On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 10:31:46 UTC, PoP
wrote:

Remember the days with round pin sockets protected by 30A fuse wire in
the fuse box? Tested it out that day. Big spark as the sidecutters
chomped into the wire - and a nifty hole with melted edges where the
jaws of the sidecutters used to be.

I still have a pair of sidecutters like that...happened about 35 years
ago, at school. Was working on stage lighting, and building a circuit up
on the gantry. Climbed gantry, chopped wire at right length, and found
some idiiot had (a) thrown the main breaker (back on), plugged in the
circuit, replaced the fuse, and turned it on. He said he didn't
realise...I nearly fell off, handing onto an earthed gantry....!

Talking of round pin plugs, I pulled one of those out of asocket when I
was about seven..fascinated with electricity. DC mains...big
arc...armchair on fire from ignited newspapers near socket. All I
remember is sitting on my gran's lap, getting excited about seeing a
fire engine close up....

--
Bob Eager
rde at tavi.co.uk
PC Server 325*4; PS/2s 9585, 8595, 9595*2, 8580*3,
P70...