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#184395 02/09/09 05:08 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 3
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My grandfather was an electrician. He just found and gave me this old disconnect made by square D .

The enclosure is made of porcelain. Has patent info on back for patent Oct 27 1914, 1916 and 1919 Says "making electricity safe for everyone" on front.

This is definetly before my day, anyone know anything about this era equipment?

- Jim K.

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

Joined: Oct 2000
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My apologies to Jim.

I just found these in my Email folder and have apparently been sitting on them for about 8 Months blush

Bill

Joined: Mar 2008
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Nice find, didn't know square D was around then.


I have a sense of adventure, I just keep it leashed with common sense.
Joined: Jan 2006
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A porcelain enclosure??? Perhaps this switch was intended for use in a hostile environment of some kind??

A.D

Joined: May 2005
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I picked up a few porcelain outlet boxes a few years ago.
My guess is that at the time it was cheaper to make porcelain than metal. Also, since many people were scared of this new fangled electricity, they probably would have felt safer with touching something non-conductive.


Ghost307
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 599
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Square D started around 1905 as a merger between a fuse company and Detroit switch.
In those days electrical equipment was almost all open knife blades. Detroit started to put their knife switches in enclosures thereby make them Safety Switches. They put an embossed letter D, in a square, on the front of their switches. After awhile people began asking for that 'Square D' switch, so the company name was changed to Square D.


Last edited by JBD; 04/07/09 01:18 AM.
JBD #185944 04/07/09 11:45 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
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Hi JBD;
That's an interesting little bit of history on Square D. I've always wondered how the Square D name came to be. Thanks.

Mike


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