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Old 17th Sep 2020, 3:32 pm   #1
Cobaltblue
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Default Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Emptying out long abandoned tool boxes were some of the tools I was using in the late 1970's although this dates back even further.

These were often kept with the device it was used with but were so often missing that you needed to carry one making the problem worse!

No prizes just that great feeling you get when you can say to yourself I remember those, now why did I come into this room

If no one else has one to hand I will show a picture of the device later

Cheers

Mike T
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Old 17th Sep 2020, 3:47 pm   #2
SiriusHardware
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Is it for flattening the 'barbs' on the pins used in Molex connectors so they can be withdrawn from the connector body?
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Old 17th Sep 2020, 3:53 pm   #3
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Not to my knowledge the little cap at the back is for storing something that it's used for.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 4:03 pm   #4
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Looks like a wire wrap tool.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 4:04 pm   #5
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Just what I was thinking, though it's a bit crude for that.
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Old 17th Sep 2020, 4:27 pm   #6
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

This is whats stored inside, should help

At this time I was a field maintenance. , storming mostly around Devon and Cornwall fixing traffic signals.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 6:13 pm   #7
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

I thought it looked familiar but the little brass pieces have not helped.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 6:23 pm   #8
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Plugs (the screws) to set light timing?
 
Old 17th Sep 2020, 6:39 pm   #9
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

The devices were used in the main to turn audibles off at night but also to introduce new timing sets or phase stage deletions in the days before micro processor based controllers.

They are also commonly seen in vintage street lighting until solar switches became common.

They were made in Bath and have been discussed on the forum before.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 7:23 pm   #10
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Horstmann type 5 timer with mechanical backup.

Tool to fit and remove the studs.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 7:51 pm   #11
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

My grandparents had a version of the famous Sangamo timeswich on their central heating with a similar (but captive ) arrangement of 7 cams that allowed days to be skipped.

I would never have guessed what your item was though.

I have this, it uses tappet pins to set the on/off times

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And this, that used plastic tappets similar to the ones featured in a recent post.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 8:10 pm   #12
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

Twice a year I had to adjust these all over two counties fortunately there were only about a hundred to do

I never had to replace one they were very reliable.

I would start doing them a few days in advance and if I got called to the far flung areas such as Penzance for a fault I would try to do all the timers west of Bodmin.

Incredible really they are designed to switch 30A and we were switching less than 100mA.

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Old 17th Sep 2020, 8:53 pm   #13
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

At least you didn't have to wind them up and check the gas mantle, I saw lampposts like that in the "ceremonial" areas of London around Buckingham Palace not too long ago.

What about electromechanical "solar" clock movements, why aren't they widely used?
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Old 17th Sep 2020, 9:08 pm   #14
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Default Re: Some of you will definitely know what this is for

This was 60's technology now its all NTP and GPS the controllers know about Advance and Retard for decades to come. In most areas the traffic signals are dimmed at night by a 55LUX solar switch. The originals were a resistor on a Bi-metallic switch and a cadmium sulphide LDR, I changed hundreds of them!

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