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-   -   what were those little electrical switches called? (https://www.diybanter.com/home-repair/145527-what-were-those-little-electrical-switches-called.html)

FireBrick February 20th 06 01:14 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into a
metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them out
to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.

--


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Warren Weber February 20th 06 01:32 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 

"FireBrick" wrote in message
. ..
They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into
a metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them
out to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.

--


They were called "Despard" they are still available. WW





PanHandler February 20th 06 02:20 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
They were and still are called Menard switches.
http://www.ilc-usa.com/depardMCS.html



[email protected] February 20th 06 10:05 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
You can still get them. Try an ACE Hardware, or Menards. Both have
them. I have used them, the switches and pilot lights are good, the
outlets were only 2 prong and I dont see where a ground prong ccould
be put. But yes, you can still get them.

Even though I used them, I never knew what they were called.

PS. Electrical supply houses might be another source, including the
online ones.

Mark


On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:14:38 -0600, "FireBrick"
wrote:

They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into a
metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them out
to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.



[email protected] February 20th 06 10:09 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:20:50 -0600, "PanHandler"
wrote:

They were and still are called Menard switches.
http://www.ilc-usa.com/depardMCS.html


Menard switches ????? You're joking !!!
Unless you buy them at Menards, right?
They are not called that on the web link you posted.

[email protected] February 20th 06 03:40 PM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
They were called "despard" switches. They are still manufactured and
available. Google gives 600 hits for
despard switch

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 04:05:20 -0600, wrote:

You can still get them. Try an ACE Hardware, or Menards. Both have
them. I have used them, the switches and pilot lights are good, the
outlets were only 2 prong and I dont see where a ground prong ccould
be put. But yes, you can still get them.

Even though I used them, I never knew what they were called.

PS. Electrical supply houses might be another source, including the
online ones.

Mark


On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:14:38 -0600, "FireBrick"
wrote:

They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into a
metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them out
to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.



[email protected] February 20th 06 03:48 PM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:40:41 -0500, wrote:

They were called "despard" switches. They are still manufactured and
available. Google gives 600 hits for
despard switch


I should have added that there are switches and pilot lights and other
devices that fin any three per gang.

Googling for despard brass plate gives 810 hits including the only
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...87962?n=228013
which is a solid brass plate. This is the only link I followed, but I am
sure there are other sources too.

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 04:05:20 -0600, wrote:

You can still get them. Try an ACE Hardware, or Menards. Both have
them. I have used them, the switches and pilot lights are good, the
outlets were only 2 prong and I dont see where a ground prong ccould
be put. But yes, you can still get them.

Even though I used them, I never knew what they were called.

PS. Electrical supply houses might be another source, including the
online ones.

Mark


On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:14:38 -0600, "FireBrick"
wrote:

They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into a
metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them out
to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.



Mark Lloyd February 20th 06 06:37 PM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 23:28:12 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:14:38 -0600, "FireBrick"
wrote:

They were little 1" x 3/4" (approximately) switches that you slipped into a
metal bracket and used a small blade screwdriver to bend a retaining tab
into the frame of the switch.
I have one wall outlet, with 3 of those little switches.
don't think they are made anymore and it would be a pain to change them out
to newer.

But...reason I'm searching is I need a brass switch plate to cover them.
the standard 4.5" x 2.75" plate with those 3 little holes.
The plate would be mounted horizontally, the 3 switches would be vertical.

I've searched the fancy cover plate sites with no joy.

All the covers in the house are shiny brass except for this old cheap
plastic cover that customer wants to replace.



Now you can get a "Decora" unit with 3 switches in a single yoke.


That's what I did when I had some of those little switches that I
needed to replace. I found them at the local Lowe's. You can get
either a double or a triple switch. These are one piece with one
terminal common for all switches.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

PanHandler February 20th 06 10:45 PM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 20:20:50 -0600, "PanHandler"
wrote:

They were and still are called Menard switches.
http://www.ilc-usa.com/depardMCS.html


Menard switches ????? You're joking !!!
Unless you buy them at Menards, right?
They are not called that on the web link you posted.


LOL - My keyboard read my mind wrong.



mm February 21st 06 04:36 AM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:48:20 -0500, wrote:


Googling for despard brass plate gives 810 hits including the only
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...87962?n=228013
which is a solid brass plate. This is the only link I followed, but I am
sure there are other sources too.


I've found that adding shipping to the google is a good way to
find pages that sell things.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

FireBrick February 21st 06 10:04 PM

what were those little electrical switches called?
 
Thank you once I found out they were called Despard Switches, I found a
vendor of the proper plates online.


"mm" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:48:20 -0500, wrote:


Googling for despard brass plate gives 810 hits including the only
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...87962?n=228013
which is a solid brass plate. This is the only link I followed, but I am
sure there are other sources too.


I've found that adding shipping to the google is a good way to
find pages that sell things.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.





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