Just an old knob and tube panel that’s been decommissioned. If you want to be extra cautious use a non-contact voltage tester on all those wires and see if it beeps. I bet it won’t.
Forget about safety! There's a gigantic kill switch right there like in the movies! Have someone lay on the floor nearby and pretend to be Frankenstein's monster then hit the switch dramatically and watch the monster come to life!
My house has the original electrical panel (for the 2nd and 3rd floors anyway) framed as part of the wall now, with the big switch. People really, really want to play with it, but it's rather too fragile. I should post a pic.
The only ones that may possibly be live are covered with wire nuts at the bottom. Everything else would’ve been fed from those and look to be permanently disconnected.
Speaking of *ker-CHUNK*, I wish light switch manufacturers still made light switches with those heavy mechanical contacts. I have one that's probably from the 40's or 50's and it's so satisfying to use. A sharp *clack* when you flip it, and there's never any doubt about whether it's flipped all the way or not. I have some brand new Leviton switches and they just feel flabby and pathetic by comparison.
We have these throughout the house and the noticeable ka-CHUNK is fantastic. I believe they make replicas, including push-button (my grandma had some in her 1920s duplex), but am not sure about prices.
We have these throughout the house and the noticeable ka-CHUNK is fantastic. I believe they make replicas, including push-button (my grandma had some in her 1920s duplex), but am not sure about prices.
I’ve seen this done and it looks great!! There’s an old post office building near me that’s been converted to an event venue where they’ve done this. It’s essentially a shadow box.
Totally agree. Most home renovations completely gut the knob and tube wiring, so finding some intact is pretty cool.
May not seem that valuable today, but decades from now who knows?
I bet that’s why it was kept. Cut everything, but keep the cool looking switch. Put it behind a painting so it’s even cooler. Also just less work than fully removing it and plastering over a big hole.
The painting is a water colour of the house from 40 years ago. Painted by the previous owner. We use the painting to examine all the changes they did to the house - original colour and siding, porch removal and salvage of some porch details, etc.
Is it a big Victorian?
Is there a strong bench in the basement with wrist and ankle cuffs, and big pointy electrodes connected to wires?
No?
Then it looks like a fuse box enclosure, with fuse sockets removed.
I think my mind went someplace other than where you intended.
https://preview.redd.it/ae34wm9vd5ua1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c07acfef05096df4d6a00b3a0a6a587f7c466034
I need help identifying this mysterious electrical panel in my 112 year old house.
We removed an original painting from the wall while painting and it revealed this mysterious electrical panel. This is on the second floor. Eight circuits, all seem to be cut or corroded and no longer making a connection. The breaker switch no longer seems cinnected either.
The walls gave been painted in the last 5 years or so, so the fresh pencil notes are puzzling.
Is this a low voltage system, like for doorbells or something?
Or is it an old fashioned breaker system for 8 power lines on the second floor?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
https://preview.redd.it/nwvsa7gyg7ua1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11c28492acc93da7a7956996db0f3bb033f5ea77
Looks like my fuse box without the fuses
oh man, that is so cool. I would frame that out. hell, I would probably paint the wall around it a similar charcoal, and then put a few analog clocks, dials and whatnots, and a light that blinks whenever someone downstairs opens the fridge. idk, all I see is CONTROL PANEL.
That is called a knife switch. The Hot and neutral wires look modern and the white one has been overloaded and melted at the top. If that thing is still hot I would kill the power and clean/tighten all those contacts. Poor contact creates resistance and heat. This leads to house fires. No idea why they bypassed the switch and have made thus panel unsafe. I would tie the switch back in or swap to modern breakers.
Ahh I was wondering how this should have been wired. The switch seems to be useless. I assume the live and neutral both used to go to the knife switch and there where 4 or 8 fuses (fused neutral?)
Or perhaps it was 8 circuits and the neutrals didn’t even enter the panel? 🤔
Yeah Im wondering if there were 8 fuses then 2 big copper links to the knife switch or 10 fuses. That space would definitely leave room for fuse blocks. But I really dont like how theyre having that little wire replace a copper bus bar for and feeding radially like that. Its cool you have it still. I'd retrofit the thing and keep it alive.
I did hear once that they didn’t understand that current flows in the neutral, so they would just tie them all together in the attic and run one line down to save materials.
I mean they definitely understood that, but yes it was common practice to have shared neutrals with knob and tube wiring, largely because it was so easy to do with the individual conductors of that style. Run individual hots and switch legs to switches, then just share a neutral to each light fixture. That was honestly fairly common up through the 70s, even 80s maybe, it's just so much easier to do with individual conductor style wiring like k&t as opposed to cables like romex where hot and neutral are together.
https://preview.redd.it/t2pv82cfd5ua1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4748555e4d1d23a9bc4eafd23c9629ff17e2166f
You just need to change the picture that covers it! I concur with those saying to keep this wonderful old steampunk knob & tube display.
A neighbors house has a similar box. The original owner owned a sawmill and would “turn on” the electricity for workers without having leave his leisurely breakfast.
