Please help identify Radiospares tools

[Phil G4SPZ]

Well, sort of 'tools'... this is a set of what appear to be flexible plastic feeler gauges, in a small Radiospares packet. They're unmarked, but there are three each of four thicknesses: Green (0.15mm), Red (0.28mm), Yellow (0.40mm) and Grey (0.55mm). The nearest Imperial equivalents would be 6 thou., 11 thou., 16 thou and 22 thou.

Does anyone recognise them or remember using them, and what were they for?

Phil

[Sean Williams]

Setting Strowger relays?

[Station X]

These are still available from, Farnell, CPC etc. They're used where a non-conductive/non- scratching feeler gauge is required.

Never used on Strowger equipment to the best of my knowledge. Angled gauges marked in mils (thous) were used there and they had a hole which the relay's residual screw fitted through.

[pmmunro]

My experience of Radiospares goes back to the mid-1960s when it was feasible for anyone of the necessary mindset to know the catalogue almost by heart and I don't remember these. That would suggest either that my memory is defective - but marble loss usually affects recent rather than ancient memories - or that they are from an earlier time as the typeface on the case would appear to confirm.

In those days Radiospares were still mainly involved in the radio & TV repair trade and often much looked down on by "professional" customers making it unlikely that an item for telephone relays would have been part of their range.

Equally sadly, I can still remember Radiospares' London address in full.

PMM

[Phil G4SPZ]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I hadn't considered the need for non-conductive feeler gauges, but that sounds the most likely suggestion. Radiospares sold a comprehensive range of octal and 11-pin relays, so maybe these feelers were designed for adjusting the contacts on these. The colour coding does suggest that they were designed for a specific purpose. They might even be used for setting the contact gaps on Avometer leaf switches...

I agree Peter, the "RADIOSPARES" suggests the 1950s but I think I've seen this style on later items as well.

[Silicon]

Do they come in sets of 3?

Could they be for centering loudspeaker cones?

[Phil G4SPZ]

They are indeed in sets of 3. That's an interesting suggestion! They are the right sort of shape and thickness too.

[unclegrumpy]

Hi They were used for replacing or centering loudspeaker cones. I remember using them way back in the mid 50s. John.

[Phil G4SPZ]

That's most helpful, John. Many thanks.

As my question has been answered, Mods, this thread may be closed. Thank you.