What are these Cabinets?

Thought I would take some pictures of some old cabinets while I was coming home from a medical appointment.

This cabinet has been there I think for as long as we have lived here.
It's in front of a school if that helps, sorry for the blurry picture, had to take it quick due to traffic.

And now this one, has been here I think for at least 10 to 15 years.

I have always wondered what those cabinets was for, hopefully one of you lot may know

Thanks

Paul

The first is some form of electrical cabinet. The second, could be anything, but not BT AFAIK.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

The first is some form of electrical cabinet. The second, could be anything, but not BT AFAIK.

I had a similar feeling also, if you look closely you can see some sort of plaque shield on the doors.

The second one, yeah I was aware it wasn't a BT one, thought it may be for Virgin Media, but they are not currently here and have never been, only other idea would be for the towns security cameras not far from it, unless they are wireless.

Paul

Is there a junction nearby? The second could be traffic lights, or a pedestrian crossing.

In reply to a post by TheEulerID:

Is there a junction nearby? The second could be traffic lights, or a pedestrian crossing.

Nope, they look different.

This is that second cabinet in Google Maps.
The silver one next to it was power to an ad board that used to be there a while back.
Anyhow if you zoom out and scroll to the left and up you will see the security camera.

This is what cabinets we have for pedestrian crossing.

And this cabinet for the cross roads traffic lights.

Paul

I'd say traffic lights and CCTV camera stuff.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I'd say traffic lights and CCTV camera stuff.

Bit too far for traffic lights, but yeah I think the security camera.

Paul

I agree with Zarjaz, that it is likely to be an electric supply cabinet, from the days that local councils/corporations became involved in running local power stations.

I suspect that it dates from between 1900 and 1940.

Try comparing the "coat of arms" with that of the local council of that period.

Can you supply a Postcode for its location?

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There are similar ones around central Edinburgh.

Also in Edinburgh, particularly in Princes Street etc, there are small manhole covers in the pavements, generally a cast-iron "tray", with a slightly convex concrete in-fill, with indentations to give some friction for walking over. About 2 feet by 1 foot.

In the metal edges, the raised initials "E C E S" - "Edinburgh Corporation Electricity Supplies", mainly from the early Dewar Place Power Station, followed by the 1935 Portobello Power Station.

The warm "cooling water" was passed to Portobello Outdoor Bathing Pool, next door.

London's Battersea Power Station was built about the same time as Portobello; and legend has it that about 3 extra courses of brickwork (about 1 foot) were added to Portobello's chimney, to ensure that it was taller than the four at Battersea.

Although Portobello PS was demolished some years back, there is still a fair-sized Transformer Yard with Grid feeds etc, across the road from the site.

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There is a chance that your cabinet dates from an earlier period and the badge is that of probably a Tramway Company, as they were generally the first to build significant power stations in towns, to supply about 600 Volts DC to the overhead catenary.

In later years, this may have extended or been converted to supply trolley-buses, "Silent Death" as these buses were so quiet compared to the trams.

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To get agreement to running the trams on Sundays, some churches were hooked in to those 600 V DC supply, to run the organ air pumps.

I recollect in the 1950s when one tramway system was being abandoned, the council which had taken over from the original company had to make special provision to connect such a church to the grid, with special arrangements to convert from the 240 V AC grid supply, to the 600 V DC needed for the organ pump, due to an on-going covenant. (No reason given why the easy route of simply putting in a 240 V AC motor/pump .had not been followed.)

Postcode is E12 5AF

Google Maps

Been there for years, well all the time we have lived here.

When I next go out I will take a photo close up to the plaque, not sure when though due to health issues, I took the last pics on way back from a medical appointment.

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Fri 13-Feb-15 11:04:41)

Morning Paul

Thanks for that Postcode.

The newer paving slabs beside it; and also beside the nearer, round, man-hole cover, may be associated with it, so also take a look at the circular cover, for names, initials etc.

