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Old 12th May 2019, 6:06 pm   #1
Tom williams
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Default Any other plug collectors out there?

Hello there,
I was just wondering if anyone out there is or knows of anyone who is a plug collector, this is because i am one and just wanted to see if there were any others, i am already aware of people such as boombox deluxe.
Any replies are well apreciated.
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Old 12th May 2019, 8:13 pm   #2
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Smile Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Hi,
I wouldn't consider myself a 'collector' as such, but plugs & sockets have always fascinated me since childhood.(A Freudian thing, perhaps?)
I have a lot of them that came to France with me; 15, 13, 5 and 2 amps. Three pin and two pin, plus several Wylex and DS types.
Cheers, Pete.
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Old 12th May 2019, 8:35 pm   #3
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Not a collector, but I just happen to have a few.
Do you need one like this? This fella needs a mate
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Old 12th May 2019, 8:39 pm   #4
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

I have a habit of taking old plugs off new editions to my collection if they don't have insulated pins, which also allows me to make sure they are wired up properly & have the correct fuses. I've only only once found anything untoward, & that was just a loose screw on a pin.

Before I started doing that I managed to get a few plugs from my parents house, probably when everything started to come with a fitted plug & my Dad's stash of spare plugs was no longer needed.

I'll have to upload a more up to date picture of them, I've only got a picture of the first few at the moment.
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Old 12th May 2019, 8:58 pm   #5
Tom williams
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tractorfan View Post
I wouldn't consider myself a 'collector' as such, but plugs & sockets have always fascinated me since childhood.(A Freudian thing, perhaps?)
I have a lot of them that came to France with me; 15, 13, 5 and 2 amps. Three pin and two pin, plus several Wylex and DS types.
Nice collection far bigger than mine!

My collection, although small, includes BS 1363 (sleeved and unsleeved pin), BS 546(5 amp only at the mo) and finally, a bayonet light plug
Here is my collection:
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Old 12th May 2019, 9:40 pm   #6
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

I'm not a plug "collector" as such but am always fascinated by the unusual, like the low-profile "Legrand/BICC" types and the pastel-blue 'Rock' plug I mentioned on this forum a while back.

And the range of unusual coaxial connectors always fascinates me - WWII-era Pye-plugs, strange Western-Electric and General-Radio "Hermaphrodite" types used on test-gear and early multiplexed phone-circuits, and MUSA connectors.... or the little-documented "Pattern 12" UK connector that was used in the 1950s in a bunch of RACAL gear.
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Old 12th May 2019, 10:06 pm   #7
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

If you enter "unusual plug" in the search box for this web site, you will find at least one closed thread about old plugs. While not a collector, I have accumulated a few old/odd ones: wooden BC adaptors and 2-pin plugs, a SBC adaptor in black Bakelite, a BC plug with an earth connection (which thanks to this forum I now know is of faulty manufacture and incomplete), and a brass BC lampholder for pins at 45 degrees to the contacts for example.

Last edited by emeritus; 12th May 2019 at 10:14 pm.
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Old 12th May 2019, 10:18 pm   #8
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Julesomega View Post
Not a collector, but I just happen to have a few.
Do you need one like this? This fella needs a mate
Those Electrak plugs have been around since the mid 1980s , and there are at least three types that look similar but don't fit each others socket. I have examples of two types.

As I recall, when they came out there was a suggestion in the press that they might replace the BS1363 plug, but I can't find eny evidence to back that up.

I do know of one building that was rewired exclusively using Electrack wall sockets, it was on the Granada TV site in Manchester, it wasn't a technical building, more offices and conference areas.

It was a total fail!

Nobody put Electrak plugs on their equipment. Instead, what happened is the site electricians made up hundreds of short cables with an Electrak plug at one end and a BS1363 socket at the other.

