Another 'what is it called' question

Oct 13, 2016 16 Replies

The type of small plug often used with aerial and earth sockets on mains powered radios, years ago. Many other uses, too. Speakers etc.



A split pin with (usually) red or black plastic cap that screwed on, trapping the wire. Predecessor to the modern banana plug, and about that size, but probably a tad less than 4mm. Probably Imperial, not metric.



Yes, I've Googled, searched eBay, Rapid and Maplin, but must be using the wrong description. There must be someone out there still selling them


Try this link:

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3mm Belling Lee?

Wander plug?

called "Wander Plug" when I was young. I don't know why the modern ones are called "Banana" - I've never seen a straight banana,

Wander plug! Yes, that is it. Thank you. Yes, I called them wander plugs years ago, but had forgotten the term.

In message , Graeme writes

Kinell! Three sold via eBay recently, for more than a tenner! Very popular with vintage radio bods, I know, but a tenner for three? Used to buy them from Woolies for pennies each.

Then after they got a bit waggly, you'd insert a screwdriver blade and twist to open up the split, and snap one half off ...

You remember using them, too :-)

Just found a tray of plugs and stuff on eBay. 222274754406 ?2.50? A bargain. Just about to hit BIN when I realised it was per item, not the whole lot :-(

I am amazed that no one actually makes these any more.

They were simple and effective. I used them LOT for home made test gear.

You'll be saying that about 3.5mm headphones next ;-)

En el artículo , Andy Burns escribió:

I remember that, but not with the 3mm wander (wonder?) plugs, but with the 2-pin mains plugs that also used split pins. These:

as you said, a leetle tweak with a screwdriver to improve contact resulted in one half snapping off.

In message , Mike Tomlinson writes

Either that, or the split was a little too much and the pin would need squeezing to go in the socket. Not a good idea with an unswitched outlet.

En el artículo , Graeme escribió:

Painful memories I'd rather forget. Also managing to touch the metal of unsleeved pins on old-school 13A plugs.

Used to be called 'wander plugs' but maybe that's showing my age.

My old school didn't have electricity.

Bill

Neither did mine - nor did anywhere else in the village - apart from the home of a fairly wealthy family, who had their own generator.

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