"toller" wrote in message
...
Somewhere the white wire has become disconnected. You must trace the
circuit and repair it.

Some outlet boxes are connected to a wall switch. Maybe someone ran the
white ground wire through the switch box instead of the black hot line.
Check to see if there is a wall switch, probably near the door, which seems
to have no useful function. Switch it on and see if the outlet works
properly.

Another slim possibility is that someone ran the white ground wire through
the fuse instead of the hot line.

Having worked on a lot of old houses and buildings, I've seen all sorts of
bizarre electrical work.

Paul