Old Junction box - How old?

[Gavin John Hyde]

At a house today to install a new electric shower,
When in the loft by the hatch I come across a metal box with wires coming and going, open it up and find this.
Has a mix of very old wiring which surprisingly tests out okay on IR testing all >60 Mohms on the old metal braided sheathed cables. Tested some out of curiosity.
How old do you think it might be? House was built in 1970s so my guess is its the original stuff.
Will be rewiring the place next year but for now ran a new circuit and small CU for a shower.
Its quite neat the dressing of cables inside so somebody took time to do it. Looks like somebody has added to it in recent years.
@Pete999 Having lived down these parts its on the Cranmore Estate up off Upper Bloomfield by the Red Lion Pub. Not your handy work was it?

 

[Dave OCD]

No, it's not lead. It's PVC with wire-braided oversheath which serves as the CPC, connected by clamping bars at entry to the boxes. 'Octopus' system by Hartley Automotive as Multimick says. Looks like imperial sizes so more like 1960s than 70s. May be fine for decades yet.

The whole cable set and JB was factory-made to the designer's dimensions. The octopus box was put in place and the cables unrolled to the points. No cutting or stripping done on site and half the termination already done and tested.

Lucien, in the Council house that I grew up in I remember a sticker on the wooden backed Wylex [The type that had an independent fuse way to the right of the main switch usually for the cooker] that said 'Octoflex wiring systems'. Do you have any info on this ?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Lucien, in the Council house that I grew up in I remember a sticker on the wooden backed Wylex [The type that had an independent fuse way to the right of the main switch usually for the cooker] that said 'Octoflex wiring systems'. Do you have any info on this ?

Coincentally this house has 2 boards the old one supplying lights has 3036 fuses and then has a green fuse holder sayinf 1361 type 2.40 amp fuse to right of main switch. I installed my shower circuit in a new small metal cu and didnt touch it.

 

[Dave OCD]

That's the type Gavin, always a green 40amp cartridge - and the cooker wiring was the old imperial closer to 10mm than 6mm, possibly 7/.052.

 

[Toneyz]

I think that I came across one of those junction boxes a few years ago and posted it on here we went to have a look as it needed rewiring the junction box was recessed into the ceiling upstairs I think the wiring was VIR and was crumbling.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

'Octoflex wiring systems'. Do you have any info on this ?

I don't know, will have to have a trawl. I wouldn't be surprised to find it was also a trademark of Hartley's.

came across one of those junction boxes a few years ago.... I think the wiring was VIR

I'm not sure when the system first came on the market but yes, it was VIR to begin with.

 

[pirate]

We always used shortbread tins here in Scotland. The lid fitted just right.
Plus, if you came upon one there was just the chance that a spare finger of shortbread was left inside, so there was an incentive to check it.