Very early switch. General Electric London. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

greenstar · 15th May 2014, 11:02 am

I'm not sure of the best place for this post - could be test gear, electrical, domestic, etc!
From the NVCF I had a delightful crystal set that turns out to work well - with a diode - this set I find interesting for a number of reasons. As it's homebrew, I think i can tinker and 'improve' it. It's surprisingly loud, but not very selective. Single circuit with a low loss coil, switched with this interesting switch.

The switch. Finely made, solid, smooth, lovely. I would be very interested to find out anything about it. Single pole six way, the bottom contact shorts it out. Labelled, General Electric London. What might it be from? Looks pre 1920, or from an item of lab gear/industrial electrical .. can't be high voltage as all contacts very near the fingers. Even by 1900's H&S. Suspect therefore some sort of radio gear.
Tony

Peter.N. · 15th May 2014, 1:02 pm

Victorian engineering (well almost) designed to last.

Peter

Radio Wrangler · 15th May 2014, 1:13 pm

I'd suspect it was part of a wheatstone bridge or some sort of telephone/telegraph test set

David

greenstar · 15th May 2014, 10:44 pm

I wondered if it being General Electric London would give any clues - as to what they manufactured, when etc - but little on Google.

15th May 2014, 11:02 am	#1
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,685	Very early switch. General Electric London. I'm not sure of the best place for this post - could be test gear, electrical, domestic, etc! From the NVCF I had a delightful crystal set that turns out to work well - with a diode - this set I find interesting for a number of reasons. As it's homebrew, I think i can tinker and 'improve' it. It's surprisingly loud, but not very selective. Single circuit with a low loss coil, switched with this interesting switch. The switch. Finely made, solid, smooth, lovely. I would be very interested to find out anything about it. Single pole six way, the bottom contact shorts it out. Labelled, General Electric London. What might it be from? Looks pre 1920, or from an item of lab gear/industrial electrical .. can't be high voltage as all contacts very near the fingers. Even by 1900's H&S. Suspect therefore some sort of radio gear. Tony Attached Thumbnails

15th May 2014, 1:02 pm	#2
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Very early switch. General Electric London. Victorian engineering (well almost) designed to last. Peter

15th May 2014, 1:13 pm	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,903	Re: Very early switch. General Electric London. I'd suspect it was part of a wheatstone bridge or some sort of telephone/telegraph test set David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

15th May 2014, 10:44 pm	#4
greenstar Octode Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Leicester, Leics. UK. Posts: 1,685	Re: Very early switch. General Electric London. I wondered if it being General Electric London would give any clues - as to what they manufactured, when etc - but little on Google.