Period Sockets and switches

[Jellyfire]

Ok, so I bought some repro bakelite power sockets and dolly switches from here http://www.bromleighs.com/acatalog/Bakelite_Switch_Collection.html

My wife detests them, and I must say Im not too sure about them myself now Ive fitted one. Anybody have any suggestions for alternatives.

Its a very higgledy piggledy 16th century Suffolk cottage, the curtain rails, wall lights, door furniture etc are, or will be, primarily waxed cast iron. Ive seen some places do switches in like that http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/6744/2-Gang-Plug-Sockets-with-Black-Switches-Hammered , but not sure if they would look a bit too much like something from a medieval theme park, and also the mounting boxes don't match as far as I can tell and most of them would be visible. Don't think anything too elegant would really suit, but Im loathe to just use white plastic sockets as they will be mainly wall mounted and they stick out like a sore thumb at the moment?

 

[Penners]

I have a point-of-view on this with which I know others disagree. But here it is.

There is no such thing as an electric socket or switch that is "in keeping" with a 16th century cottage. Sorry if that's bloody obvious! So whatever you install is going to be anachronistic. For my money, modern white plastic fittings are so ubiquitous that they are - to any casual observer - close to invisible.

It's very easy to get fixated on this subject, and once that happens your point-of-view becomes clouded by obsession. You stare consciously at the white plastic things, and when you start doing that they do, of course, leap out at you. Whereas - as I said - to anyone else they barely exist.

So personally I would choose the least intrusive anachronism, which I believe is the modern white jobs.

Incidentally, I find those Jim Lawrence things utterly ridiculous (with apologies to anyone who has spent a fortune equipping their house with them)!

 

[Feltwell]

Jellyfire, this is a topic that has been discussed less than damp and how to strip paint off, but only slightly!

It boils down to personal choice in the end, really it does. Whatever you fit is "wrong" by definition. Sockets do vary in quality of finish though - for example, a cheap brass socket is as safe as a more expensive one but it will look tatty a lot more quickly.

 

[Jellyfire]

Damn, and I was hoping somebody new of some authentic tudor plug sockets. I know what you mean about the white sockets Penners, but thats whats there already and Ive hated them from day one, maybe smarter new ones would be less noticeable, but I think even brass or steel ones would at least look as though some thought had gone into them, which is what Im after I suppose, and maybe as Feltwell suggests good quality fittings are more important than the style. Just wondered whether anybody had got a result they were pleased with?

 

[middi]

I totally agree with the view " period sockets/switches " are a figure of imagination when used in pre-20th C buildings.

Let us face it, the choise is, Victorian, Edwardian, contemporary or any other variation between these periods. As suggested, it all boils down to personal preference.

The choise of switches or sockets to be used, when dealing with any of the above mentioned periods, would be extremely simple. All period properties built before those periods will lead anybody to cratch their heads, ( hence you asking the question )

Middi

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Jellyfire - I am one of those fools that spent a wheelbarrow of money on those Jim Lawrence sockets :wink:

I have the antiqued brass ones with white inserts on pale lime-plastered walls. They look lovely and I don't regret an penny of what I spent on the sockets or switches.

I abhor the white plastic. It is a matter of personal taste - but they scream out at me and ruin a period room. Penners can't see them - but lets not forget that his eyesight isn't as good as it was when he was in his 650's!

For reference - these are our sockets:

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/6745/2-Gang-Plug-Sockets-with-White-Switches-Hammered - click antiqued brass.

And these are our switches:

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5775/3-Gang-Brass-Dolly-Switch-Hammered


The website really does make these look a bit Disney - but in real life they look lovely. I doubt however that my image of them being forged by hand with dragon's breath beneath the Cotswold hills is accurate. They are probably made by Vietnamese schoolchildren in a Laos sweatshop.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I take it back. No Vietnamese schoolchildren are harmed in the making of Jim Lawrence stuff:

http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=37&cat=4ABOUTUS

 

[skier-hughes]

Same here, we spent a fortune on hand aged brass from Broughton's
http://tinyurl.com/cltyj62 for the sockets
and here for the switches
http://tinyurl.com/css8rwj

We made our own oak patresses and used the black base.

This is what they look like in situ

 

[Penners]

I doubt however that my image of them being forged by hand with dragon's breath beneath the Cotswold hills is accurate.

You are correct that you are incorrect! They're forged by elves (the descendants of Norse svartálfar) in cavern deep below the Suffolk mountains. So there!

 

[Penners]

This is what they look like in situ

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I love it, Graham! An authentic Georgian lightswitch right beside an authentic Samsung LCD television!

 

[skier-hughes]

It's an LED, which is why it's so authentic Good job the oak framing was made like it was to hang it from ...................

 

[Penners]

It's an LED

I ever so 'umbly beg its pardon! Did you have to choose an LED because an LCD was too heavy for the framing?




I'm teasing!

 

[skier-hughes]

LED's a re so much thinner, so it just meant that it didn't stick out too much, have enought to bang our heads on with low beams and doorways without adding a tele as well :wink: I'll pass your comment to John, jo's Dad, for for him to reply to!!!!!

 

[MdB]

If it really is an (O)LED display then call me impressed and tell us more (the Samsung displays aren't due to the launched before the end of the year so you must have a secret supply and a very big wallet).

What I'm guessing though is that it is an LCD display with an LED backlight. Far less exciting...

 

[robgil]

I dont like the brass type sockets , I will be using these or a variation of these.

They are what they are , plug sockets. I will use pipelike metal trunking from socket to floor (ground floor cables will be buried in the floor) and the sockets will sit quite close to the floor. The timber and daub walls will be the star of the show , the electric sockets will be totally utilitarian.


Light switches will be bakelite or genuine brass dolly switches. Nothing wrong with the genuine old ones except you can unscrew them, so , put a grub screw in them and earth the covers.
These are then mounted on oak and surface mount wiring, possibly in a braid will be the type in a cloth jacket? This type of stuff.

I have done one of these and will get a photo tonight when I walk round to the cottage.

 

[Jellyfire]

Thanks all, that's what I was hoping for, I know nothing is going to be 'in keeping' for
the period, but I think that there are much more pleasing materials to complement lime plaster and oak than white plastic... Our comfy sofa isnt 16th century, but I don't think that means I should have an ugly plastic one to reinforce the point!

Am liking the suggestions, and more importantly so is my good lady wife, the brass is looking favourite at present, I might get one to try out in situ and take it from there.

 

[Feltwell]

the sockets will sit quite close to the floor.

If you're getting building regs to sign the work off I don't think you can do this any more Rob - they have to be a certain height off the floor, I'm sure Zebra can tell you.

I quite like "metal clad" sockets (as you pictured) in certain places - they certainly suit conversions of ex-industrial buildings, when used with metal conduit. I've put them in my garage, for purely utilitarian reasons of course, with plastic conduit.

 

[robgil]

Isnt replacing like for like more of a repair than a regs thing?

 

[Woody3]

FWIW, we were debating for a good number of weeks what switches and sockets to go for. We wanted something dark and not shiny. White plastic just didn't work.

Anyway, these are what we went for. We chose the toggle switch to give a bit more of an "oldie" feeling.

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Graphite/index.html

We are really impressed with them, especially for the price!

Robgil - if it's replacing like for like, then you are fine.

 

[Moo]

Those Jim Lawrence sockets are all very well, but why on earth do they make the working bits such a glaring contrast? I'm sure there's nothing in the regulations that says they have to be white!