Seeing the "Butler call bell" thread has reminded me that I came across one of these in an old Victorian house last year.
The wood & glass indicator board in the kitchen had about a dozen solenoids operating swinger arms. Only about two of them worked due to the old (probably 1920s) rubber/cloth/paper-insulated wiring which was perished, broken and shorted. The buyer (who was just renovating to sell it again) wanted the system kept in place and made fully functional.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 08-15-2002).]
