I have a few time switches I have collected up over time. I have some Sangamo types, and some Venner switches. Amongst what I can remember are the small enclosed Venner in the green cases, I have an electric clock type and a wind-up spring clock type which runs for 8 days before needing re-winding.
I also have a couple of larger cased Venners, they are rated at 50amps and date from the early 60's
I also have a really old Venner cast-iron cased time switch, which is pictured here. It bears a brass plate stating "makers number 409, owners number (no numbers engraved). On the front window there is a small label with the date 7-12-36 marked on it.
It is a clockwork mechanism, with a dial reading the days of the week inside. On the dial you set the time on, there are three pointers. The first one is marked "ARCS", and operates a set of contacts which have been marked D by the owners (day?), and is set to about 07:30. The next pointer is marked "GLOW", and when it operates it switches off the first set of contacts (D), and switches on a second set which have been marked N (night?) by the owners. This happens about 17:30. The third pointer is marked "OUT", and opens the second set (N) contacts, meaning neither switch is in the on position. This happens about 21:00. These settings are as I got the switch, and appear to have been set for years. I am still hunting for a key to wind up the clock mechanism to see if it works. The contacts look like two prongs of a fork which are pushed into two cups containing mercury, so allowing current to pass from one cup to the other and completing the circuit. (there was no mercury in the switch when I got it).
Any info anyone can give me would be useful, including any advice on the makers number (was this the 409th switch venner made?).
photo's of the inside to follow once I can get someone with a better camera (my brother) to take them for me.
venner switch 409.JPG [ 45.55 KiB | Viewed 30064 times ]
I will take some pictures of my other timeswitches when I go to my stores next, and get details of them..