The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which originally
had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a K&T fuse panel,
also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls and ceilings, which
were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928 renovation/ addition.
The 1928 work included making the attic into an apartment. The K&T was from
the original build, and all the other cable types were subsequent, including
the 1928 renovation, up until present. The beverage containers could have
been from the original construction, or possibly the 28' renovation despite
prohibition


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...sNodatesto.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...assbushing.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...raguecable.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...onwithnobl.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ecteddurin.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...relectricf.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dintostuds.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...stallation.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alledin192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dNM-AC-Spr.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ntofusebox.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ornetsnest.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...seboxlocat.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...icedisconn.jpg

"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which originally
had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a K&T fuse
panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls and
ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction, or
possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition


Thanks for the pics Roy. They brought back some memories. I recall at
least one house where the gas lines were still live.

I don't think I have ever seen fuse boxes like those. Are they plaster
lined wood frames?




http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...sNodatesto.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...assbushing.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...raguecable.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...onwithnobl.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ecteddurin.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...relectricf.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dintostuds.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...stallation.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alledin192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dNM-AC-Spr.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ntofusebox.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ornetsnest.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...seboxlocat.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...icedisconn.jpg

"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...

"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which
originally had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a
K&T fuse panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls
and ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction,
or possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition


Thanks for the pics Roy. They brought back some memories. I recall at
least one house where the gas lines were still live.

I don't think I have ever seen fuse boxes like those. Are they plaster
lined wood frames?

Years ago, working in Mount Vernon, NY I would run into live gas lines
frequently. I'd have a blind hickey threaded onto what I thought was the
stud of a pancake, and of course it's sticking out of the ceiling to far to
mount a standard fixture, so I'd remove it only to find live gas.

We found contractor papers describing the 1928 renovation and it appears
that all the gas lines were disconnected at that time. Both the fuse box and
the main disconnect are line with a soft asbestos sheeting, about 1/4"
thick. They did a really neat job, so it does look like plaster. I actually
pulled some off the see exactly what it was.
I've seen many K&T jobs. This is a three family and only the third floor was
primarily cable, the first two floors mostly K&T. I didn't take any pictures
of it as it was the ugliest K&T install I've ever seen. Usually I marvel at
the workmanship considering how labor intensive it was to install that
stuff. Maybe it has something to do with all the beverage containers

Roy




http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...sNodatesto.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...assbushing.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...raguecable.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...onwithnobl.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ecteddurin.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...relectricf.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dintostuds.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...stallation.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alledin192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dNM-AC-Spr.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ntofusebox.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ornetsnest.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...seboxlocat.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...icedisconn.jpg

RBM wrote:
"John Grabowski" wrote in message
....
Thanks for the pics Roy. They brought back some memories. I recall at
least one house where the gas lines were still live.

I don't think I have ever seen fuse boxes like those. Are they plaster
lined wood frames?

Years ago, working in Mount Vernon, NY I would run into live gas lines
frequently. I'd have a blind hickey threaded onto what I thought was the
stud of a pancake, and of course it's sticking out of the ceiling to far to
mount a standard fixture, so I'd remove it only to find live gas.

We found contractor papers describing the 1928 renovation and it appears
that all the gas lines were disconnected at that time. Both the fuse box and
the main disconnect are line with a soft asbestos sheeting, about 1/4"
thick. They did a really neat job, so it does look like plaster. I actually
pulled some off the see exactly what it was.
....

Back when in VA (Lynchburg and surrounding) saw it quite often as well.
Actually had one where some of the fixtures were still in use.

The asbestos-lined fuse enclosure was also also relatively familiar in
that area altho not universal. Many were simply plastered recesses some
with, many w/o covering panels (of course, most of those may have had a
panel originally which had been lost/destroyed w/ time...).

--

Very nice documentation of old construction methods. I got a kick out of the
knife switch with exposed terminals that you could easily contact
accidentally.

"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which originally
had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a K&T fuse
panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls and
ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction, or
possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...sNodatesto.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...assbushing.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...raguecable.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...onwithnobl.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ecteddurin.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...relectricf.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dintostuds.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...stallation.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alledin192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dNM-AC-Spr.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ntofusebox.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ornetsnest.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...seboxlocat.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...icedisconn.jpg

EXT wrote:
Very nice documentation of old construction methods. I got a kick out
of the knife switch with exposed terminals that you could easily
contact accidentally.


You only contact them once.

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Very nice documentation of old construction methods. I got a kick out of
the knife switch with exposed terminals that you could easily contact
accidentally.

You'd never know it by todays standards, but back then, there were lots of
things in every day life that would bite you if handled improperly. Somehow
I don't think we're altogether better off today, many of us clueless, and
living under an assumption that some other entity is looking out for our
personal safety. In any event, I certainly wouldn't want to be reaching for
THAT switch in the dark



"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which
originally had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a
K&T fuse panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls
and ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction,
or possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition


http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...sNodatesto.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...assbushing.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...raguecable.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...onwithnobl.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ecteddurin.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...relectricf.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dintostuds.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...stallation.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alledin192.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...dNM-AC-Spr.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ntofusebox.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ornetsnest.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...seboxlocat.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...icedisconn.jpg

it appears to be 1x4's with a lot of paint.

also note they used to fuse both the hot AND neutral side.

s


"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...

I don't think I have ever seen fuse boxes like those. Are they plaster
lined wood frames?

brings back memories of the reno we did a year ago to a 1910 two story.
Some pics he http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/stevebarker/ All
the k&t was still in use along with the pushbutton switches. I rewired the
entire house.

s


"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which originally
had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a K&T fuse
panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls and
ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction, or
possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition

"Steve Barker DLT" wrote in message
...
brings back memories of the reno we did a year ago to a 1910 two story.
Some pics he http://s463.photobucket.com/albums/qq356/stevebarker/ All
the k&t was still in use along with the pushbutton switches. I rewired
the entire house.

s


"RBM" wrote in message
...
The following are pictures of a house built in the 1880's which
originally had a 30 amp 120 volt service, entering in the attic, with a
K&T fuse panel, also in the attic. The house had gas lamps in both walls
and ceilings, which were disconnected and changed to electric in a 1928
renovation/ addition. The 1928 work included making the attic into an
apartment. The K&T was from the original build, and all the other cable
types were subsequent, including the 1928 renovation, up until present.
The beverage containers could have been from the original construction,
or possibly the 28' renovation despite prohibition


That K&T job looks as sloppy as on my job. Was the rest of the house wired
like the attic, or was it neatly done? What state is the house in ?

they had strung a lot of modern romex to the kitchen and furnace ect, but
all the lights ('cept the kitchen) and all the outlets were k&t. It was an
old widow however who had been there 45 years and she didn't have any
electrical loads to speak of. And she didn't use the upstairs.

s

"RBM" wrote in message
...
That K&T job looks as sloppy as on my job. Was the rest of the house
wired like the attic, or was it neatly done? What state is the house in ?