Knife trivia

[Mark Barone]

What does this switch have to do with a knife?

 

[Kevin Zito]

One side etch... the other darken?

 

[Mark Barone]

There is a historical significance that is related to phone wiring.it actually may be extremely boring but I found it interesting.

 

[Kevin Zito]

There is a historical significance that is related to phone wiring.it actually may be extremely boring but I found it interesting.

Oh I see what you mean now. I’d guess it’s because you grab the handle and slice down to complete the loop. They should’ve checkered and contoured that handle though lol.

 

[Bruce McLeish]

It's called a knife switch.

 

[springer82]

It's called a knife switch.

^ Yep ^

 

[C Craft]

Not to be confused with bait and switch!!

 

[Mark Barone]

So yes it's a jack knife switch, named because it resembles the knife. It was used in early switchboards. Eventually all the earlier systems were replaced and we ended up with this little ports we plug our land lines in. The name somehow stuck and that's why we call them phone "jacks".

 

[Drew Riley]

Never knew that that’s where the term “jack” came from. Interesting!

 

[Mark Barone]

Never knew that that’s where the term “jack” came from. Interesting!

Yes I love stuff like that. I'm sure many of these historical origins are hard to prove but non the less fun.

 

[bladegrinder]

They use to be used in line voltage disconnect boxes too, usually with screw in fuses on one end.