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UnevenEdge

I am cleaning push-button light switches from the 1930's.


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Posted
Just now, scoobdog said:

How safe are those switches?

Tested tried and true! They were removed from two bedrooms just before New Year's, and had been in the house when electricity was installed in (I think) 1928. Even survived a re-wiring in 1978!

 

I'll hop on my phone and grab a pic

Posted

I think they're the like "second design" of light switches. I remember the farm house my g-pop renovated had what I have, and two were like a toggle thing that fucking arced when you flipped it on xD

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

I think they're the like "second design" of light switches. I remember the farm house my g-pop renovated had what I have, and two were like a toggle thing that fucking arced when you flipped it on xD

I found original ones on Amazon 

Posted
Just now, Misaka said:

I found original ones on Amazon 

There are reproductions, but my 1894 house had most of the old stuff already out. Plus the house is 2 blocks from a college campus so making it modern was the better route.

Posted
48 minutes ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

to add a cool old-school touch to my basement.

 

They came from my 1894 home, and are going in a 1973 home.

 

And when I move in a couple years, I'll take them with me.

This reminds me... I need a neon glowing switch plate.

Posted
7 minutes ago, Still Me said:

I think the oldest thing in our apartment is the dishwasher....it’s from the early 70’s....and it’s about to be replaced...WOOOOOOOOO

The heating system in this house is original from 1973... and I already had to rig it :|

Posted
Just now, Rogue_Alphonse said:

It will be getting replaced this summer.

 

A new MUCH more efficient furnace is only juuuust some change over $500.

What scares me is wiring that hasn’t been updated since then...that can’t be good...that also mean you have asbestos right?

Posted
5 minutes ago, Still Me said:

What scares me is wiring that hasn’t been updated since then...that can’t be good...that also mean you have asbestos right?

Nah, 70's wiring is totally fine. In fact wiring codes haven't changed much since then.

60's had a little bout of aluminum wiring that was disastrous., 50's and 40's... well there were fuses rather than breakers... and 30's and older was knob-and-tube, which is shit I have dealt with in the past. Ugh.

 

Oh and no asbestos. My dad's house from 1954 has asbestos siding, but it can't hurt you unless you break it up and breathe in the dust.

Posted
1 minute ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

Nah, 70's wiring is totally fine. In fact wiring codes haven't changed much since then.

60's had a little bout of aluminum wiring that was disastrous., 50's and 40's... well there were fuses rather than breakers... and 30's and older was knob-and-tube, which is shit I have dealt with in the past. Ugh.

 

Oh and no asbestos. My dad's house from 1954 has asbestos siding, but it can't hurt you unless you break it up and breathe in the dust.

Oh well then that’s good....I still think regular switches would be better....or dimmer switches...DIMMER SWITCHES

 

 

 

Posted
34 minutes ago, Still Me said:

Oh well then that’s good....I still think regular switches would be better....or dimmer switches...DIMMER SWITCHES

 

 

 

My dad had me install dimmer switches on all kinds of shit in his house FUCK THOSE.

Posted
12 hours ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

I kind of like pushing a button, though these fuckers are LOUD xD

Now blind people will know for sure when you've turned the lights on... >_>

Posted
17 hours ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

to add a cool old-school touch to my basement.

 

They came from my 1894 home, and are going in a 1973 home.

 

And when I move in a couple years, I'll take them with me.

glass plate lamp shades from around a sconce or hanging shades from the 20's can be worth a pretty penny.  i wonder about those switches?  are they valuable antiques?

Posted
1 minute ago, mumbojummie13 said:

glass plate lamp shades from around a sconce or hanging shades from the 20's can be worth a pretty penny.  i wonder about those switches?  are they valuable antiques?

Like $20? I dunno.

Posted

i don't think the switches themselves are worth much, mostly because they're still kinda common and they don't meet code. you can also get new versions of the push switches that are code and look a lot like the old ones (pearloid buttons and all). but if the switches and wiring are that old, chances are some of the fixtures are old as well, and that's where the money is. we have push-button switches all through our upstairs (house was built in 1917), and a lot of original brass fixtures with crystal shades. there's one waterfall fixture in particular that we could probably sell for upwards of $500 if we wanted to, but the wall sconces and pendant lamps are all in the $100-200 range.

original door hardware is something to watch for as well.

Posted
1 hour ago, Rogue_Alphonse said:

Yeah, all the fixtures and door hardware are long gone. Even the gas lanterns the house had before electric was installed is gone.

that sucks. someone else apparently saw the $$ on those too. 

i sometimes hop on feebay and look to see if someone's selling some of that old stuff. i'm trying to slowly bring the whole house back to "original" where i can. the old brass wall plates are getting harder to find all the time, and they ain't cheap.

Posted
52 minutes ago, wacky1980 said:

that sucks. someone else apparently saw the $$ on those too. 

i sometimes hop on feebay and look to see if someone's selling some of that old stuff. i'm trying to slowly bring the whole house back to "original" where i can. the old brass wall plates are getting harder to find all the time, and they ain't cheap.

My grandfather bought the house in 1975 and had it changed from a duplex to one whole house in 1978, so I think at that time those fixtures were worthless. Though as much antique shit he hoarded, I am surprised the old fixtures haven't popped up yet.

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