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Can anyone identify this?

R

Rob66

Member
Hi everyone, I've had a browse around and this is certainly a fascinating site with a number of real experts here keen to help those of us who haven't got a clue. That'll give you an idea of why I'm here... I have something I cannot identify!

This was giving to me when I was a young boy nearly 40 years ago so I don't remember a lot of what was said at the time. However, the guy who gave it to me (a neighbour of my grandfather) had served on submarines in WW1 and told me it was part of a German mine the crew had dismantled.

It's around 7 inches high (I can measure it properly if it'll help) with no markings on apart from those shown in the pictures. An electrician friend of mine looked at it and thought it might be a magnetic or proximity switch. It's made mostly of Bakelite and metal with a rubber seal in the square end plate as you can see in the pictures.

Having discovered this at the bottom of a box after a recent house move I'm now intrigued to find out what it is. Does anyone have any idea?

Thanks very much!
 

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Hi Rob66<
I'm no expert on mines but i would say it is German, going by the style of the number on the back. Do the bakelite parts have any monograms or letters embossed?
Cheers
Hangarman
 
I agree the numbering looks to be German style I also think being bakerlite it could be of WW2 rather than WW1 era??
I'm sure someone will be able to identify it for you
.... wondering if it could it be related to an accoustic mine? (microphone??) (thinking aloud and pure guesswork though!!)

regards Kev
 
Thanks for the replies. The only lettering/numbering is on the bakelite base.
The white painted on script says: Nr.1386328
There are six wiring terminals, labelled as:
Z + S1
- O S2

The bakelite wire clip has the number 6 in a circle on it and there's also a number 17 in a circle to the side.

I've rechecked and the whole thing's more like 4" tall, not 7.

It's an interesting point about the bakelite; although invented in 1909 and seems to have gone into full production in the US in 1922 although Baekeland himself started semi-commercial production in his laboratory in 1910. -
 
Hi Butterlfy, that does look very similar although not exactly the same as far as I can make out but it's certainly the closest I've seen anywhere. Thanks!
 
Kev, I've just taken another look at the photos you posted and underneath the circled area is something that looks very similar - although not exactly the same - as the underside of whatever I've got.
 
Rob66 said:
Kev, I've just taken another look at the photos you posted and underneath the circled area is something that looks very similar - although not exactly the same - as the underside of whatever I've got.
Click to expand...

To be honest thats what I was thinking on the one I circled. On the third photograph you posted (the bottom of the item) you can see two indentations with screw holes, in the one I circled you can see what appears to be two aluminium strips which fit into these for securing. Its not very clear on the image I posted but I was rather hoping that someone with access to detailed information on these may use it as a starting point for a positive ID.

At least it is a pointer in the right direction the fitments look the same and the mine is German WW2 though I am not certain of the type of mechanism it has - there were quite a number of different designs, some of which were quite similar.

Good luck with it

regards Kev
 
Apart from Kev's potential identification in the photo, is there no more info? Someone out there must recognise it :)
 
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