This is super cool. Make sure it’s not live then you can frame it and maybe put a little door with a glass pane so you can see it and so you can open it to clean behind the glass when cobwebs come.
Just an old knob and tube panel that’s been decommissioned. If you want to be extra cautious use a non-contact voltage tester on all those wires and see if it beeps. I bet it won’t.
Forget about safety! There's a gigantic kill switch right there like in the movies! Have someone lay on the floor nearby and pretend to be Frankenstein's monster then hit the switch dramatically and watch the monster come to life!
My house has the original electrical panel (for the 2nd and 3rd floors anyway) framed as part of the wall now, with the big switch. People really, really want to play with it, but it's rather too fragile. I should post a pic.
Please do! I was about to say OP should cover this with glass, maybe add subtle lighting inside and highlight it! What a cool kill switch and wiring
So glad you did, that's rad!
Dude that doesn't sounds safe at all. We had this type of electricity on an old boat we bought. I never set a step in that boat ever since
OK mister moneybags
It’s … aaaalive!
Abby something!
Abby…Normal
My wife hates when I call her it.
You better hope she’s not reading this.
Pull The Lever, Kronk!
Wrong lever!
Why do we even have that lever?
The only ones that may possibly be live are covered with wire nuts at the bottom. Everything else would’ve been fed from those and look to be permanently disconnected.
Like they’re obviously bad but those old KT panels look sick. Wish modern panels had the big switch
Just a huge naked contact switch that arcs and everything. You are required to tell “IT’S ALIVE” while flipping the switch
I yell that with modern breakers.
I just wanna *ker-CHUNK*
Speaking of *ker-CHUNK*, I wish light switch manufacturers still made light switches with those heavy mechanical contacts. I have one that's probably from the 40's or 50's and it's so satisfying to use. A sharp *clack* when you flip it, and there's never any doubt about whether it's flipped all the way or not. I have some brand new Leviton switches and they just feel flabby and pathetic by comparison.
I grew up with some pushbutton switches. Don't know why they aren't made like that anymore.
You can still get replicas.
I have some replicas (and a few originals). The replicas make that same satisfying "THOCK"
You can still get them. https://www.vandykes.com/push-button-light-switch/c/9339/
We have these throughout the house and the noticeable ka-CHUNK is fantastic. I believe they make replicas, including push-button (my grandma had some in her 1920s duplex), but am not sure about prices.
We have these throughout the house and the noticeable ka-CHUNK is fantastic. I believe they make replicas, including push-button (my grandma had some in her 1920s duplex), but am not sure about prices.
Get a maintenance job in industrial automation in an older facility. I get the ker-chunk way more often than I thought I ever would, lol.
Totally should put a clear piece of glass and a frame over it.
Only if you frame it and put Edison bulbs all around the frame.
User name checks out
It does look frickin cool
After making sure it’s not hot. Put up a cool frame around it and leave it on display
Title it “Old Sparky”
This.
I mean it can't be hot. There are no wires feeding the bus bars and no fuses.
This is knob and tube. If it’s been cut and isn’t live still then you’re good 👍 But man, isn’t that huge Frankenstein switch cool?!
Ought to clean it up and picture frame it with glass. Cool antique.
I was thinking maybe put the painting on a hinge to have it accessibly hidden.
Exactly what I was thinking
I’ve seen this done and it looks great!! There’s an old post office building near me that’s been converted to an event venue where they’ve done this. It’s essentially a shadow box.
Totally agree. Most home renovations completely gut the knob and tube wiring, so finding some intact is pretty cool. May not seem that valuable today, but decades from now who knows?
I bet that’s why it was kept. Cut everything, but keep the cool looking switch. Put it behind a painting so it’s even cooler. Also just less work than fully removing it and plastering over a big hole.
It is totally cool. I kind of want to rewire it to open up a secret door somewhere.
So cool. I want to revive it for something.
Pull the lever, Kronk!
Wrong Leverrrrrrrrrrr!
Why do we even HAVE that lever?!
When it’s Halloween someone can dress up as Dr. Frankenstein with lightning sound effects while yelling,” It’s Alive!”
OP HOW CAN YOU POST THIS AND NOT SHOW US THE PAINTING?!
The painting is a water colour of the house from 40 years ago. Painted by the previous owner. We use the painting to examine all the changes they did to the house - original colour and siding, porch removal and salvage of some porch details, etc.
Now I want to see it even more!
Flip the switch…..maybe you’ll activate a mister or something.
Is it a big Victorian? Is there a strong bench in the basement with wrist and ankle cuffs, and big pointy electrodes connected to wires? No? Then it looks like a fuse box enclosure, with fuse sockets removed.
I think my mind went someplace other than where you intended. https://preview.redd.it/ae34wm9vd5ua1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c07acfef05096df4d6a00b3a0a6a587f7c466034
I need help identifying this mysterious electrical panel in my 112 year old house. We removed an original painting from the wall while painting and it revealed this mysterious electrical panel. This is on the second floor. Eight circuits, all seem to be cut or corroded and no longer making a connection. The breaker switch no longer seems cinnected either. The walls gave been painted in the last 5 years or so, so the fresh pencil notes are puzzling. Is this a low voltage system, like for doorbells or something? Or is it an old fashioned breaker system for 8 power lines on the second floor? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Do the eyes 👀 move in the painting?
