copper G SOLVED rotary switch

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 20, 2009

Found this thin copper piece shaped like a G at the entrance of BigCypress National Preserve. I dont think its old. Any ideas?

johnnyi · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

Bigcy, to me it looks a little more electrical then alphabetical

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

johnnyi said:
Bigcy, to me it looks a little more electrical then alphabetical

Yea, I know.. It appears to have electrical points. I agree, the G shape is coincidental.

Its a meaningless most likely modern piece of copper but it gives us something to ponder.

AU24K · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

This is the bottom(inside) of an old electrical incandescent bulb socket.

Scott

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

AU24K said:
This is the bottom(inside) of an old electrical incandescent bulb socket.

Scott

Ah. Thanks. How old? Why the two contact points? Ill look at some of my old light bulb sockets...

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

I dont think its front a light bulb socket. It would have to have two contacts on the bottom of the bulb and they would short out. If it is electrical, connecting the two contacts would short out.

AU24K · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

The image shown would be from the seperate bottom contact. The side, which would be a seperate piece of the socket, would be round, tubular, that would accept the coarse threads of a light bulb...
By the same token, it could be from an old glass-type fuse/breaker system...

Scott

johnnyi · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

Bigcy, I don't have one to look at now, but I'm thinking mabe the contact switch component of a twist flashlight. Although only one contact would touch the battery at all times (the center one), possibly twisting would engage or disengage the other contact which would be wired to the bulb (with a direct contact on the other end of the battery also wired to the bulb)??

AU24K · Dec 20, 2009

Re: copper G

I've seen this type of thing on old "mogul" socket bases that had a ceramic base...

Scott

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 21, 2009

Re: copper G

AU24K said:
I've seen this type of thing on old "mogul" socket bases that had a ceramic base...

Scott

I looked at a lot of sockets, including the larger Mogul type, and I looked at some fuse sockets and it doesnt match the 2 copper contact points. The Edison screw bulb only has one center contact point.Good guess and thanks for trying anyway. :icon_thumright:

Bigcypresshunter · Dec 21, 2009

Re: copper G

johnnyi said:
Bigcy, I don't have one to look at now, but I'm thinking mabe the contact switch component of a twist flashlight. Although only one contact would touch the battery at all times (the center one), possibly twisting would engage or disengage the other contact which would be wired to the bulb (with a direct contact on the other end of the battery also wired to the bulb)??

Thats what it could be. Its definitely some kind of rotary switch. A flashlight is a possibility.
It may also be a rotary kill switch from an older ATC Honda. When the 2 points connect it grounds out the spark. Flashlights and ATCs would be commonly used in this area.

SOLVED rotary switch part..

russau · Jun 4, 2025

I remember seeing a part VERY similar to this in a telephone speaker piece of the hand set . If you were to unscrew the plastic cover on the hand set the speaker piece will fall out into your hand and a part very similar to this is right there ! Probly not the same part BUT very similar to what I remember .I just saw the "solved post" . I should of read ALL of the post's and I would have seen that it was solved !