Can someone help identify this old device? It's mounted almost 9 feet up the wall of a garage in an early 1950's California house, and the other side of the wall is the kitchen. No obvious signs of what it might connect to inside.
This is what's stamped on the body: RITTENHOUSE 5 V.A. no. 180
Photo:
Thanks for any details. Jim
t
Looks like the door bell transformer to me.
Neil S.
Probably the door-bell transformer. If so, you'd probably find a few volts of AC on those two screw terminals... and disconnecting either wire would leave your doorbell inoperable.
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 15:18:05 -0700 (PDT), nesesu put finger to keyboard and composed:
I think I can see Bugle and Bell terminals, so I guess it may be a novelty door bell.
- Franc Zabkar
nesesu wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@b4g2000pra.googlegroups.com:
That rings true, since searching for that brand name brought up links for old doorbells. Not sure why it's so far from the doorbell itself - at the kitchen entrance.
Thanks. Jim
Franc Zabkar wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
The doorbell itself is just a simple two-tone plunger type.
Jim
t
In the Dining Room, also look for a push button in the floor [may be covered over now] near where the master would sit. That transformer may have been the power to ring the maid's bell.
That's definately a door bell transformer. the 5VA refers to the output capacity (roughly 5 watt). that wire you see is the old "push back" bell wire. waxed cotton, you just "push back" to expose the copper.
Jeff
That would require Viagra. ;-)
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