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Ingenium, 1992.2454.001
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OBJECT TYPE: tumbler/toggle/surface/single pole
DATE: 1938–1950
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 1992.2454.001

MANUFACTURER: Amalgamated Electric
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: Canada

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 1
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: synthetic shell, base & switch handle/ metal parts

Dimensions

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

Length: N/A
Width: N/A
Height: 4.7 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: 5.5 cm
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

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

Manufacturer

AKA: Amalgamated
Country: Canada
State/Province: Unknown
City: Unknown

Context

Country: Canada
State/Province: Unknown
Period: mid 20th century
Canada: A Canadian 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: Originating in England, the tumbler switch, with definite off & onpositions, came into regular use about 1891 & rapidly superceded all other movements, replacing the established turn & turn button arrangement. The Kelvin switch of 1881 showed a radical departure from the influence of the gas tap (Ref. 2). Beginning around 1905, the design of tumbler switches became simpler & thinner. In Canada, the flush type soon became the favourite over the surface type. The latter was probably still available for older houses in which flush type switches could not be used. Still, until the late 1920s, the turn type switch (snap) & push button switch were the type most often seen in catalogues. Bakelite switches also appeared in the late 1920s (Ref.1).
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: raised lettering on shell & base reads "AMALGAMATED/ ELECTRIC"
Missing: appears complete
Finish: dark brown shell, base, switch handle
Decoration: N/A

CITE THIS OBJECT

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

Amalgamated Electric, Switch, between 1938–1950, Artifact no. 1992.2454, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collections.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/1992.2454.001/

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