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Does anybody know what this is?

By Robert Butler

Home Inspector with Aspect Inspection

January 16, 2011 01:54 AM

Unknown hardware found installed in attic.

This is installed on the ridge board in the attic of a 50's era built home. We could not trace the wire once it left the attic. The sheathing is braided fabric that is not fraying or heat degraded and the metal of this device is not rusted or damaged. The heating system of this home has been converted to electricity but was originally an oil fired forced air furnace system. This part may date from that time but its' function is unknown.

Does anybody recognize or know what this is?

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Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Bob it looks like part of a heat alarm system

Jan 16, 2011 03:15 AM

Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind

KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ

Broker/Owner

GOOD MORNING ROBERT! No clue. A science project came to mind! -- G

Jan 16, 2011 11:01 PM

Robert Butler

Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC

Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Charles, I think you could be right. I just haven't seen one before.

Gabrielle, Is't any technology somebody's' science project put to use?

Jan 17, 2011 12:39 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Robert I don't remember much about it but my dad had one of these systems installed in his house in coonecticut in the 60's---does that time frame fit with your find?

Jan 17, 2011 08:06 AM

Robert Butler

Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC

Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Yes Charles,

it's a 1950 build technology in what would then have been a rural area. So it could be 60's, as a builder wouldn't have had be up-to-date in a rural market. (It's now a suburban neighbourhood, but every house is different, no developers here.)

It's also a small house that once had a wood stove for heating and cooking. When I inspected it this year it was all electric baseboards, but there had been an oil furnace in the crawlspace at one time (the supports and the abandoned tank were still there).

I expect then that a 'heat alarm system' would have been a forerunner of todays smoke detectors and insurers may have required them where fire departments were on a volunteer basis.

Thanks,

Jan 17, 2011 08:39 AM

doug diller

Goal Line Inspections - Portland, OR

That is very cool. I love seeing the "designs" on old cords and wires.

Jan 20, 2011 02:44 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

That’s a doohickey. I can’t believe you have never seen a doohickey before. J

Jan 29, 2011 12:22 PM

Robert Butler

Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC

Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Of course, a doohicky. Why didn't I think of that. Some would call it a 'thingamabob'. Here in Quebec french it's 'un patante'.The Innuit would say 'immathuck'.(Innuit used to be known as 'eskimo'), But my father loved to say ' it's a loddleladdle for shoeing geese'.

Jan 30, 2011 07:42 AM