A 1920\u2019s automatic oil heating, safety, disconnect switch, in heavy steel, 4 pound enclosure, telling many stories around a master narrative, dominant in the times. The prospect of home electrification brought with it widespread concern for public safety with steps taken by authorities to help ensure safe practice and to ally unnecessary public apprehension, Square D, Circa 1928 [See also ID#230]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Features:<\/strong> Technical Significance:<\/strong> Industrial Significance:<\/strong> A 1920\u2019s automatic oil heating, safety, disconnect switch, in heavy steel, 4 pound enclosure, telling many stories around a master narrative, dominant in the times. The prospect of home electrification brought with it widespread concern for public safety with steps taken by authorities to help ensure safe practice and to ally unnecessary public apprehension, Square D, Circa 1928 [See also ID#230]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20921,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","cpt_portfolio_group":[209,206],"class_list":["post-20920","cpt_portfolio","type-cpt_portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cpt_portfolio_group-heating","cpt_portfolio_group-residential"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2013 Brass name plate, decorated in black with safety instructions
\u2013 Blue and white seal of the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario, aproval No. 634
\u2013 Original box connector
\u2013 Field installed dual knock out cover in galvanized sheet metal stock, screwed in place with 2 no 8-32 x 3\/4 inch machine screws, illustrates the adherence to the electrical code requirements of the day
\u2013 External # 8 solder lug affixed to the box, illustrates the grounding practice of the day in which much cable was not grounded and required a separate grounding network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 The danger of fire and electrocution were matters of wide spread public concern in the 1920\u2019s through 30\u2019s. Robustly designed equipment, evidence of government certification and equipment testing standards, as well as evidence of competent field practices and craftsmanship were all-important indicators intended to demonstrate due care, caution and respect for public safety.
\u2013 Approved field practice, enforced by electrical inspectors, required that such panel boards be installed at the entrance to the furnace or boiler room within easy reach, allowing the homeowner full control and access, in order to shut down the system manually in the case of emergency [see ID#230].
\u2013 The switch provides an example of the use of terminology in the description and specification of safety switches in the early years of home electrification technology. The device is described prominently on the cover as \u201csingle throw fused bottom\u2019.
\u2013 Of technological significance, in the history of emerging technology of home electrification , is this 120 volt, fused, disconnect switch designed with a fused neutral \u2013 a practice which would be rethought a few years later, and abandoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 The device tells the stories of the widespread apprehension over the coming of home electrification and the steps taken by the underwriters, regulators [codes and practices], electric utilities and equipment manufacturers to ally public fears over home electrification \u2013 and in fact ensure public safety in an embryonic and rapidly developing field where there was little practical experience to draw on.
\u2013 The embryonic HVACR industry of the times was anxious to work with the electrical equipment manufacturers, regulators and underwriters in publishing re-assuring information on the many benefits and safety of home electrification, as well as educating the tradesmen of the day on electrical codes and safe practices. For these were seen as necessary prerequisites for the sale of automatic home heating equipment.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"