Want to replace light switches.


  #1  
Old 02-21-17, 09:43 AM
J
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Want to replace light switches.

All,

My home was built in 1862 and received lighting about 1905. The current light switches look like the ones in the picture, and I'm guessing they are 1950s. Eventually I want to replace them with push button switches, but I've had a hard time finding ones that will mount to the door frames as these do. Since the interior and exterior walls are brick, everything had to be ran on the outsides of the walls. That's why the switches are mounted to the door frames.

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Last edited by pcboss; 02-22-17 at 08:10 AM.
  #2  
Old 02-21-17, 09:51 AM
C
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Others here may have better suggestions, but one thing you could look at would be a surface raceway system, such as the wiremold products. The boxes and raceways are intended for surface mounting while still providing adequate protection for the wiring and allowing use of standard devices such as switches and receptacles. They are not the most attractive, but can be painted to blend in to the walls and trim.
 
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Old 02-21-17, 10:42 AM
J
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Essentially that is how it is now. I just wanted to replace the switches with push button ones, but I can't find anything thin enough to be able to mount to the door frames. I might just have to make my own. I could sure do that, but wanted to just buy switches.

J
 
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Old 02-21-17, 12:07 PM
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I just wanted to replace the switches with push button ones,
You have obsolete wiring. Push button is even more obsolete if they ever made them in the style you have. However you can buy modern retro look push button switches that will fit a wire mold box.

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Vintage Hardware & Lighting -
 

Last edited by ray2047; 02-21-17 at 01:29 PM.
  #5  
Old 02-21-17, 01:28 PM
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As far as I know there are no legal replacement devices for the boxes you've pictured. The only option I'm aware of is replacement with modern devices and boxes.
 
 

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