I note that it apears to be in Newham, so you may have to look further afield to positively identify the "badge".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romford

Suburban expansion
(second Paragraph)
"
The right to supply electricity to the town was secured by the County of London Electricity Supply Company in 1913. Initially power was generated within the Star Brewery site, with the supply switching to Barking Power Station in 1925.[15] Gas supply began in 1825 with gas works of 25 acres (10 ha) constructed by 1938.[15] Following the Telegraph Act 1899 Romford became part of the Post Office London telephone area[19] and the Romford exchange was recorded as having 240 subscribers in 1916.[20] The town water supply initially came from the Havering Well, and 1859 a new public well and pump was built at the east end of the market.[15] The South Essex Waterworks Company started installing mains water supply in 1863 and had offices in South Street. By 1905 its supply was serving Ilford, Collier Row, Ardleigh Green, Brentwood, and Hornchurch. Sewage works were installed by the local board at Oldchurch in 1862, with further works built in Hornchurch in 1869.[15]
"

This may give a lead-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_London...

Interesting what comes to light!

The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

Morning Paul

Thanks for that Postcode.

The newer paving slabs beside it; and also beside the nearer, round, man-hole cover, may be associated with it, so also take a look at the circular cover, for names, initials etc.

Afternoon.
Do you know what, I never even noticed that round manhole cover , just shows doesn't it
But yeah when I am out next (not sure when) I will take a closer pic of the plaque as we as the round manhole cover.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

I note that it apears to be in Newham, so you may have to look further afield to positively identify the "badge".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romford

Suburban expansion
(second Paragraph)
"
The right to supply electricity to the town was secured by the County of London Electricity Supply Company in 1913. Initially power was generated within the Star Brewery site, with the supply switching to Barking Power Station in 1925.[15] Gas supply began in 1825 with gas works of 25 acres (10 ha) constructed by 1938.[15] Following the Telegraph Act 1899 Romford became part of the Post Office London telephone area[19] and the Romford exchange was recorded as having 240 subscribers in 1916.[20] The town water supply initially came from the Havering Well, and 1859 a new public well and pump was built at the east end of the market.[15] The South Essex Waterworks Company started installing mains water supply in 1863 and had offices in South Street. By 1905 its supply was serving Ilford, Collier Row, Ardleigh Green, Brentwood, and Hornchurch. Sewage works were installed by the local board at Oldchurch in 1862, with further works built in Hornchurch in 1869.[15]
"

This may give a lead-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_London...

Interesting what comes to light!

Yes, defiantly.

paul

In reply to a post by Sylcol:

The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

What I don't get is, surly its no longer in use, was also wondering why it wasn't removed, unless its a registered land mark.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by Sylcol:

The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

What I don't get is, surly its no longer in use, was also wondering why it wasn't removed, unless its a registered land mark.

Paul

It could still be in use and as eckiedoo says the newer slabs - which appear to have sunk too suggests recent (in comparison to the cabinet age) work.

In reply to a post by MHC:

It could still be in use and as eckiedoo says the newer slabs - which appear to have sunk too suggests recent (in comparison to the cabinet age) work.

Well they would need to use an angle grinder or a plasma cutter to get into it due to the doors are rusted shut

Paul

second one looks like a small pcp

http://www.robertos.me.uk/html/bt_furniture_6.html

I worked in the supply industry for years. Still some of those pillars in use in my area,they really were built to last,made of cast iron!

Afternoon Paul

The pavement manhole covers in Edinburgh date from around 1910; and are still very much in use, although the vast majority have probably not been lifted/opened for over 50 years.

Back before the 1950s, the one by our then family home was opened about once per year, and the sealant replaced - a type of putty with a distinct yellow colour.

But that maintenance routine seemed to be abandoned after nationalisation of the electrical supply industry.

That I recollect, the cabling from that manhole in to our house was upgraded about 1950, when we had an immersion heater fitted. I don't know whether that was total replacement or an additional cable drawn in.

------------

Possibly someone else can confirm; but as far as I recollect, cast-iron tending to be crystalline, does not rust readily, particularly if it has had been primed properly..

In contrast, the other box looks relatively modern, 10 to 20 years old, probably made from mild steel, so much less likely to survive as long as the cast one.

The cast one, being on the line of the school wall, was/is probably the main junction box from the street run in to that school, which in itself appears to be from the early 1900s, so around the time that the LCC was starting to provide such services.

Unless the cabling has clearly deteriorated or needs upgrading/uprating, generally will survive for "centuries".