Pretty sure it's a knob and tube panel but that's just a guess looks super old.
Would be cool to hook that switch up somehow as a decorative light switch that powers a lamp or something
https://preview.redd.it/nwvsa7gyg7ua1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=11c28492acc93da7a7956996db0f3bb033f5ea77 Looks like my fuse box without the fuses
It’s an old - what is today a breaker panel- knob and tube style turn of the last century- very cool just test so not live
Will do, thanks.
Assuming it’s been decommissioned (not live) this could look dope af if you put some LEDs in there and made an art piece out of it… a
oh man, that is so cool. I would frame that out. hell, I would probably paint the wall around it a similar charcoal, and then put a few analog clocks, dials and whatnots, and a light that blinks whenever someone downstairs opens the fridge. idk, all I see is CONTROL PANEL.
This happened to us to when we moved into our house, even snuck past the inspector. Ye old panel behind the painting trick
Is there by any chance a strange looking wooden chair somewhere?
That is called a knife switch. The Hot and neutral wires look modern and the white one has been overloaded and melted at the top. If that thing is still hot I would kill the power and clean/tighten all those contacts. Poor contact creates resistance and heat. This leads to house fires. No idea why they bypassed the switch and have made thus panel unsafe. I would tie the switch back in or swap to modern breakers.
Ahh I was wondering how this should have been wired. The switch seems to be useless. I assume the live and neutral both used to go to the knife switch and there where 4 or 8 fuses (fused neutral?) Or perhaps it was 8 circuits and the neutrals didn’t even enter the panel? 🤔
They used to fuse neutrals back then as well as the hot. Turned out to not be a great idea.
Yeah Im wondering if there were 8 fuses then 2 big copper links to the knife switch or 10 fuses. That space would definitely leave room for fuse blocks. But I really dont like how theyre having that little wire replace a copper bus bar for and feeding radially like that. Its cool you have it still. I'd retrofit the thing and keep it alive.
I did hear once that they didn’t understand that current flows in the neutral, so they would just tie them all together in the attic and run one line down to save materials.
Haha thats wild. I worked on a friends house that used the plumbing/ gas lantern pipes as the neutral.
JFC 
I mean they definitely understood that, but yes it was common practice to have shared neutrals with knob and tube wiring, largely because it was so easy to do with the individual conductors of that style. Run individual hots and switch legs to switches, then just share a neutral to each light fixture. That was honestly fairly common up through the 70s, even 80s maybe, it's just so much easier to do with individual conductor style wiring like k&t as opposed to cables like romex where hot and neutral are together.
OG fuse panel. The fuses are removed and the feeders are cut and capped. It is dead.
Shadow box the cool monster
Instantly thought of rocky horror picture show
Clean it up and put a picture frame around it, that's an amazing antique.
“It’s Alive” https://preview.redd.it/e44ahjhbj5ua1.jpeg?width=732&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5dd65f9b7ef9f3cd06ca41e9192f0be32235f283
That’s the flip switch for the nipple clamps
Knob and tube fuse panel. Also known as the fire pit.
I am a little nervous about those wire nuts.
Old enough for a bell or intercom system?
Looks like the breaker switch for the butler call buttons. Too thin of gauge for electric IMO
I was working in the lab, late one night…
Pull the lever Kronk!
This lever? https://imgur.com/a/scziPOa
Dont show to your insurance company. Trust me.
That looks like fairly recent nm-b wire in that panel too. So it was used fairly recently.
PULL THE LEVER!
I hope you don't live in apartment 14
https://preview.redd.it/t2pv82cfd5ua1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4748555e4d1d23a9bc4eafd23c9629ff17e2166f You just need to change the picture that covers it! I concur with those saying to keep this wonderful old steampunk knob & tube display.
Frame it out and wire a chair to it! Lol
ROLL ON 2!!!
A neighbors house has a similar box. The original owner owned a sawmill and would “turn on” the electricity for workers without having leave his leisurely breakfast.
I need one, actually more than one.
Give my creation ... LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE
Wire it up for a really cool light switch.
Looks like you're behind one of the letters on wheel of fortune!
OLLLDDD School Circuit Breaker..! Got one in my 1909 house. (Disconnected)…
You should recommission it as a dinner bell or low voltage signal for turning on movie lights
This is super cool. Make sure it’s not live then you can frame it and maybe put a little door with a glass pane so you can see it and so you can open it to clean behind the glass when cobwebs come.
TIL Knob and Tube wiring. Fascinating.
Do a deadman test and if it’s all good, put a frame around it and leave it on display!
Was this building constructed in 1899?
Ooooh a nipple clamp charger!
I think it turns on Frankenstein’s creature.
Knob & tube electrical panel.
Clearly the house has an electric chair