UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items

Notices

Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 5th Mar 2012, 11:14 pm   #101
unabridged
Tetrode
 
unabridged's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 88
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tractorfan View Post
2. W&G used to make sockets with shutters that twisted sideways when a plug was inserted. OK with ungrooved earth pins, but grooved Crabtree plugs would get stuck and could not be removed. I know, 'cos I've done it!
Cheers, Pete

Four years ago, back when I was in Sixth Form, we used to help our friend's Grandad out every few weeks by mowing his lawn on our lunch break, as he lived just down from school. I often used to take up the task of strimming with his Homebase strimmer. To power up, we had to plug into a 5A socket in the side passage, into which the man had a 5A to 13A socket flylead permanently plugged in. At the time I thought nothing of it, as it was an old estate and even my school had employed the odd 15 or 5A to 13A socket adapters in older parts.

And that was that. A few years later however I received a phone call from a completely unrelated friend, who had nothing to do with my school, schoolfriends nor the Grandad in question. Dave informed me that he had bought a new house and there was some old electrical paraphernalia that I was welcome to if I wished. When he told me where his house was, I was amazed and shocked to discover it was the house I used to mow the lawn at!

I went down and explained to Dave that coincidentally, I used to mow the lawn here. Low and behold the old 5A socket and adapter were still in situ. Dave allowed me to have the entire setup.

All that aside, I believe it is the type you describe with rotating shutters, quite odd I thought on such an old fitting! Will get a photo of it up on here tomorrow.

Dave also gave me an amazing 1930's electric drill that was in the loft there that looks like an airship!
unabridged is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2012, 12:44 am   #102
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,526
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by unabridged View Post
Dave also gave me an amazing 1930's electric drill that was in the loft there that looks like an airship!
How about a new thread on vintage drills? With piccies of course!
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2012, 1:09 am   #103
teetoon
Heptode
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Barnstaple, N.Devon, UK.
Posts: 556
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Hi Chris, I'd love to see a collection of old drill pics! I've got a Hoover drill amongst my small collection.
David
teetoon is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2012, 1:10 am   #104
unabridged
Tetrode
 
unabridged's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 88
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by unabridged View Post
How about a new thread on vintage drills? With piccies of course!
Will get on it tomorrow!
unabridged is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2012, 10:50 pm   #105
unabridged
Tetrode
 
unabridged's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 88
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

As promised I have started a new thread. Also, found the socket in question.

I notice on the back it is made by W&G Goltone. It's odd how all these companies seemed to come together.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	DSCF2028.jpg
Views:	315
Size:	73.5 KB
ID:	63531  
unabridged is offline  
Old 12th Mar 2012, 12:24 am   #106
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Re ~84 to 86, I have now unearthed my copy of Loring's book, and it does indeed refer to Benzine with an "i". It seems to be the domestic chemical as it says "The well is partly filled with benzine (a liquid hydrocarbon), and as every housewife knows, benzine is not exactly a thing to be played with."

Benzine was used in two distinct stages: first the filament assembly was clamped adjacent the platinum-carbon junctions using a "bridging piece", immersed in liquid benzine, and a high current passed sufficient to make the platinum glow white hot under the liquid to deposit carbon over the junctions. Flashing proper was carred out in benzine vapour in a bell jar, current being cut off automatically when the current [= filament resistance] reached the desired level. An air pump was used to extract the hydrogen gas that was produced as a consequence of the disassociation. Subsequent testing included running at 50% over-voltage.

Something I hadn't noticed before was the reject rate: GEC were evidently proud of the quality of their "Robertson" lamps, and more than 33% of production was rejected! Production figures [ 1904] were about 4 million/year, 95% with the standard BC base.
emeritus is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2012, 2:36 pm   #107
emeritus
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,316
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

I have one of those 5A Crabtree plugs. I always wondered why the earth pin was hollow.

The attached extracts from the 1936 Bulgin catalogue may be of interest. They show all the pages that include connectors.

This was apparently the year that the well-known Bulgin 3 pin mains connector was introduced. Interestingly enough, it seems that the enlarged ridge of the female socket was not primarily designed to provide a finger grip. According to the technical data section, it could provide a locking function for the back panel, evidently to ensure mains disconnection before the panel could be removed.


There is also a fused 2 pin 5A mains plug to the normal BS gauge that took 2 x 1" fuses, apparently of the present BS1362 dimensions, but of glass construction. Could this be the first fused mains plug?

Does anyone know what the R.C.M.F was? The fuses are said to comply with B.S.I. and R.C.M.F specifications but searching the web for the initials R.C.M.F. drew a blank.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Bulgin 1936 plugs.pdf (1.59 MB, 599 views)

Last edited by emeritus; 13th Mar 2012 at 2:51 pm.
emeritus is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2012, 2:57 pm   #108
Station X
Moderator
 
Station X's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,192
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Radio Component Manufacturers Federation??
__________________
Graham. Forum Moderator

Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.
Station X is online now  
Old 13th Mar 2012, 3:35 pm   #109
Lucien Nunes
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 2,508
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

GEC were certainly making plugs with DP cartridge fusing before then, with two or three pins and 5 or 15A gauge. Cartridges were offered as 1, 2 or 5A IIRC. Other manufacturers were probably doing the same.

Prior to these there was a plug with internal rewireable fuse, I cannot recall the maker or whether it was a product on general sale or just a concept piece.