Not quite the same; but I recollect reading in the then 11970s Post Office Telephones magazine that some telegraph poles had just been taken out of service in Birmingham; and were about 120 years old, having been erected in the early days of telegraphy.

Edited by deleted (Fri 13-Feb-15 17:47:47)

In reply to a post by sheppy:

second one looks like a small pcp

http://www.robertos.me.uk/html/bt_furniture_6.html

That image seems a lot smaller than the one in my image, going by the amount of rows of the brick wall behind.

Paul

Regarding the second cabinet, look for typical BT (or Post Office Telephones) man-hole/chamber covers in the pavement nearby, say up to 10 metres away.

If none, then very unlikely to be BT etc.

Postcode for it?

Edited by deleted (Mon 16-Feb-15 11:41:51)

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

Regarding the second cabinet, look for typical BT (or Post Office Telephones) man-hole/chamber covers in the pavement nearby, say up to 10 metres away.

If none, then very unlikely to be BT etc.

Postcode for it?

Ah, bingo, I did recall a Phone Box there a while back, so told Google Maps to go back a few years and back in 2008 there was a Phone Box and that Black Cabinet looks rather new shown here so mystery solved maybe, the Phone Box was removed back in 2012.

Paul

One Down, One To Go!

BT did remove quite a few Phone Boxes around then.

Looking at that likely electricity junction box in 2008, interesting to note there is distinctly less rust/patination on it.

The 2008 view suggests that it is different badges on the two doors, could be LCC as the generating supplier; and Newham Council as the Local Authority.



Thanks for bringing that "Go back" on Google Maps to my attention - I have generally use Google Earth.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

One Down, One To Go!

BT did remove quite a few Phone Boxes around then.

Looking at that likely electricity junction box in 2008, interesting to note there is distinctly less rust/patination on it.

The 2008 view suggests that it is different badges on the two doors, could be LCC as the generating supplier; and Newham Council as the Local Authority.



Thanks for bringing that "Go back" on Google Maps to my attention - I have generally use Google Earth.

Heh, yeah, when you go back to 2012 and look at that huge green cabinet you can see it is two different badges on there.

Paul

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I'd say traffic lights and CCTV camera stuff.

Well coming back from seeing my local MP this morning about our fibre issues I saw a guy playing about with the stuff inside.
So I asked what the cabinet was for where I was told its for TFL and was used for the security camera on the corner, which I thought, had a lovely look inside, didn't think of taking pictures, but I probably wouldn't of been allowed anyway.
He did say what each part did, from the Encoder enclosure (looked like a network hub with 4 to 6 RJ45 on it) with a couple of shielded CAT cables connected to it, and a cisco router and what looks like to be a home made toroidal transformer.
I asked what it used to send the information and was told 4G.

It looked like somebody was asked how would we setup this security camera, and some school leaver on work placement must of said ill make one in my bedroom because that's what it looked like inside that box.

All very interesting stuff.

Paul

Post deleted by mlmclaren

I saw part of your reply in the email, its not BT box at all, I was talking to a Contractor Engineer from TFL this afternoon.

But you probably noticed that in my later post today after you posted

Paul

Edited by PaulKirby (Thu 02-Apr-15 14:59:06)

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

But you probably noticed that in my later post today after you posted

Paul

Yes I did, Hence me deleting the post....

I'm not quiet sure why you felt you had to post afterwards even knowing I had already deleted the post???

In reply to a post by mlmclaren:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

But you probably noticed that in my later post today after you posted

Paul

Yes I did, Hence me deleting the post....

I'm not quiet sure why you felt you had to post afterwards even knowing I had already deleted the post???

LOL, because I did the exact same thing

Well coming back from seeing my local MP this morning

You don't have an MP. You have a former MP and several prospective/hopeful MPs but no actual MP since Monday 30 March.

In reply to a post by MCM:

Well coming back from seeing my local MP this morning

You don't have an MP. You have a former MP and several prospective/hopeful MPs but no actual MP since Monday 30 March.

Well yeah, but they still can help get things done.

At the moment former MPs have as much authority and sway as any other individual so don't expect anything to happen until after the election when what little "clout" they might have returns. Until then it's simply platitudes and wanting your vote.