Accession No

4621

Brief Description

plug key switch, by Unicam, English, mid C20th

Origin

Cambridge; England

Maker

Unicam Instrument Company

Class

electrical

Earliest Date

1934

Latest Date

1970

Inscription Date

Material

metal (copper, brass); plastic (ebonite, bakelite)

Dimensions

height 55mm; width 90mm; length 75mm; depth of base 10mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Donated on 25/07/1997.

Inscription

“UIC”
“No 1932” on the base
“UNICAM” on the plug switch

Description Notes

Plug key switch, by Unicam, English, mid C20th.

2 way plug key switch with 3 connections mounted on an ebonite base. For use in creating electrical circuits. Three brass partly-lacquered blocks are screwed (brass screws) into the ebonite base. The longest block runs across the width, the two smaller down the length. The key plugs are positioned at the crossing points. To allow an accurate fit a small semicircle of brass is cut away from both the length and width blocks. The key plugs are made of copper cylindrical poles with what appears to be a bakelite key head (‘unicam’ in raised lettering on the top). The three connections are at the opposite ends to the key heads. These comprise a plastic topped “nut” that tightens onto a brass screw, sandwiched between the nut and screw is a copper plate with a curled end for attaching electrodes - thus creating the circuit.

Condition good; complete.

References

Events