Can anybody identify this item?

[DerekM]

Hello,

I wonder if anybody can identify the item in the attached photographs?

We moved into a victorian property (circa 1900) last year and currently renovating.

We pulled up floorbaords in the hall the other day and found the item in the attached photographs. It's made of iron and has the following imprinted on the front: "15A 250V Made in England". It has two cloth covered wires feeding in from the bottom and two more feeding out the top.

Can anybody tell us more about this item? How old is it? What exactly is it? Where can we find more information about it? I've tried googling but haven't found anything as yet.

Laying close to it was a lead covered section of cable roughly 1/2 inch in diameter which splits into two at one end? Is this related to the other item?

Any help in identifying this item will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Derek

 

[nikmet]

its an old, maybe 1940? switch fuse, which provides isolation and overload protection to the circuit its connected to, hope this helps?

 

[Guest123]

My grandperants house had 4 of them up until a couple of years ago, & an early wodden CU with porcelain fuses in L & N!!!

 

[Marvo]

Similar equipment is still available but it's not used in the UK domestic installations any more. This is the modern day equivalent.

 

[Des 56]

They were as common as chips a few years ago

They didn't much distinguish between domestic and industrial at one time
The item was generally made by "Bill" and can be found in many older industrial units in large quantities even today

 

[Knobhead]

I remember working on them as an apprentice. I think they were made by MEM.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Looks like MEM to me.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep 15 amp double pole switched fuse remember then it was ok to fuse the neutral as well and 1900 na it 1940-50

O and the 2 "cloth" covered fuses is Asbestos lining

 

[Guitarist]

Looks like MEM to me.

First thing that popped in to my mind too

 

[telectrix]

I remember working on them as an apprentice. I think they were made by MEM.

surprised you've not made him an offer for it before engineer54 snaffles it up.

 

[DurhamSparky]

View attachment 11675

still around

 

[Knobhead]

surprised you've not made him an offer for it before engineer54 snaffles it up.

I’ve got enough junk as it is!

 

[Brightspark2]

I still come across these every now and again...Didnt know it was asbestos inside...

 

[parker56]

modern day version?

 

[telectrix]

just the old one with a paint job.