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OBJECT TYPE: tumbler/flush/combination switch-receptacle
DATE: 1952
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 1992.2515.001

MANUFACTURER: HUBBELL, HARVEY INC.
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 1
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: bakelite cup & switch handle/ brass plate/ metal parts

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length: 11.4 cm
Width: 7.0 cm
Height: 4.8 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: N/A
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Energy-electric
Category: User site
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: HUBBELL
Country: United States of America
State/Province: Connecticut
City: Bridgeport

Context

Country: North America
State/Province: Unknown
Period: mid 20th century
Canada: An American made switch of a type used in Canadian households. Part of a large & varied collection of over 7500 electrical items acquired & documented by Ontario Hydro in the 1960s. The collection was thought to be the largest & most comprehensive of its kind in Canada & was donated to the National Museum of Science & Technology in 1992.
Function: An electrical wiring device used to make or break a connection in an electrical circuit, specifically in domestic lighting.
Technical: The tumbler switch was one of the most characteristic British contributions to wiring installation practice. Coming into regular use around 1890, it rapidly superceded all other movements in Britain & ultimately went abroad to replace the established turn & two-button arrangements in America & Europe. The Kelvin switch of 1881 showed a radical departure from the influence of the gas tap. In Canada, the tumbler switch became popular only after 1930 (Ref. 1&2).
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: incised lettering on underside of plate reads "HARVEY HUBBELL INC.,/ BRIDGEPORT, CONN."/ incised lettering switch reads "HUBBELL" "UND. LAB. INSP.", "10A. 250V." & "15A. 125V."/ raised lettering on underside of cup reads "HUBBELL"
Missing: appears complete
Finish: dark brown synthetic/ gold coloured plate
Decoration: N/A

CITE THIS OBJECT

If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

HUBBELL, HARVEY INC., Switch, circa 1952, Artifact no. 1992.2515, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/1992.2515.001/

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