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Thread Number: 72651
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Switches/outlets/wiring devices |
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Post# 959957 , Reply# 2 9/30/2017 at 19:08 (2,392 days old) by philcobendixduo  (San Jose) |
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I've Always Been Fascinated....
....with different styles of wall switches. When I moved into my 1967 home, it had toggle switches that clicked loudly when operated. I replaced them all with lighted mercury switches in the 1980's and a few years ago, I replaced them all with lighted Decora (rocker) switches in WHITE except for the kitchen which has ALMOND color. I replaced all the duplex outlets with commercial grade Decora units as well.
Some unique wall switches I remember from homes and places I've worked at or visited are; Push button (one button) on/off in both LARGE round and small rectangle style. At a church, they had a relay system - there was a rotary knob marked 1-9. The knob was turned to the desired position (to control desired lights) then a momentary contact paddle switch was pushed up to turn the lights on. The paddle switch could be HELD in the up position while the 1-9 knob was turned and that would then turn on ALL the lights. Pushing the paddle switch DOWN would turn them off. All the lighted switches I've ever purchased used neon to light the switch including the "new" Decora switches I purchased in 2012. I think newer switches use LED lamps now. | ||
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Post# 960035 , Reply# 3 10/1/2017 at 13:39 (2,391 days old) by nanook (Seattle) |
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 That large, round button was most-likely a Tap-Lite switch - made by Honeywell - which was line voltage. The small, rectangular switch 'could' be a low voltage system, from Touch Plate. And the system with the 9-position rotary knob & rocker switch sounds like a low voltage system, made by General Electric. | ||
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Post# 960332 , Reply# 6 10/3/2017 at 00:31 (2,390 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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Post# 960460 , Reply# 7 10/3/2017 at 16:49 (2,389 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Johnathan (GusHerb) Cooper is now Eaton, which is also the manufacturer of the Cutler-Hammer breaker panels. They also sell devices labled Arrow-Hart. | ||
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Post# 960499 , Reply# 9 10/3/2017 at 21:46 (2,389 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Post# 960606 , Reply# 11 10/4/2017 at 15:44 (2,388 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Where a device is made depends on the model number. For example, P&S has GFCI's that are exactly the same except for country of origin. The 20 amp PlugTail tamper resistant version is model number PT2097TR if from China, and model number PT2097TRNA for the NAFTA compliant version from Mexico. The wallplates are made in USA. | ||
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Post# 961669 , Reply# 14 10/10/2017 at 07:25 (2,382 days old) by steved (Guilderland, New York) |
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Sheesh I swear that pic was right side up when I posted it....... | ||
| Post# 962482 , Reply# 15 10/14/2017 at 13:12 (2,378 days old) by cornutt (Huntsville, AL USA) | ||
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I had an uncle whose house had some kind of low voltage system. The switches were rockers and they were huge -- there was no faceplate because the rocker covered the entire box. The surface of the rocker was clear Lexan or some such, and there was a mirrored finish underneath it. The house was built in, I think, 1964. | ||
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Post# 968195 , Reply# 16 11/15/2017 at 19:43 (2,346 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI) |
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I had mentioned before how my grandmas finished basement had a storage room with a slater switch and neon indicator. Today I looked at a house with a finished basement from the same era and the storage room had a Slater switch and neon indicator. | ||
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Post# 968394 , Reply# 17 11/16/2017 at 18:08 (2,345 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Reply #16 My neighbor Missy's house has the "Despard" or interchangeable style devices. They are original to the construction in the mid 30's. My dad's aunt & uncle's house built in '36 also had this type. Legrand/Pass & Seymour still makes them and the matching wall plates. | ||
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Post# 968412 , Reply# 18 11/16/2017 at 19:07 (2,345 days old) by GusHerb (Chicago/NWI) |
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Despard! I forgot that's what those were actually called. They were popular for a long time, one place in particular was bathrooms in the 70s-80s. I'm curious why they pretty much stopped using them starting in the 90s, code changes perhaps? | ||
| Post# 968415 , Reply# 19 11/16/2017 at 19:19 (2,345 days old) by Artcurus (Odessa) | ||
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when I redid my house, I actually used a NOS Despard plug and switch in the kitchen for the main light with a vintage bakelite switch plate (brown). Looks real cool. And yes, you can still get brand new Despard switches and plugs, including three prong outlets. | ||
| Post# 968418 , Reply# 20 11/16/2017 at 19:51 (2,345 days old) by washman (o) | ||
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I prefer Leviton now that some of their outlets are US made. I used to use Cooper almost exclusively, but now they are made in China and are decidedly cheap. | ||
| Post# 968425 , Reply# 21 11/16/2017 at 20:13 (2,345 days old) by Artcurus (Odessa) | ||
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My parent's 1950's house has Paulding orginal to the house. I LOVE the click. | ||
| Post# 968681 , Reply# 22 11/18/2017 at 09:04 (2,343 days old) by fan-of-fans (Florida) | ||
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I've always had Leviton, there is one Eagle in the living room from the 90s, seems well made. There is one in my washing machine/dryer connection box that I am not sure the maker of. I'm not sure who sells Cooper, maybe Ace. I know Home Depot has Leviton and Lowes has Pass & Seymour Legrand. | ||
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