A questioner said:
Black box with wires attached, found in my 1905 home’s crawl space. 5in long. What can it be for?
More info from the questioner:
It felt kinda heavy when I tapped the side. It was not nailed down rather just sitting on the brick ledge that separates the two halves of my crawl space. House built in 1905.
Here’s what people said about it:
- Off topic but has your home’s K&T wiring been completely powered down and decommissioned?
If not that wire could still be live and may not have a modern breaker. Handle with care.
- looks like a model train transformer to me.
- Looks like a Little Jeff toy transformer
- It might be a multitap transformer with a selector. What is printed under the copper indents on the front? -Under the circles there are numbers 0,4,6,8,10
- Multitapped transformer. Used to output multiple voltages. Commonly found as part of old train sets. Here it’s most likely sitting in in place of a purpose-made transformer as a power source for low voltage wiring, such as a doorbell or alarm system. If you still have a doorbell running off of this, consider replacing it with the purpose built variety. These old toy transformers weren’t intended for 24/7 service.
- Jefferson Electric
Transformers
- The brass indents and selector, and the heavy weight, tell me it is a transformer. I could see it being used to change speeds on a ceiling fan, as those were common in the early 1900s.
The 1920s were the early years of radio, so possibly it was installed then for use with a radio receiver. A grid leak detector, perhaps.
Knowing where the wires go would be really helpful.
- Check the bolts where the wires connect for electric current before touching if you have a digital meter.
- I showed this to my dad, who has been an electrical engineer for nearly 60 years. He said he believes this is a voltage regulator for the original electrical service into the home.
When you send electricity through a residential line, the voltage drops over distance. When this house was built, it’s likely that a single line was run down the street, with 60 amp service dropped at each house.
The guy at the beginning of the line would get high voltage. The guy at the end of the line would get much lower voltage. So the power provider would send high enough voltage down that line for the guy on the end to have sufficient power to his lights.
But that means the guy at the beginning of the line would get high voltage and would need some way to regulate it down to normal so that he didn’t constantly blow his light bulbs. Enter your regulator. The first guy in line would dial it down as necessary, then the next guy would have to dial it down a little less, and so on to the end of the line.
Now power delivery is much more consistent and automatic, so there’s no need for these any more. I would be surprised if you find that thing actually connected to anything.
- I am 99% sure this will be a transformer with multiple taps for a speed/voltage/brightness selector.
It is most likely going to be for a model train or something similar from the 1930’s-1950’s.They may have repurposed it as a doorbell transformer or something similar.
- Door bell transformer? Vintage garden lighting?
- I had this in the attic of my 50’s income property, it controlled an attic exhaust fan
- Nobody here will know for sure what it’s for.
It looks to be a transformer and it is in your crawl space. Most transformers found in out of the way places like that are for doorbells.
And easy way to tell if it’s for your doorbell is to disconnect one of those wires on the side and then see if your doorbell works.
- My first instinct was that it is a transformer for a doorbell that was adjustable for voltage.
Whatever it powers is likely to be nearby. Try to see where the wire is heading. One side is going to tie into a power source and the other is going to a device, or what was a device.
- I looks a lot like the train transformer that I remember from when I was a kid…
- Use a contactless voltage tester to see if the voltage is live ! then follow the wires to see where they go. It looks like it is being used to control the voltage for something-fan, dumbwaiter , brightness of lights is doubtful since you could just put a lower wattage bulb in.
- I think it’s a toy train transformer probably used to operate a doorbell.
- Google image search came up with a transformer for a toy. Get a voltage detector and see if it has any power ran to it. A kid could have left it under there 100 years ago while playing with his train set. Crazy cool.
- Yikes on the wiring. Get it replaced when you can. Until then don’t touch it. Particularly not liking the exposed cable on the left and the exposed connectors on the transformer. Not to mention the exposed taps on the front of the transformer.
- I live in the UK and I work on buildings of all ages and I’ve never seen anything like that.
The cable insulation alone would be enough to warrant a rewire over here.
What do you think? Let us know in the comment!
Read More: What are these glass things attached to the cieling? They’re all over the house by the windows. House was built between 2010-2015.
In the labyrinthine depths of a century-old home, nestled beneath floorboards and obscured by shadows, a remarkable discovery has stirred the imagination of its inhabitants. Found within the dusty confines of the crawl space, amidst a tangle of forgotten artifacts and ancient relics, lies a small black box, approximately 5 inches in length, with enigmatic wires protruding from its surface.
The unearthing of this mysterious object has left the homeowner and their associates pondering its origins and purpose. What function could such a peculiar device serve in a home that has weathered over a century of history and change?
Dating back to 1905, the home itself is a testament to an era long past, a relic of a bygone time when electricity was still a novelty and technological advancements were reshaping the world. Yet, the presence of this enigmatic black box suggests a narrative that transcends the conventional narrative of early 20th-century domestic life.
Speculation abounds as to the nature of the device. Could it be an early electrical component, perhaps a primitive form of wiring junction or circuitry? The wires, though weathered and frayed with age, hint at a connection to some larger system, their purpose shrouded in mystery.
Others have entertained more imaginative theories, suggesting that the black box may be a remnant of a clandestine operation or a relic of a forgotten experiment. Its inconspicuous location in the crawl space lends credence to the notion that it was meant to remain hidden, its true purpose known only to those initiated into its secrets.
Local historians and enthusiasts have been drawn to the mystery, eager to unravel the story behind the enigmatic black box. Efforts are underway to research archival records, consult with experts in early 20th-century technology, and delve into the annals of the home’s history in search of clues that might shed light on its origins.
Yet, amidst the speculation and investigation, one thing remains certain: the discovery of the black box has sparked a sense of wonder and intrigue, reminding us of the rich tapestry of stories that lie hidden within the walls of our oldest homes. As the homeowner contemplates the significance of this remarkable find, they are left to ponder the mysteries of the past and the untold secrets that may yet be waiting to be uncovered.