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Historical British Educational Film. Mummy and Daughter Change a Fuse Wire.

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A delightful old film. How times have changed.




Z.
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    They were the old imperial units back then not the modern day SI units!
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    The stated consumption would be reasonable in the winter if it included regular use of a 2Kw heater. Or in the summer water heating by a 3Kw water heater.
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    Probably a 3KW heater Bropage, there were lots around back then
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    They were the old imperial units back then not the modern day SI units!




    I don't think so, by the early 1900s the kilowatt hour was well established - it is gas meters, that measure volume, and convert it it therms, that are more peculiar.

    Gas was in British thermal units - BTU, but the confusingly similar  'Board of Trade Unit ' or BoTU for electricity was 1kW hr since before the 1922 electricity supply act

    (although it appears as the kilovolt-ampere-hour in relation to DC mains.)


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    The meter is labelled as KWH.
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    Guys, my comment was more than slightly tongue in cheeck
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    Lisa Miles:

    I laughed out loud (proper lol'd) when I saw the old meter... That's almost the same as the one I have in my house... ?



    Just like the one we had in our house until earlier this year. Also I grew up in a house with those fuses and a similar main switch, not to mention having the light fitting adapter and the 5A plugs. My one complaint with the film is that rather than forming the copper strands into a hook shape, I was taught to make a complete ring and twist with the wire to stop it coming loose (wrap round a small screwdriver shaft and give the screwdriver one rotation) which is much more secure - but not needed with modern plugs.

    Nice to know they maintained standards then - the father having breakfast wearing a jacket and tie!

    Alasdair
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    Alasdair Anderson:

    My one complaint with the film is that rather than forming the copper strands into a hook shape, I was taught to make a complete ring and twist with the wire to stop it coming loose (wrap round a small screwdriver shaft and give the screwdriver one rotation) which is much more secure - but not needed with modern plugs.




    Very neatly done with those shepherd's crooks! I think that I have done it both ways.

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Chris Pearson:


     


    Alasdair Anderson:

    My one complaint with the film is that rather than forming the copper strands into a hook shape, I was taught to make a complete ring and twist with the wire to stop it coming loose (wrap round a small screwdriver shaft and give the screwdriver one rotation) which is much more secure - but not needed with modern plugs.




    Very neatly done with those shepherd's crooks! I think that I have done it both ways.


     



    I think there was a convention regarding the direction of the "wrap"  - the first one (the source side of the fuse) was made in a clockwise direction, so tightening the screw tightened the loop - the other end was made anticlockwise - so tightening the screw didn't stretch the wire, reduce the cross sectional area and thus reduce the rating

     

    Or at least that's what I was taught back in the day


    regards


    OMS
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    OMS:




    Chris Pearson:


     


    Alasdair Anderson:

    My one complaint with the film is that rather than forming the copper strands into a hook shape, I was taught to make a complete ring and twist with the wire to stop it coming loose (wrap round a small screwdriver shaft and give the screwdriver one rotation) which is much more secure - but not needed with modern plugs.




    Very neatly done with those shepherd's crooks! I think that I have done it both ways.


     



    I think there was a convention regarding the direction of the "wrap"  - the first one (the source side of the fuse) was made in a clockwise direction, so tightening the screw tightened the loop - the other end was made anticlockwise - so tightening the screw didn't stretch the wire, reduce the cross sectional area and thus reduce the rating


    Slight miscommunication here!


    I was referring to the very neat wiring of a plug at 9:06 rather than the fuse. By both ways, I meant that some days I have made shepherd's crooks, and on other days little eyes. But I see what you mean about wrapping fuse-holder screws both ways in order to avoid pulling the wire.


    To be honest, I am not sure that Father taught me that, but we were certainly taught to put on a plug or change a fuse (wire) by primary school age.


    It saddens me that these life skills have become more or less redundant.

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