Bryant Nylon Safety Devices

[fourjeepin]

Anyone familiar with these? I found this set in my step Dads shed and would love to know what they are for. I googled but failed to find anything other than replacement cord ends.

My step Dad was in the electrical industry much of his life. He probably worked as an electrician at some point in his career, but was in sales when I first met him.

 

[kd3pc]

looks like a home made test cable set up. Bryant was one of the first to use nylon in producing receptacles and plugs.

the dual male cable is likely unsafe by today's standards and should be destroyed/disassembled at least.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Good ole’ suicide cord

 

[fourjeepin]

I agree with the double male being unsafe. I do not think the rest of the pieces are homemade as there are cut outs in the card board that are the same shape as all of the pieces.

It is fun digging through his old tools and projects but frustrating when I can’t figure out what some of the things are. I want to ask him about the things but can’t as he is no longer with us.

 

[Norcal]

The black attachment plug with the fiber disc has been banned by the NEC since the beginning of 1978.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The black attachment plug with the fiber disc has been banned by the NEC since the beginning of 1978.

why is that?

 

[Norcal]

why is that?

It's a "live front" device, only dead front is permitted now.

 

[quickfarms]

To me it looks like a sales advertising piece and the suicide cord is just to demonstrate how the nylon plug is safer

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ good point, and they might not be terminated inside either

 

[nadogail]

The concepts of what is allowable have evolved a lot over the years and are continuing to change. For example when i was but a boy, I recall an article in either Popular Mechanics or Popular Science some time around 1949, 50 or possibly 51 about building a small generator set and the mentioned using a Double Male extension cord to connect to your house wiring. I don't recall reading much about the danger of "Backfeeding" the Grid.
That magazine article, I read more than 70 years ago, was instrumental in my becoming interested in assembling my own generator set.

When you think about it; There was a time when the air was considered "Clean" and *** was "Dirty".

 

[cybrdyke]

To me it looks like a sales advertising piece and the suicide cord is just to demonstrate how the nylon plug is safer

^^^ This. It's a salesman sample case showing the different configurations of their product. Sometimes they include a cord so that the salesman can demonstrate the pull-out strength of the device without connecting the conductors.
CD

 

[fourjeepin]

To me it looks like a sales advertising piece and the suicide cord is just to demonstrate how the nylon plug is safer

We may never know for 100% certain, but I believe you are correct. This makes sense based on the little bit of evidence we have available.

 

[fourjeepin]

the dual male cable is likely unsafe by today's standards and should be destroyed/disassembled at least.

I disassembled it tonight

The black attachment plug with the fiber disc has been banned by the NEC since the beginning of 1978.

And threw this one away

^^^ good point, and they might not be terminated inside either

Before disassembly, I checked and it was terminated. With an 8yo in the house, it had to go.