GEC BC lampholder adapter - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Andy Green · 20th Feb 2021, 4:55 pm

Just saw this on the shelf in our local hardware store. It’s an old world sort of place, it was priced in pence which have been gone since the Euro came to Ireland 20 years ago! It’s a lot older than that though I’d say. It’s got adjustable spacing. It says G.E.C. made in England. Age anyone?

Dave Moll · 20th Feb 2021, 5:34 pm

I trust it is no longer on the shelf in the hardware store, but now safely in your possession at a suitable exchange rate. It certainly is a great deal older than twenty years, dating back to the use of round pin plugs and sockets. These were being phased out in the UK by the 1950s, though I don't know the timeline in the Republic of Ireland.

I also have one among my bakelite bits. The adjustable pins are so that it could be plugged into either a two-pin socket or a three-pin one (which had wider spacing). Presumably for use in the latter, it either needs to be one without shutters operated by the earth pin or some jiggery-pokery is needed such as inserting a screwdriver into said earth pin-hole.

emeritus · 20th Feb 2021, 6:53 pm

At the time it was made there would have been few sockets with shutters.

I still have a couple of 2 pin to BC adaptors although not by GEC. One has adjustable pins, the other was originally identical except for a plastic plate which prevented the pins from being moved from the 2 pin position. I remember removing it so it could be used directly in our unshuttered 3 pin 5A sockets (we didn't have any 2 pin sockets), otherwise it could only have been used via one of our 2 way adaptors, where one of its two sockets had both 3 pin and 2 pin 5A sockets.

matthewhouse · 20th Feb 2021, 7:33 pm

I also have one of these, I assume its main purpose is to allow appliances with a BC plug fitted to be connected to a wall socket rather than plugging in a bulb. The design is a bit odd.

AndiiT · 20th Feb 2021, 9:08 pm

Hi, I have a couple of these in my collection. I seem to recall that they may have originally been supplied with some electric Singer sewing machines.

Andrew

emeritus · 20th Feb 2021, 9:54 pm

It's probably an inter-war design. My 1911 GEC catalogue lists 2 pin to BC adaptors, but the pin spacing is fixed and the adaptors also have a pair of 2 pin sockets at their sides to allow connection of two 2-pin plugs and one BC adaptor (or lamp) to a 2 pin socket.

20th Feb 2021, 4:55 pm	#1
Andy Green Hexode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Waterford, Republic of Ireland Posts: 259	GEC BC lampholder adapter Just saw this on the shelf in our local hardware store. It’s an old world sort of place, it was priced in pence which have been gone since the Euro came to Ireland 20 years ago! It’s a lot older than that though I’d say. It’s got adjustable spacing. It says G.E.C. made in England. Age anyone? Attached Thumbnails

20th Feb 2021, 5:34 pm	#2
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,130	Re: GEC BC lampholder adapter I trust it is no longer on the shelf in the hardware store, but now safely in your possession at a suitable exchange rate. It certainly is a great deal older than twenty years, dating back to the use of round pin plugs and sockets. These were being phased out in the UK by the 1950s, though I don't know the timeline in the Republic of Ireland. I also have one among my bakelite bits. The adjustable pins are so that it could be plugged into either a two-pin socket or a three-pin one (which had wider spacing). Presumably for use in the latter, it either needs to be one without shutters operated by the earth pin or some jiggery-pokery is needed such as inserting a screwdriver into said earth pin-hole. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

20th Feb 2021, 6:53 pm	#3
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,346	Re: GEC BC lampholder adapter At the time it was made there would have been few sockets with shutters. I still have a couple of 2 pin to BC adaptors although not by GEC. One has adjustable pins, the other was originally identical except for a plastic plate which prevented the pins from being moved from the 2 pin position. I remember removing it so it could be used directly in our unshuttered 3 pin 5A sockets (we didn't have any 2 pin sockets), otherwise it could only have been used via one of our 2 way adaptors, where one of its two sockets had both 3 pin and 2 pin 5A sockets.

20th Feb 2021, 7:33 pm	#4
matthewhouse Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Willand, Devon, UK. Posts: 1,023	Re: GEC BC lampholder adapter I also have one of these, I assume its main purpose is to allow appliances with a BC plug fitted to be connected to a wall socket rather than plugging in a bulb. The design is a bit odd.

20th Feb 2021, 9:08 pm	#5
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: GEC BC lampholder adapter Hi, I have a couple of these in my collection. I seem to recall that they may have originally been supplied with some electric Singer sewing machines. Andrew

20th Feb 2021, 9:54 pm	#6
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 5,346	Re: GEC BC lampholder adapter It's probably an inter-war design. My 1911 GEC catalogue lists 2 pin to BC adaptors, but the pin spacing is fixed and the adaptors also have a pair of 2 pin sockets at their sides to allow connection of two 2-pin plugs and one BC adaptor (or lamp) to a 2 pin socket.