How old is this?

[Steve]

The house was built in the 50s and I'd hazard a guess it's original. Why did mk start having screws top and bottom?

Also when were black metal back boxes in fashion? Found in Same house.

 

[flameport]

That style was used for a long period, up to the mid 1970s.

 

[deadshort]

Yes, when MK was the dogs low bits!

DS

 

[333rocky333]

unswitched singles were nearly always top and bottom fixing for some reason, and the twins were 2 top and 2 bottom, maybe to do with the switch gubbins why they changed .
Early stuff was also more rounded and off white
original mk had the oval logo until the 70s i think then changed to a sguare logo.
A lot of stuff including conduit and accesories were black enamel or the more expensive galv.
Dont see much black enamel these days

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes, when MK was the dogs low bits!

Are they now just the low bits?

 

[securespark]

Yes, when MK was the dogs low bits!

Paws?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Now there's a thought.

 

[securespark]

http://www.flameport.com/electric_museum/sockets_13A_BS1363/mk_socket_outlets.cs4

 

[crystal ball]

Yes, when MK was the dogs low bits!

DS

Now they are the bits that lie on the ground waiting to be picked up

 

[Echo the husky]

Been around for ages, superb design and construction, something no manufacturer offers today.

 

[sparkwright]

Been around for ages, superb design and construction, something no manufacturer offers today.

I've seen many of those surface mounted cooker sockets over the years, though not so much recently, but not seen one with that little door with the two screws.

What's the door for, a cable outlet perhaps??

EDIT, it's got a 5 amp socket instead of the more the usual 13 amp socket.

The door must be to house a 5 amp fuse then, IMO...

 

[winston1]

I think it is a 15 amp outlet though it is difficult to tell from the picture. They were quite common with 15 amp outlets and 5 amp would not be enough for a kettle that they were primary used for.

Don't know about the panel.

 

[Echo the husky]

It's a 15A socket and there is a 15A fuse under the panel, I know as I have 2 of them here! The 13A version of the same type does not have the fuseholder. Here is a photo of the one I refurbished, when I got it it was entirely covered in nicotine stained gloss white paint!

The vintage kettle I use in my kitchen is rated 4.9A and is designed for 5A circuits.

 

[John D v2.0]

unswitched singles were nearly always top and bottom fixing for some reason, and the twins were 2 top and 2 bottom, maybe to do with the switch gubbins why they changed .

Interestingly the 2 gang mk grid faceplate I just bought is top and bottom fixing too, maybe explains why the boxes have top and bottom fixings still!

 

[333rocky333]

Interestingly the 2 gang mk grid faceplate I just bought is top and bottom fixing too, maybe explains why the boxes have top and bottom fixings still!

Thats just the cover, the spacing and size is different, the grid it goes on is normal fixings.
|I think the reason for the 4 lug single box nowadays, is to do with the
combinations of knockouts it has, ie 1 in centre or two on same side