Can you identify this? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

finman13 · 26th Jan 2011, 1:33 am

Hello All,

I am trying to identify this object. Don’t know what it came off of and not sure if it relates to vintage radios or not but I’ll give it a shot.

At the moment this is the only picture I have of the object and I forget what the Pat. Date (info) stamped into the ring around the base is but I do recall that it is pre-1930‘s possibly from 1910-1920. On the face of the knob there is raised lighting bolt embossed within a square.

Any suggestions as to what this might be will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

Station X · 26th Jan 2011, 9:34 am

Looks to me like a dummy switchboard plug. It would be plugged into a switchboard jack to indicate that a line wasn't in service. Later versions were plastic and colour coded.

Alternatively it might be a shorting plug or disconnection plug (dis peg).

If it has a Patent No. on it you can look that up on the web and get a definitive answer.

PJC58-Hythe · 26th Jan 2011, 11:20 am

I agree looks like a switchboard dummy plug, shorting plug or dis peg.

Reminds me of a the manual switchboard at Pirelli in Southampton when I worked for the GPO - I was always amazed that it was still there in the mid 70's!

finman13 · 28th Jan 2011, 12:14 am

Thanks Graham & PJC58-Hythe,

Your observations put me on the right track, I located the pics with the patent date, Jan. 18, 1916. Doing a “Google patent” search with a focus on telephone I found the “Lawton & Spitzer” electric switch (see link).

http://www.google.com/patents?id=d_d...page&q&f=false

One other question....

Do you think that this technology could have been used for something else, such as a master key to an electronic lock box of some sort?

Just wondering & thanks again,

Chris

Station X · 28th Jan 2011, 10:16 am

I remember the switches described in the patent, or at any rate something similar with a thin oblong shank. You pulled out the knob to make the contacts. The "plug" could not be fully withdrawn, but remained in place.

I don't think what you have is part of one of these switches though. The "plug" in the patent has a metallic tip, but yours has an insulating tip.

brianc · 28th Jan 2011, 6:09 pm

Could this be just a part of a switch, similar to those pull switches found in almost every home-built wireless from the 20s and 30s? The metallic ring closes the circuit when pushed in and the insulated tip breaks the circuit when pulled out. It's the contacts that are missing

.

26th Jan 2011, 1:33 am	#1
finman13 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Savannah, GA USA Posts: 2	Can you identify this? Hello All, I am trying to identify this object. Don’t know what it came off of and not sure if it relates to vintage radios or not but I’ll give it a shot. At the moment this is the only picture I have of the object and I forget what the Pat. Date (info) stamped into the ring around the base is but I do recall that it is pre-1930‘s possibly from 1910-1920. On the face of the knob there is raised lighting bolt embossed within a square. Any suggestions as to what this might be will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Chris Attached Thumbnails

26th Jan 2011, 9:34 am	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Can you identify this? Looks to me like a dummy switchboard plug. It would be plugged into a switchboard jack to indicate that a line wasn't in service. Later versions were plastic and colour coded. Alternatively it might be a shorting plug or disconnection plug (dis peg). If it has a Patent No. on it you can look that up on the web and get a definitive answer. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

26th Jan 2011, 11:20 am	#3
PJC58-Hythe Heptode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 632	Re: Can you identify this? I agree looks like a switchboard dummy plug, shorting plug or dis peg. Reminds me of a the manual switchboard at Pirelli in Southampton when I worked for the GPO - I was always amazed that it was still there in the mid 70's!

28th Jan 2011, 12:14 am	#4
finman13 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Savannah, GA USA Posts: 2	Re: Can you identify this? Thanks Graham & PJC58-Hythe, Your observations put me on the right track, I located the pics with the patent date, Jan. 18, 1916. Doing a “Google patent” search with a focus on telephone I found the “Lawton & Spitzer” electric switch (see link). http://www.google.com/patents?id=d_d...page&q&f=false One other question.... Do you think that this technology could have been used for something else, such as a master key to an electronic lock box of some sort? Just wondering & thanks again, Chris Attached Thumbnails

28th Jan 2011, 10:16 am	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Can you identify this? I remember the switches described in the patent, or at any rate something similar with a thin oblong shank. You pulled out the knob to make the contacts. The "plug" could not be fully withdrawn, but remained in place. I don't think what you have is part of one of these switches though. The "plug" in the patent has a metallic tip, but yours has an insulating tip. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

28th Jan 2011, 6:09 pm	#6
brianc Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Burghfield, Reading, Berkshire, UK, Posts: 1,055	Re: Can you identify this? Could this be just a part of a switch, similar to those pull switches found in almost every home-built wireless from the 20s and 30s? The metallic ring closes the circuit when pushed in and the insulated tip breaks the circuit when pulled out. It's the contacts that are missing .