Very Early type of Socket

[Peter J]

I have seen a very early type of surface mounted wall socket, and it is now not in use. It has 4 flat pins, all horizontal, and they are set up as a cross with one at the top etc. A photo has been added.
It may have been imported into New Zealand in the 1900's but I could not disern the maker. It could have been connected to a 110v DC supply.
Peter J.

 

[Adam W]

If you were to upload a picture of that I'd probably look at it.

 

[Peter J]

Here is photo of socket, note Crabtree (?) switch.

 

[Knobhead]

Got me beat. Don’t know if any of the other old farts will have an idea. I do like the switch.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

got a collection of these Tony....and it wasn`t just crabtree that made em either...."landor".."clipsal" and "volex" made em n all......the one in the picture will date from the mid 20s..to the 30s....in fact, as far as i know they were making these until 1967....they have a screw on front with open contacts inside......

 

[Peter J]

Thanks for that re maker and date. I thought it would have been earlier. I suppose it is rated at 10 amp. Have you seen a plug top for the 4 pin socket? Do you know why they had 4 'pins'? Polarity? or could be also used by only the 2 centre pins?
Peter J.

 

[Strima]

I remember a TV programme a while back, might have been Chris Barry, and it covered power supply pre-national grid. IIRC there were over 12 different types of plug fitments at various voltages, could be one of these but I wouldn't know where to start looking.

 

[Adam W]

It looks like it could be what's know as a 'parallel and tandem' socket, designed to accept 2 different kinds of American 2 pin (unearthed) 120v plug, back in the days before people had made up their minds as to which standard to adopt; a bit like a VCR which will play VHS and betamax.

 

[Adam W]

Do you know if the switch is intended to switch the socket on and off, or is it just a light switch next to a socket?

 

[telectrix]

is the round bit in the centre a screw or an earth terminal? i've seen sockets with 2 flat terminals either side of a round E terminal. yours looks like it's designed fo 2 different plugs.

 

[johnboy6083]

im really suprised that you dont know these ones tel. after all you were there to witness the transition from dry string to wet string, and then from wet string to cable. :wink_smile:

 

[Darkwood]

Whats all the nostalgia here!!!!! .... i still fit em.. the pain is trying to persuade the customer there the new thing!

 

[telectrix]

im really suprised that you dont know these ones tel. after all you were there to witness the transition from dry string to wet string, and then from wet string to cable. :wink_smile:

wet string, i understand. what is cable?

 

[Knobhead]

is the round bit in the centre a screw or an earth terminal? i've seen sockets with 2 flat terminals either side of a round E terminal. yours looks like it's designed fo 2 different plugs.

The ones your thinking of Tel were Wylex. Hollow central earth pin with two off set pins either side. The plug top would have a socket in it so they could be piggy backed.

 

[telectrix]

that's the ones tony. bloody good idea. remember when we had our first telly, was 4 of them plugs stacked into the only socket in the living room. 1 for the telly, 1 for mam's iron, 1 for da's trouser press, and 1 for the standard lamp , coz you couldn't see the picture on the telly with the main room light on..

 

[Knobhead]

Old bugger, I wonder how i know about them.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

It might be worth searching for obsolete Japanese and Chinese socket types. The Japanese 250V, 15A rated split-phase plug and socket arrangement is similar to your socket except the equipment earth terminal is rotated 90° as a 'polarizing key'. The Chinese 380V 15A rated split-phase (may also be used 3 phase+N?) plug and socket is also similar to your socket except again the equipment earth terminal is rotated 90° as a 'polarizing key.' Note:- The Japanese connectors have different terminal widths and spacing to the Chinese versions and therefore cannot be mixed. E54 hopefully will be able to add more to this.
View attachment 12178View attachment 12179View attachment 12180

 

[telectrix]

Old bugger, I wonder how i know about them.

because tou are an old fart, like me.

 

[Knobhead]

One beauty of the Wylex plugs is they were fused.

It was only the fact the outlets weren’t shrouded that lead to their downfall. I think they did attempt to correct this but it was to late by then.

 

[Engineer54]

It might be worth searching for obsolete Japanese and Chinese socket types. The Japanese 250V, 15A rated split-phase plug and socket arrangement is similar to your socket except the equipment earth terminal is rotated 90° as a 'polarizing key'. The Chinese 380V 15A rated split-phase (may also be used 3 phase+N?) plug and socket is also similar to your socket except again the equipment earth terminal is rotated 90° as a 'polarizing key.' Note:- The Japanese connectors have different terminal widths and spacing to the Chinese versions and therefore cannot be mixed. E54 hopefully will be able to add more to this.
View attachment 12178View attachment 12179View attachment 12180

I can't say i've seen any of these configurations in China. They tend to use a mixture of USA/ Aussie outlets these day's and a good amount of the old 15A round pins for heavier loads. Seen them used for 20/30A loads many times, ...and in a good few countries too!! When you think about it, there is probably more brass in them old 15A plug tops than there is in the modern 30A plug tops ...lol!!!

 

[Peter J]

Hi,
The socket cover appears (98%) to be ceramic with a centre screw holding it to the ceramic base. The Crabtree switch may be original but could have been a later replacement.
Peter J.
PS Chinese socket getting close but I would have to research the obsolete Chinese ones. I did find the modern Chinese plugs but not the above.

 

[Peter J]

It appears to control the socket as they are mounted on the floor skirting board.
Peter J.

 

[Peter J]

Thanks for comment, it is probably for use with 2 different plug tops that were being used at that time (1900-1920).
Peter J.