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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    McKinney Texas
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    501

    Default To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    This house built in 1925...one of the most modern houses in town at the time....I am guessing this is the main overload protection for the incoming service...At that time, probably the only electrical demand would have been light bulbs. The house wiring has been modernized, but this was left in the attic.

    What say ye old electrical experts?

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  2. #2

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Transformer?


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Chico,Ca
    Posts
    454

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Telephone entrance....


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Columbus GA
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    3,747

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    I bet Watson is wracking his brain trying to figure it out.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Caledon, Ontario
    Posts
    4,982

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    My best guess is a telephone transformer.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Morris, Illinois
    Posts
    41

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Telephone line lighting protector. Used at the telephone entrance, prior to the house wiring.

    Jess
    www.aplusinspector.com
    (815) 941-2345

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Colorado Front Range
    Posts
    684

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Telco lightning arrester


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    elec subset shunt for old bell or west elec. telephone ext. ringers ("subset box&quot power.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    553

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    This is an old telephone service entrance protector. The two long cylinders are actually fuses to prevent excessive current flow in the circuit. The round cover in the center unscrews to expose protector blocks used to ground lightning strikes. The protector blocks were "U" shaped, made from ceramic with a carbon block in the center. A flat carbon block was also installed with the protector block. They were inserted into a clip that had a grounded center and 1/2 of the circuit on the other clip. There was a small air gap between the flat block and the U shaped protector block.

    It was the first thing inspected when a report of "grounded one side" was received. The repair was to take a stiff paint brush and brush off the carbon track that was between the two carbon blocks. Simple fix. They still work, BTW.

    If the repair person was lazy you may see this installed with a new protector block. In this case there would be two brass springs over the red fuses and the protector blocks removed, effectively bypassing the old block---but leaving it in place. No issue.


  10. #10
    Brian Johnson's Avatar
    Brian Johnson Guest

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Good one Rich

    You sound like an old "Tip & Ringer"
    I am as well, and have seen so many of these in my days.
    Those black wires that are cut off on the top are from and old single pair "drop wire"
    These were always installed in the basements of early 1900's homes where as today you see a (usually) grey in color box called a "demarc" mounted on the outside of the home near the electric service.
    This one in the picture is not in use anymore.


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Southern Vancouver Island
    Posts
    4,607

    Default Re: To all you antique experts...old overload switch

    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Johnson View Post
    Good one Rich

    You sound like an old "Tip & Ringer"
    I am as well, and have seen so many of these in my days.
    Those black wires that are cut off on the top are from and old single pair "drop wire"
    These were always installed in the basements of early 1900's homes where as today you see a (usually) grey in color box called a "demarc" mounted on the outside of the home near the electric service.
    This one in the picture is not in use anymore.
    Yep. Although, the bottom lugs might still be in use as terminal blocks, 2 wires on each lug. I tell people if the phone works, just leave it till it quits working.

    John Kogel, RHI, BC HI Lic #47455
    www.allsafehome.ca

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