Fake Appleby back boxes?

[AndyPRK]

I purchased a 25mm double back box from screwfix within the last couple of months.

It has a round brass coloured earth terminal (like some other brands)
and the movable screw hole plate thing can fall out.

Purchased some today from the same place and it seams to be back to the old proper design.


Was it a fake or did they cheapen things ?

 

[ktuludays]

I can't ever imagine screwfix selling a fake item. Perhaps they just found some old stock.

Does it actually matter?

 

[AndyPRK]

Just curious. Like a lot of topics on here. The slider falling out is certainly very annoying.

 

[mattylad]

Have you asked Screwfix?
OR are you preferring to ask the folks on a forum, seeing as we would know more about it

 

[OwainDIYer]

Have you asked Screwfix?
OR are you preferring to ask the folks on a forum, seeing as we would know more about it

This forum, or Screwfix customer services. Which do you think has greater expertise???

 

[mattylad]

OK, you got a point there

But really, the only place your going to get an accurate answer is at the store it was purchased from.

 

[AndyPRK]

I don’t think even I am going to complain about a 69p item.

I just wondered if anyone else had noticed if they had cut costs and changed back?

 

[plugwash]

Was the box itself actually branded appleby? If not I wonder if there was simply a stock mixup.

 

[AndyPRK]

Was stamped Appleby

 

[sparkwright]

There does seem to be two types of Appleby boxes.

One with the brass tunnel type earth terminal.

The other with the classic Appleby earth terminal which is formed from the box itself (and doesn't always accept multiple earth wires first time...).

It also seems pot luck which ones you get.

The metal seems to be getting a lot thinner too, when you compare with slightly older ones. I never appreciated the quality of the boxes until they became so thin.

 

[AndyPRK]

The ones I got today were Matt rather than shiny.

 

[sparkwright]

Just curious. Like a lot of topics on here. The slider falling out is certainly very annoying.

As is the earth terminal screws not fitted very well and rattling around inside the packet.

 

[AndyPRK]

Luxury of a packet?

I guess if I buy them singulary....

 

[securespark]

The metal seems to be getting a lot thinner too, when you compare with slightly older ones. I never appreciated the quality of the boxes until they became so thin.

Have you ever done a rewire on a house originally wired in the 50's or older? Now that's what I call real back boxes....
Hopefully someone may have some piccies...

 

[sparkwright]

Have you ever done a rewire on a house originally wired in the 50's or older? Now that's what I call real back boxes....
Hopefully someone may have some piccies...

Yes, sometimes they are in a black finish (enamel??) and no earth terminal, and the double boxes often had two lugs on each long side in addition.