Guess the object

[Darkwood]

Thought I'd post this little beauty that came out of a old industrial mill complex ....

My question is - What is it?

The veins inside are like paper strips, removal of the bottom plate reveals a microswitch... over to you



PS - No rude comments please, No it not tinmans private parts!

 

[andyb]

Never seen anything like it.
With the cover on it looks like some sort of heater.

 

[ruston]

Is it some form of safety lamp similar to the Davy principle.
Is the micro switch a 'tilt'switch?

 

[sean_ork]

Thermostat

 

[HandySparks]

Humidity switch?

 

[ruston]

I'm thinking for dust particle levels, being in a mill.
Probably a mile away.

 

[telectrix]

Boll weevil zapper? Mills.. Cotton.?

 

[Darkwood]

Im going to let it run for a few hours and I won't say if anyone is close or got it yet just to see the variation in guesses

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Humidistat.

 

[Darkwood]

Hats of to Handy' and Spin', it is indeed a humidistat and made by a Leicester company Mellor Bromley, after speaking to one of their guys today they started making these in 1937 and were often found in the textile industry especially yorkshire, I'm trying to get some more info off them so will add to thread if I do but I would say looking at the electrics in the mill (VIR in conduit) that this may be approx 70 - 80yrs old.

A massive difference to modern tech' where you can now get pcb mounted sensors that do the same job.

 

[Marvo]

Nice looking item. It was a very different world before the transistor arrived on the scene.

 

[telectrix]

think geordiespark has one of them in his bathroom.:willy_nilly:

 

[Marvo]

Controlling his extract fan...

 

[telectrix]

sshh. he thinks that's a radio.

 

[Barry White]

Missed this but like this sort of thing be nice for a regular feature think Lucien did the last one.

 

[HandySparks]

Humidity switches are still (just) available using the same principle. A thin plastic tape which changes length with humidity. Anyone know what the actual material is?

Honeywell Berns Air KingAdjustable Dehumidifier Control Humidistat H46A C-4145-4 | eBay
Ranco Adjustable Humidistat 250v 3.3A HUMIDITY CONTROLLER Dehumidistat J10-6503 | eBay

 

[Geordie Spark]

Boll weevil zapper? Mills.. Cotton.?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ZlI3fCCgY