antique electrical cutout box

[RBM]

Has anyone seen a cutout box like this or ever hear of the manufacturer,
Bonnell?
This came from the attic of a house that predates electric wiring. It was
mounted in the attic, which was where the service, 30 amp 120 volt, entered
the house, which was fairly typical for early house wiring, but I've never
seen a cutout box like this. Its made of thin cast iron, with preformed 1/2
inch knockouts. The fuse block is not original.

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[John Grabowski]

Nice find Roy, but I've never seen anything like that. I have seen the
attic service entrance a few times, but the fuse box was always the newer
formed metal kind.

Try posting here: http://www.forumelectric.com/ Someone may recognize it.

You can try here also: http://www.elec-toolbox.com/main.html

Post by RBM
Has anyone seen a cutout box like this or ever hear of the manufacturer,
Bonnell?
This came from the attic of a house that predates electric wiring. It was
mounted in the attic, which was where the service, 30 amp 120 volt, entered
the house, which was fairly typical for early house wiring, but I've never
seen a cutout box like this. Its made of thin cast iron, with preformed 1/2
inch knockouts. The fuse block is not original.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1826.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1828.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1829.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1827.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1831.jpg

[RBM]

Me too, typical steel, painted black or silver, hinge cover box. I'm
thinking that this may have been intended for something more civilized like
telephone equipment. If it didn't have the knockouts, I would think
something other than electrical altogether. I had contacted David Shapiro,
who wrote "Old Electric Wiring", but he's never seen it either

Post by John Grabowski
Nice find Roy, but I've never seen anything like that. I have seen the
attic service entrance a few times, but the fuse box was always the newer
formed metal kind.
Try posting here: http://www.forumelectric.com/ Someone may recognize it.
You can try here also: http://www.elec-toolbox.com/main.html

Post by RBM
Has anyone seen a cutout box like this or ever hear of the manufacturer,
Bonnell?
This came from the attic of a house that predates electric wiring. It was
mounted in the attic, which was where the service, 30 amp 120 volt,

entered

Post by RBM
the house, which was fairly typical for early house wiring, but I've never
seen a cutout box like this. Its made of thin cast iron, with preformed

1/2

Post by RBM
inch knockouts. The fuse block is not original.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1826.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1828.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1829.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1827.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/royapples/DSCN1831.jpg

[k***@gmail.com]

I have seen one like this in Evanston, IL in an old house, pre 1900.
The wiring was knob and tube and there were fuses but not the modern
porcelain ones you show. These were Bakelite and as I recall there were
knife switches to cut the circuits. Your box is a lot fancier than the
one I saw that was just plain and not cast.
There must have been 7 chimneys in this place with what looked like
coal or coke heaters in all of them. Most were walled off.
Richard

Post by RBM

Post by RBM
Has anyone seen a cutout box like this or ever hear of the manufacturer,
Bonnell?
This came from the attic of a house that predates electric wiring. It was
mounted in the attic, which was where the service, 30 amp 120 volt,

entered

Post by RBM
the house, which was fairly typical for early house wiring, but I've never
seen a cutout box like this. Its made of thin cast iron, with preformed

1/2

Post by RBM
inch knockouts. The fuse block is not original.