good Luck - Mike

12th Nov 2012, 6:18 pm

Keep them, better made than anything done today. Funny we have safe shuttered 13A sockets but light bulb holders let you stick a finger right on the mains.

Tractorfan · 12th Nov 2012, 6:43 pm

Hi,

Not necessarily. There are lampholders around these days that have a spring loaded disc that shields the live parts (to an extent) if no lamp is fitted. But I don't think they're as common as they ought to be.

Cheers,
Pete

G6Tanuki · 12th Nov 2012, 9:06 pm

Does anyone remember a style of 'safety' BC lampholder where the spring-loaded pins moved in the housing separate from the screw-terminals, in such a way that when the bulb was removed the sprung pins electrically disconnected themselves from the supply?

Only when the bulb was inserted did the pins get pushed up to contact the terminals. I think they were by Crabtree?

robjkmannering · 12th Nov 2012, 10:38 pm

My parents' Christmas tree lights used to have a bakelite bayonet fitment and socket wired as an extension lead. My Father had sellotaped over the terminals at the base just in case anyone picked it up!

Frightening when there were two inquisitive toddlers around.

Rob

12th Nov 2012, 12:05 pm	#1
whyperion Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: London 90% , Northwest England 10% Posts: 386	Bakelite pendant bayonet caps/connectors. While looking for something else I found one of my mini piles of Bakelite I have hung onto. What's unusual, or not, all four and a half are different designs. One is embossed Crabtree, one does not have a permanent lampshade ring, some don't have brass circular inserts - just the spring loaded pips. Having had modern plastic in some new installations crumble already, are these safe and OK to use? Attached Thumbnails

12th Nov 2012, 1:25 pm	#2
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors I wouldn't use ones with no reinforcing insert on anything over about 40W. Should be fine with low energy bulbs, though. They would have been cheap ones when new, though they would still have lasted a year or two. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

12th Nov 2012, 5:23 pm	#3
mike_newcomb Rest in Peace Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West London, UK. Posts: 665	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors Hi Whyperion, suggest not throwing any lampholder (or part) away, unless it has really 'had it'. Reason is, that while the threads look the same, often there are slight differences such that parts are not easy (or impossible) to interchange with another lampholder. Good Luck - Mike

12th Nov 2012, 6:18 pm	#4
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors Keep them, better made than anything done today. Funny we have safe shuttered 13A sockets but light bulb holders let you stick a finger right on the mains.

12th Nov 2012, 6:43 pm	#5
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors Hi, Not necessarily. There are lampholders around these days that have a spring loaded disc that shields the live parts (to an extent) if no lamp is fitted. But I don't think they're as common as they ought to be. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

12th Nov 2012, 9:06 pm	#6
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors Does anyone remember a style of 'safety' BC lampholder where the spring-loaded pins moved in the housing separate from the screw-terminals, in such a way that when the bulb was removed the sprung pins electrically disconnected themselves from the supply? Only when the bulb was inserted did the pins get pushed up to contact the terminals. I think they were by Crabtree?

12th Nov 2012, 10:38 pm	#7
robjkmannering Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 717	Re: Bakelite Pendant Bayonent Caps / Connectors My parents' Christmas tree lights used to have a bakelite bayonet fitment and socket wired as an extension lead. My Father had sellotaped over the terminals at the base just in case anyone picked it up! Frightening when there were two inquisitive toddlers around. Rob