Electrical Installations before 1930

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS BEFORE 1930

Overview of Electrics before 1930

The National Grid was not proposed until 1926, so electrical distribution was not widespread until the early 1930s.
Regional distribution by a number of independent local companies, privately owned generators (dynamos) and storage batteries
were the order of the day.
As far as appliances were concerned, electric lights were available and almost as good as gas lamps of the time.
Electric motors and various industrial machinery were in use in factories.

The logo for the "Lektrik" company - makers of light switches from their 1919 catalogue.

Page 1 from the Lektrik 1919 switch catalogue

"Lektrik" was obviously a company you would want to work for.

A Page from the Lektrik 1919 switch catalogue

The tech to have in 1919 was "Lektrik" - Gas was so "not cool".

A selection of "Lektrik" components.

A selection of "Lektrik" components, including some dangerous looking plugs and sockets.

A 1950's Lincoln style Lektrik light switch we found in 2011

In 2011 we found this "Lincoln" style Lektrik light switch in a house built in the mid 1950's.

The property owners were in the process of restoring the property, preserving the original features where possible.
Our brief was to -

Get the lights working without destroying the wood panelling.
If possible, repair the original light switch.
or
Replace the switch with as near a match to the original as possible
i.e. - not white plastic rubbish.

A 1950's Lektrik light switch removed and cleaned up

We carefully removed the switch and cleaned it up.

The construction of the switch on a porcelain base with brass contacts had not changed very much from that shown in the 1919 catalogue.
Although this is a "Lincoln" style switch, whereas switches in the 1919 catalogue were "Dolly" switches.

The only "modern" aspect of the updated design was a Bakelite front plate.

The before and after restoration photographs

The property owners wanted to preserve the original switch and wood panelling.

This involved:

Carefully removing the switch cover & switch.
Cleaning the switch without damaging any of the delicate parts.
Testing the switch to make sure it was safe to use with mains voltages.
Replacing the original perished rubber cabling with modern PVC cabling
- including an Earth connection (and without damaging the wood panelling).
Re-assembling the switch and switch plate.
Testing the switch under normal operating conditions.

And it's likely to outlast many modern plastic switches.
NOTE: Do not attempt to repair, restore or re-use old switches.
Working with such delicate materials requires specialised skill and knowledge and more importantly,
they need testing for safety before being put back into service.