Input please...here's another!

[Chris Stichter]

1964 "villa".... faceplate in the hallway with no obvious function...pull the cover off and here it is...what is it for?!

Thanks!
Chris

[Jerry Peck]

Was that another house with low voltage lighting?

If so, it could have been a 'touch' switch. You've seen those commercials where they advertise the switches for table and floor lamps where you just 'touch' the metal lamp and it turn on or off or dims? Same principle.

[Chris Stichter]

That could be...didn't know they had them in 1964. Why wouldn't it be in a working circuit now?

[John Kogel]

That trim style is newer. It has been added in the last 15 years or so. I'd just say it was a touch-sensitive light switch which needs to be replaced.

[Bill Kriegh]

I'd say it is an old electroluminescent light. These showed up early 60s or so and put out a blue or bluegreen light. Had a variety of designs - 3 inch or so round plug in unit, rectangular, plate mounted (as in OPs).

Check out Electroluminescence on Wikipedia

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Looks to be an aftermarket replacement or old SPEC grade version for a Touch-Plate Electro-Systems plate mounted switch.

As mentioned low voltage control system, but unlike GE, Remcon, Bryant did not use momentary switching.

Touchplate.com and others offer replacements and parts, including integral systems componants. Most of these old systems have long since been abandonded or removed, but never asssume something has been completely, safely, or properly decomissioned.

There are some aftermarket producers of replcement touchplate switches that actullay fit/mount to decora size plates.