The stories on this page are here for the purpose of collaboration with others and once the facts are determined to be reasonably correct, are removed from here and are then available from the OldTIMER button on the slang word search. \

Where did the term ERICKSON® come from?

According to Tom Evans of Thomas & Betts, the 3-piece union was named after the engineer who designed it for T&B at the turn of the century.  Many people have asked if the 3-pieces have different names and the attached engineering sheet indicates that they are called the CASE, the RING and the BUSHING.

Why is a bus bar called a bus bar?

The 41 page Electrical Dictionary in the 1910 American Steel and Wire Company catalog defines a BUS as "a word generally used instead of omnibus."   It then defines OMNIBUS BARS as "heavy bars of copper connected directly to the poles of a dynamo in a central station, and, therefore, receiving their entire current.  Main conducts common to two or more dynamos in an electrical generating plant."  To take it one step further, the word Omnibus comes from a 1828 description of a new French public transit vehicle with seats down both sides.  Since the meaning for the latin prefix omnis is "all", this description makes sense.  For a complete history of the word Omnibus, click here.

What is wooden moulding?

From the 1880's to the 1920's electricians used a raceway made from wood called wood moulding.  Click here to see the page devoted to this topic.

Why are there only 42 circuits in a Lighting Panel?

According to Anthony Montuori, Chief Inspector for the NY Board of Fire Underwriters, a lighting panel was restricted to 42 circuits as the result of a 1928 fire at the Waldorf Astoria.  The cause of that fire was determined to be from an electric panel wired with type "R" cable whose overall heat load caused the fire.  The electrical apparatus of the time could safely handle a 42 circuit panel while a larger panel could not.   (Added 12/2001)

Alphaduct, Loom, Non-metallic flexible Conduit

4Q Fittings

This is a story about clashing egos that  led to the naming of a product.  It goes back to the formation of Gedney Electric by Malcom W Herron.  The company name itself came from a street near his home called Gedney Way in Mamaroneck NY and the office was in Radio City Music Hall.  

Appleton Electric manufactured a successful line of liquidtight fittings under the ST-50 part number series.  Arthur Appleton asked/told Malcom Herron not get in the Liquid Tight fitting business.   Malcom ignored Arthur and designed his own fitting.  To gain immediate market acceptance, he marketed it under the same part number.  Appleton sued and won forcing Gedney to change their part number.  Thus the response to the Appleton suit was Gedney saying 4Q as a printable and long lasting expletive.  

This story has been verified as accurate on 5/1/2002 by Thomas Frary, VP of Sales for EGS

 Lead Wipe Splicer

This is an old art that goes back to the days when wire was lead sheathed to gain a watertight protection for the splice.    A lead sleeve would be positioned over the splice and would be "wiped on" to assure a tight seal at either end of the splice.   The metal would be melted in the pot shown here and wiped with a cloth to ensure that the ends were smooth and even.   A detailed picture showing all phases of the splice can be found by clicking here.  Due to the significant health risk this involved, products were developed by …?? 3M ???  that eliminated this trade practice entirely.  

IDEAL "T-Stripper" 

The following story is courtesy of Dave Miller (EC&M, CEE News, Electrical Wholesaling magazines) and has been copied here verbatim.  We're awaiting confirmation from IDEAL.

Many electricians are familiar with the ubiquitous IDEAL "T-Stripper", a simple hand tool for stripping and cutting 22awg to 8awg building wire and variations thereof. Some wonder where the T comes from because the tool does not resemble a T, the letter T is not in its part number, nor does it stand for the T in THHN. The genesis for the T in T-Stripper comes from the letter on a shop document for a new product at IDEAL, called a T-order. The original 1940's T order came from an employee who accidentally burned a perfect #12 hole in his cutter when wiring a fixture hot. He found it stripped the insulation on 12 gauge wire flawlessly as a result, and thus the idea was born.