Moving electric meter question

[JohnW2]

What can happen when a cut out or the incomer short out. Moving an old incoming cable can result in the insulation crumbling and the cable shorting out.

Most of that damage appears to be downstream of the cutout (and, indeed, downstream of the meter and Henley) - and presumably must have been caused by a short downstream of that Henley. Was there a cutout fuse and, if so, why didn't it operate before all that damage arose?

I agree that moving an old incomer (not that the OP's one looks very old to me) can result in catastrophes - but I can't see how it could result in anything like what is shown in that photo.

Kind Regards, John

 

[OwainDIYer]

The number of 13 amp adapters kept handy by the meter suggests the customer wiring may have been inadequate.

I'm not recommending it, but nothing bad happened when I moved mine.