Probabaly a set of switches mounted vertically on a single yoke.

I saw one of these plates some time back in the front hall of a turn of the century house here. The handles for two tumbler switches extended through the holes - as celtic said, a couple of switches on a single yoke. I did not get to actually see the switches themselves, but imagined they were probably not too much different from the combination devices available today (switch/switch, or switch/receptacle).

Mike (mamills)

OMG....it literally JUST dawned on me....I have that plate w/2 switches on one yoke in my own house - I hit it everytime I head on down to the basement...LMAO.

My house was built in 1950, I am the second owner. The first owner made no changes at all - so it is "OEM".

Anyone want pics?

Show em off!

Here you go:






Edited to put images on ECN server


[This message has been edited by electure (edited 09-11-2006).]

Oooh, Despard.

There's a true value a town over from where I am where you can still buy the switches/receptacles for despard bar units

There's one question that always strikes me when seeing Despard devices: are there US boxes that can be mounted horizontally instead of the usual vertical orientation?

yes and no..

I've never seen a 2x4 box with ears on the short side, but you could always use a 4x4 with a plaster ring in that orientation, or add a block to mount a 2x4 sideways..

my high school theatre had despard low voltage momentary switches all over the catwalk areas, controlling a set of relays for the various worklights/running lights.