Mystery outlet

[NewInspector]

What is this? Please help. House constructed in 1969.

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[Jim Katen]

I've never seen that before.

What happened when you pushed the button?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[StevenT]

I have never seen anything like that before, but if I had to take a wild guess, I would plug a light into it and see what happens when the doorbell or the phone rings.

Or, blow smoke in it.

Could that knob be some type of volume or sesitivity control?

[NewInspector]

Jim,

I did not push, I was helping my Grandfather today & he asked me not to touch it. He didn't want something somewhere to go awry. I told him I'd post & let him know. BTW it doesn't push, it twists on / off.

RDH

[ghentjr]

Night light with an adjustable intensity knob, and a built in three prong receptical.[^]

[Jesse]

Really a guess:

A light, with indicator, for the attic. The buttons are controls for a vent fan in the attic.

[chicago]

I say remove the cover plate when he's not looking.

[Kyle Kubs]

Thats really interesting. My guess is it houses the transformer for the nearby doorbell... Based in part on the vents in the cover.

Stevens guess is pretty good to, quite probable.

Definetly take the cover off and post another picture.

Giver your GF a nice strong cup of coffee, you'll have at least ten minutes to mess with it while he's in the can. [:-graduat

God, it's killin me. I just gotta see what's under there.

[hausdok]

Well,

After studying it, here's my wild-ass-guess (WAG). I think it's an automatic alarm/lighting system and the knob adjusts the volume of the alarm. If there's a fire, it's supposed to wake the dead with its wail (the slots let the sound out) and it turns on a light that's supposed to be plugged into it, to guide folks through the smoke.

So, how's that for an imagination? If you think that's wild, you should have seen the pixies flying around in the bushes outside of my window a few minutes ago. [:-spin]

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[NewInspector]

Just got a call from him, he wants me to come back on Monday AM to do some heavy lifting. I will remove the cover & take a pic. Might even get in the attic & see if tracing is possible. Funny, I thought this post was dead-in-the-water after the first couple of posts. Thx for all responses - til Monday PM.

[chicago]

We are all counting on you spy guy.

[chicago]

Originally posted by chicago

We are all counting on you spy guy.

P.S do not forget to test voltage.

[NewInspector]

"True! – nervous – very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses – not destroyed – not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily – how calmly I can tell you the whole story."

Recognize the quote - anyone? One of my favorites, reminds me of my day today. Took a little stealth & diversion to get this pic - Jack Bower would be proud.

The outlet had a bulb. I plugged in a light, ringed the doorbell, nothing to report. The house had previously been lived in by an elderly man who had a hearing problem. I took a couple of pics, this was the only clear one in the batch. I have to go now - 24 is starting (season finale) - priorities.

RDH

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[Brian G]

That is one odd little wiring device.

Brian G.

Nobody's Seen It All [:-bigeyes

[Jim Katen]

What words are printed under the bulb?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[charlieb]

Originally posted by Jim Katen

What words are printed under the bulb?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

This will one day bug a guy named Jim[^]

[chicago]

Looks like bakelite with the number 200 under the bulb..

[homnspector]

Nightlight with a timer knob?

Quote must be E.A. Poe, either The Black Death or The Telltale Heart.