Lucien
Lucien Nunes is offline  
Old 13th Mar 2012, 7:39 pm   #110
MrElectronicman
Heptode
 
MrElectronicman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington DC, USA
Posts: 619
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by emeritus View Post
The attached extracts from the 1936 Bulgin catalogue
I still have some of these connectors. The catalogue is very interesting, brings back a few memories
__________________
David
MrElectronicman is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2012, 9:43 pm   #111
AndiiT
Octode
 
AndiiT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK.
Posts: 1,784
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by hannahs radios View Post
I can remember when I was in Brompton hospital in London in about 1979 the sockets for the portable X-ray machines looked like they were 30 amp round pin jobs. They definitely seemed larger than the 15 amp type we had at home.
Hi,
I have just returned from visiting my daughter and my first grandchild in St. James Hospital, Leeds and noticed a number of sockets marked specifically for use with X-Ray machines which look like the 30 amp ones described above.

Andrew
AndiiT is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2012, 10:15 pm   #112
Tractorfan
Dekatron
 
Tractorfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.)
Posts: 3,177
Smile Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Hi,
The hospital I worked at had those 30amp sockets in the older parts and I think they had an interlocked switch above the socket. Later on special 13amp sized plugs were introduced that were designed to take extra thick cable. They were of an unusual shape, red and unfused. Possibly made by Walsall. Some sockets above the beds had red switch rockers and I assume these were fed from a dedicated supply for the portable X-ray machines. Of course, the machine could be used from any 13amp socket in an emergency.
Cheers, Pete
__________________
"Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."
Tractorfan is offline  
Old 16th Mar 2012, 11:25 pm   #113
AndiiT
Octode
 
AndiiT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK.
Posts: 1,784
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

The sockets in the hospital mentioned were mounted on a large metal plate, around the size of a 15" laptop screen (it's the only thing I can think of at the moment for comparison purposes), just above floor level with a large rotary on/off switch, with a pointed knob mounted on the same plate.

The sockets themselves were made of some kind of hard plastic (or Bakelite) material and just looked like overgrown 15 amp ones!!

Andrew
AndiiT is offline  
Old 17th Mar 2012, 5:13 pm   #114
broadgage
Nonode
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Quote:
Originally Posted by John_BS View Post
Many years ago I bought a few NOS 13A plugs & matching sockets (from Proops, probably...). Made by MK, with silver-plated blades. I used a couple to add switched mains out to the back of an amplifier. The plug contains a standard BS mains fuse.
These, or something very similar were used on exhibition stands until at the least the 1980s and perhaps latter. The sockets were built into the top of sectional, re-useable wall panels, power being supplied by cable or flex concealed with the hollow panel.

Illuminated signs and the like could then be plugged in and hung from or fixed to the wall panels.
Sometimes, wall sections were equipped with 2 sockets and one trailing plug, thereby permitting of a number being daisy chained together, only the end panel needing a mains supply.

I recall a tedious day making jumper cables for these in various permutations,
It was the day of the great storm in 1987! which is the only reason I recall the date.
broadgage is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2012, 9:10 am   #115
ppppenguin
Retired Dormant Member
 
ppppenguin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

I acquired a box of assorted electrical fittings yesterday. The 2 most interesting were a rather nice brass lampholder with a pull chain and a plug that could be converted from 5A 2pin to BC adaptor by twisting the top.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	lampholder.jpg
Views:	236
Size:	86.5 KB
ID:	64598   Click image for larger version

Name:	adapt1.jpg
Views:	229
Size:	67.1 KB
ID:	64599   Click image for larger version

Name:	adapt2.jpg
Views:	240
Size:	71.6 KB
ID:	64600   Click image for larger version

Name:	adapt3.jpg
Views:	232
Size:	72.2 KB
ID:	64601  
ppppenguin is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2012, 12:29 pm   #116
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,526
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

I'd be inclined to add a bit of insulating string to that chain if I were to put that switched bulb holder into service

The metal bit would still be useful where it dangles past a hot bulb, though.
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2012, 12:38 pm   #117
ppppenguin
Retired Dormant Member
 
ppppenguin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: North London, UK.
Posts: 6,168
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

It's odd that the chain emerges *sideways* from the fitting. This makes it harder to pull when the lamp is mounted in the usual cap up or cap down positions.
ppppenguin is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2012, 5:29 pm   #118
Brigham
Octode
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,111
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

This type of holder is very common in the US, albeit for Edison caps. One is taught as a child not to pull the chain with wet hands.
Brigham is offline  
Old 2nd Apr 2012, 6:57 pm   #119
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,526
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

Maybe it was deliberately intended to swing the bulb out of the way when you pull the chain

Difficult to see how else you could do it in such a way that nothing swung about.
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 3rd Apr 2012, 12:21 am   #120
Lucien Nunes
Rest in Peace
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 2,508
Default Re: Another unusual plug and some other questions

I think the cord entry is arranged like that because the alternate action mechanism relies on a rotating ring or arm from which the cord exits tangentially. There were other types of lampholder attachment that had some kind of radial cord configuration, such as the Dim-A-Lite resistance dimmer on which the whole outside of the body rotates carrying the resistance studs past brushes on the stationary core. Here the cords exit through two fairleads on arms attached to the bayonet plug. It does indeed cause the fitting to swing when operated, however it works well in a standard lamp.

Is that convertible adaptor gadget a Lundberg product by any chance? I have one with the same BC / 5A contact arrangement but without the twisty top. The pins are extended or retracted by pressing in a locking lever and telescoping the body. It's certainly much less clumsy than the traditional BC-5A converter attached to the 5A plug by a piece of string.

Lucien
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Dim A Lite 1.jpg
Views:	274
Size:	154.4 KB
ID:	64629   Click image for larger version

Name:	Dim A Lite 2.jpg
Views:	284
Size:	120.9 KB
ID:	64630  
Lucien Nunes is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 4:26 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.