Sustainability is the name of the game! Anything (that has been tested and still functioning properly) should be repurposed creating saving in wasted Ee and reducing the poisoning our environment when items are buried in the earth at the local tip needlessly.
Never heard of Ee? It is a concept that creates a measurement of ALL things (not just electronics) that humans have made and the energy used in obtaining the raw material, processing the materials right through to a finished product and even should include the shipping of the item to the distributors/retailers.
If you would like to know more about Ee values, please take a look HERE
These classic toggle switches are so useful if you are restoring OLD electronic equipment, particularly amplifiers and general industrial equipment -I personally just love these old (but well made) toggle switches ... with that nice audible "click" (aural feedback) when operated, the way switches SHOULD be and there is just something about these nice fat toggle levers - nice!
While I have saved quite a few "English born & bred" vintage switches (ARCO etc) I do NOT think this switch was created in UK, more likely to have been Japan. The English loved stamping the country of origin on their switches but these switches do not have the country of manufacture stamped into the body, in fact there is barely any identification information on these switches!
UNIDENTIFIED MANUFACTURER - Toggle Switch
Country of origin is unknown
Vintage (as in ... estimated from the 1950's ~ 1970's period) based on the use of bakelite for the body
Part number: unknown
Type: Double Pole Double Position
Rating (stamped into the body) is 3A 250V ~
Toggle all metal (Chrome plated) round lever
Black main body (which I believe is bakelite) with a 'plate' which looks to be a phenolic resin material. I tested the body for bakelite with the 'rub test' and came away with the typical Brown/Yellow residue and that smell of formaldehyde which confirms this is very likely to be bakelite material (early plastic)
This switch also comes with the 2x metal nuts and an ON-OFF all metal decal which will only fit in one direction.
Completely sealed body, although I notice that the top section is held to the lower part of the body with two Philips head screws which means you COULD get inside (perhaps for a cleanup I guess) but I was not game to open it up - there is a spring in there which is probably just waiting for the chance to escape!
Terminals at the rear (6) are suited to either a spade connector or can be soldered (previously not soldered)
DIMENSIONS:
Body: 28.25mm x 19.75mm x 14.5mm deep
Metal actuator lever is 4.75mm OD x 12mm length
Requires a panel hole approximately 11.75mm OD
COSMETIC CONDITION:
I have two of these switches, they are identical except the 'top plate' on one is a different colour resin than the other ... the comments below apply equally to both
USED
Clean
Physical toggle action is positive and secure in both directions.
ON-OFF decal is undamaged
Contact resistance checked in either position, no issues here at all (very low resistance - sub one Ohm)
Spade terminations are very clean
I have now placed these switches into individual sealed clear plastic packets, where they wait to "turn on" other equipment.
