Accessories to BS 4662

[securespark]

Watching an episode of Poirot on catch-up.

Love it because they are usually so period-authentic with stuff.

But this episode set in 1936 featured an 86 X 86mm brass light switch.

AFAIR, BS4662 was introduced in 1947 alongside the then new BS1363 socket outlets.

Have I got this wrong?

 

[SUNRAY]

Watching an episode of Poirot on catch-up.

Love it because they are usually so period-authentic with stuff.

But this episode set in 1936 featured an 86 X 86mm brass light switch.

AFAIR, BS4662 was introduced in 1947 alongside the then new BS1363 socket outlets.

Have I got this wrong?

One has to be careful with this one as CI accessories were available way back. The switches consisting of a CI conduit box with the ceramic/brass switch screwed onto the back and a plate with a central hole affixed with 4 brass screws. The posher versions used a brass plate. The really posh versions were silver or gold.
Apart from having 4 fixing screws there is little difference in appearence between those and the modern 'retro' versions, especially if they are decorated.

I helped with rewiring a grade 1 listed building, the posh rooms all had 'original' [17th century building] 3½" format switches. We used earthed PELV for the switch drops.

Some of them had a threaded collar on the switch to hold the plate on rather than 4 screws, especially the multiple switch plates.

 

[securespark]

The switch in the episode appeared to be a modern brass rocker.

 

[SUNRAY]

The switch in the episode appeared to be a modern brass rocker.

Ah well that was an oversight then, I imagine rockers didn't come in until late 60's/early 70's?

I clearly recall the first I installed which was in my bedroom and after starting work in 1972

 

[JohnW2]

The switch in the episode appeared to be a modern brass rocker.

As SUNRAY has said, any sort of rocker would be considerably later than 1936, wouldn't it?

Someone I know owns a house that was used in several episodes of Inspector Morse, and it's amazing the lengths they go to in attempts to achieve 'period-authenticity' (and usually get it right). The seemingly daft thing is that, each time, after a few days' filming they 'put everything back to how it was' (involving redecoration, attention to all 'contents' (including electrical items etc.) - only to go through the whole cycle again a few months later for the next episode! When things are too difficult to move/change, they either 'hide' them or contrive to always keep them 'out of shot'.

I know someone else whose house has been used for a number of episodes of Midsomer Murders (most of which, like most of Inspector Morse, is filemed around my area) - and the story is the same as the above.

If one has an 'interesting' (or 'relevant') house - it's a good way of making money - and also of getting one's house redecorated very frequently!

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

What period were the older brown MK rocker switches?

I had an idea it was 50s, but I could be wrong, they could be the same period as the ivory style, just a different colour.

 

[JohnW2]

What period were the older brown MK rocker switches? I had an idea it was 50s, but I could be wrong, they could be the same period as the ivory style, just a different colour.

It sounds as if my memory (and/or my limited experience/exposure back then) is presenting a problem since, as I implied, I don't recall having seen any type of domestic rocker switch in the 50s, or even most of the 60s. The 'new' light switches I recall from the 60s (some of which were probably MK, and of which I'm sure I still have some lying about!), were all 'lever' types (and white/ivory).

Kind Regards, John

 

[SUNRAY]

This is the sort of thing I tried to describe

 

[SUNRAY]

It sounds as if my memory (and/or my limited experience/exposure back then) is presenting a problem since, as I implied, I don't recall having seen any type of domestic rocker switch in the 50s, or even most of the 60s. The 'new' light switches I recall from the 60s (some of which were probably MK, and of which I'm sure I still have some lying about!), were all 'lever' types (and white/ivory).

Kind Regards, John

I have to agree. I remember buying my first [white 3G] and showing it to colleagues at work so had to be after 1972. It seemed such a strange thing at the time but no way am I tring to say it was one of the first.

 

[SUNRAY]

I can identify MK 6295 & 6315 which would have preceeded the switch I purchased after 1972 but haven't yet found any history of them.