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#153159 05/10/06 10:11 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Photo and info submitted by Hemingray:

Quote
Something else from my collection, the Pushbutton switch is made by Leviton, the crude toggle is made by AH&H. Switchplate is brass and has no known maker. both switches are rated for 10A/125V 5A/250V

[Linked Image]

#153160 05/11/06 11:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
N
Member
All that old stuff is pretty cool. There is an antique mall near me that sells lots of these things.

#153161 05/11/06 12:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
M
Member
There was a company by the name of the Perkins Electric Switch Manufacturing Company that made very high quality pushbutton, toggle, and rotary switches. I'm fortunate enough to have a few in my collection, along with some very nice brass plates (also from an unknown manufacturer). The pushbutton switch was assembled into a very large "boxy" looking porcelain body - it was almost as large as the inside of a single gang box. Fitting the switch, complete with a pair of knob-and-tube wires must have been an interesting experience.

Mike (mamills)

#153162 05/12/06 12:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
A
Member
I really enjoy seeing the old switches still in use even though they were installed 75 or more years ago.
It is proof that the basic electrical wireing is intended to last the life of the house.
I have seen push button sw with an ivory or mother-of-pearl insert in the On button.
Alan--


Alan--
If it was easy, anyone could do it.
#153163 05/13/06 07:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,498
T
Member
Yeah, old switches are real cool!*
Recently I found a rotary switch which probably dates to 1890-1900! It's not a tumbler type, simply a rotating scraper and two brass contacts. Nothing that could possibly break...
Porcelaine base (black), brass cover with some kind of brown sleeve inside (maybe very thin bakelite) and bakelite handle.
It has a 0 marking for off, a feathered arrow with a sun for both rotating direction and "on"...
Some 10 or 15 years ago, our balcony still had the original 1914 rotary switch in place (and it still works, though I took it inside to protect it from the elements).

#153164 05/13/06 12:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
R
Member
I always liked those old fashoned push button switches, My Grandparents place had quite a few of them still left, but only one that I can remember had the mother of pearl insert in the "ON" button, which by convention in those days was the lower button, at least around here it was...
Just amazes me how equipment manufactured in those days was built to last, with some of it still in use today, and in as good a shape as it was installed. Yet, with equipment manufactured these days, you are lucky if you get a few years out of it before it wears out or burns up...

A.D

#153165 05/14/06 07:09 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 169
S
Member
I love old style pushbutton switches. I remember my uncles house had them in every room. Built in 1909. Still worked up until his death in 1982. Wish we made things that last that long today.

#153166 05/14/06 02:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,438
Member
mamills wrote:
Quote
There was a company by the name of the Perkins Electric Switch Manufacturing Company that made very high quality pushbutton, toggle, and rotary switches.

I think I know what you're talking about [Linked Image]

[Linked Image from img.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from img.photobucket.com]

[Linked Image from img.photobucket.com]

Those came from an old 1903 house in Los Angeles

[Linked Image from img.photobucket.com]

This Bryant was from a 1927 mansion in San Diego

#153167 05/14/06 08:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
M
Member
Randy: is that pushbutton switch a DPST? I've seen many SPST and SPDT, but not any like that.

Neat switches!! That old toggle switch really pre-dates any of my old stuff [Linked Image].

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 05-14-2006).]

#153168 05/14/06 09:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 200
H
Member
That Bryant toggle looks nice! does that on/off attachment on the handle sit behind the switchplate? did it use a special plate to keep that tag from getting stuck and ripping?


Cliff
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