I work in a high school built originally in the late 60's and then added to and updated over the years but still standing largely in its original form today.
I've found myself admiring some of the old electrical gear that is still there and still in daily operation.
Overlooked by almost everyone but as someone who appreciates quality, I have to say they just don't make them like this anymore.
The toggle type switches have such a fantastically satisfying mechanical feel to them.
I can't find much info about them but similar looking vintage ones online on places like ebay seem to suggest they are Crabtree brand.
I actually have Crabtree 'Platinum' toggle switches in my house and while they are nice, they're nowhere near as quality feeling as those old original ones, so they've lost something along the way!
Anyway, thought I'd post some photos of it all on here in case anyone else wanted to nerd out on it all.
No idea what brand of switch the below is but there are loads of 1 and 2 gang ones around too.
Again, lovely satisfying 'clunk' when you operate them. Not felt any modern switch that feels that sort of quality.
Maybe someone could shed some light on brand? They look like maybe some sort of old grid system but not sure.
Found these sockets to be quite unusual with the switch in the lower corners - never seen sockets like this before.
While I wouldn't say they 'feel' like quality - the switches are all quite stiff to operate - they must have done something right as they are still in daily use!
Not sure of the brand. 'DS' is marked in between the live and neutral receptacles. Maybe Dorman Smith who seem to make large commercial distribution boards now?
Anyway, loads of those types of sockets around.
A lot of classrooms in the older buildings have these old 'Heater switches' in them.
Most of them appear to do nothing though I did find one that seemed to operate something as a whirring noise like ventilation started up when switched on.
The black circular button stays depressed when pushed, the red button then pops it back out. Not sure how they were meant to operate. Again, maybe someone has some knowledge of this?
Boring but seemingly old metalclad type socket:
This is probably more for the plumbers subforum but putting it here anyway because it's old and awesome and you just don't see components like this anymore:
No idea if it does anything but the handle can still be moved!
Hope you guys enjoyed, I actually took the photos just to share here!
If I spot any more on my travels I will upload them.
I've found myself admiring some of the old electrical gear that is still there and still in daily operation.
Overlooked by almost everyone but as someone who appreciates quality, I have to say they just don't make them like this anymore.
The toggle type switches have such a fantastically satisfying mechanical feel to them.
I can't find much info about them but similar looking vintage ones online on places like ebay seem to suggest they are Crabtree brand.
I actually have Crabtree 'Platinum' toggle switches in my house and while they are nice, they're nowhere near as quality feeling as those old original ones, so they've lost something along the way!
Anyway, thought I'd post some photos of it all on here in case anyone else wanted to nerd out on it all.
No idea what brand of switch the below is but there are loads of 1 and 2 gang ones around too.
Again, lovely satisfying 'clunk' when you operate them. Not felt any modern switch that feels that sort of quality.
Maybe someone could shed some light on brand? They look like maybe some sort of old grid system but not sure.
Found these sockets to be quite unusual with the switch in the lower corners - never seen sockets like this before.
While I wouldn't say they 'feel' like quality - the switches are all quite stiff to operate - they must have done something right as they are still in daily use!
Not sure of the brand. 'DS' is marked in between the live and neutral receptacles. Maybe Dorman Smith who seem to make large commercial distribution boards now?
Anyway, loads of those types of sockets around.
A lot of classrooms in the older buildings have these old 'Heater switches' in them.
Most of them appear to do nothing though I did find one that seemed to operate something as a whirring noise like ventilation started up when switched on.
The black circular button stays depressed when pushed, the red button then pops it back out. Not sure how they were meant to operate. Again, maybe someone has some knowledge of this?
Boring but seemingly old metalclad type socket:
This is probably more for the plumbers subforum but putting it here anyway because it's old and awesome and you just don't see components like this anymore:
No idea if it does anything but the handle can still be moved!
Hope you guys enjoyed, I actually took the photos just to share here!
If I spot any more on my travels I will upload them.
.