Tesco Morrison's and Asda have used them for EPOS and other IT equipment, Morrison's using a different type to the other two.
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Old 12th May 2019, 10:45 pm   #9
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

I've seen somewhere online a Electrak with Sainsbury's badging, probably for tills & other in-store equipment.

A few places open to the public seem to use non-standard electrical connections, especially if there's a specialist supply someone otherwise might try to connect to.

The London Underground use Walsall connections for maintenance equipment that needs a 110v balanced supply.
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Old 13th May 2019, 12:20 am   #10
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

What's a Walsall plug or socket? I had to search the forums, and here's just a few threads about different mains plugs:
Walsall cooker wall switch with kettle plug
Strange plugs & sockets at Lewis's Liverpool
Fitall plug bin it sell it save it
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Old 13th May 2019, 1:11 am   #11
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

There is also sockets to collect too.
Brown BS1362 are not all that common.
Those small footprint sockets were not around for long either.
I found a big load of sockets just after I had ordered some on line but bought them anyway as you do.
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Old 13th May 2019, 11:28 am   #12
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

I have to confess that I have got ( and use) a large collection of vintage plugs and sockets , also w have a fairly large collection on display at the vintage wireless and television museum at Dulwich , feel free to arrange a visit
regards
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Old 13th May 2019, 12:11 pm   #13
Graham G3ZVT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Julesomega View Post
What's a Walsall plug or socket?
Image a standard 13A plug with all three pins rotated 90 degrees. that's a Walsall guage plug.
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Old 13th May 2019, 12:24 pm   #14
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Hi Tom.

Also not a plug collector, just really fascinated reading about them, and seeing pictures. There are a couple of threads (possibly more!) on here that are well worth searching out.

No idea how to create a link, so I've taken screenshots instead to show you the titles.
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Old 13th May 2019, 2:14 pm   #15
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Not a collector per se but I try to accumulate as many old, UK made plugs as possible as they eclipse most of the tat produced now. I like to use good plugs on my stuff! I did however, pickup a really nice Grelco shaver adaptor recently, in White, it even still has it's original Grelco fuse!
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Old 13th May 2019, 4:27 pm   #16
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

I only collect early porcelain plugs etc. Difficult to find now.
Note the lovely knurling on the plugs.

I never remove the old wire as that is part of their history.
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Old 13th May 2019, 4:55 pm   #17
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Nice! The items in the bottom row look identical with the " cut-outs" shown in the 1911 GEC catalogue. That catalogue shows similar china plugs with annular ridges rather than dimples, and they didn't do a two-way BC adaptor like yours with the sockets at an angle.

I do have some early 13A surface mounting sockets where the contacts are in a china housing, but the china is completely covered by the Bakelite cover. I also have a china 15A switched socket, late 1930's, that I removed when I rewired my house. Looks like a large surface-mounted tumbler switch with the socket horizontally on top. Unfortunately the Bakelite got damaged when removing it due to seized screws.

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Old 13th May 2019, 9:10 pm   #18
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Hi, I have at least three medium sized boxes full of various types of mains plug and socket, including Wylex and Dorman & Smith types. As a youngster I seemed to amass a collection gradually as folk who lived in our village were rewired and passed the sockets that were replaced to "the lad who messes about with that sort of stuff".
Unfortunately my original collection was lost in a number of house moves however I have managed to obtain nearly all of the same ones as I had from car boot sales, eBay etc.
I really should post some pictures on here, I'm not in a position to do so at present though.

Andrew
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Old 13th May 2019, 9:20 pm   #19
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Hi I have a small collection of plugs 2 amp 5 amp and 15 amp also in 2 and 3 pin versions I have and use a 5 amp 2 pin socket which is used to supply some colored lights in my disco room at home its supplied via a VT made 13 to 5 amp adaptor the other plugs are used in my shack for my test gear
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Old 13th May 2019, 9:40 pm   #20
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Default Re: Any other plug collectors out there?

Just the one at this time, Crabtree.
Possible locked into the socket by the on/off switch.
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