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G0TEZ > INFO 18.07.02 01:08l 45 Lines 1745 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 136_G0TEZ
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Re: Lights,lamps,plugs and sockets.
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Sent: 020717/2239Z @:GB7HVU.#16.GBR.EU #:31269 [Great Harwood] FBB7.00i $:136_G
From: G0TEZ@GB7HVU.#16.GBR.EU
To : INFO@WW
G0TEZ/TPK 1.83c Num 136 17-07-02T17:14:28 GMT: COLNE,Lancs:
A retired electrician I know, who is on packet BTW, once took me to task
for talking about 'bulbs'. It appears that professional electricians say
'lamps'.
This makes some sense. Lamps were originally oil or gas and so became
electric lamps when they took over so, in that sense, 'lamp' is more
correct.
As for bulbs. When Joseph Swann invented electric light he used a glass
bulb with either a vacuum or a vacuum + an inert gas to avoid destroying
the filament. He did also get the idea for fluorescent bulbs from this.
Electric light bulbs became merely bulbs, the word I use and most other
people use.
The one electrical misnomer which really does annoy me, and I've seen it in
this discussion, is the use of the terms 'plug' and 'plug tops'.
I first heard this in the early 1970s.
For many years, the bit with the pins was called a plug and the bit with
the holes was called the socket.
I would like to meet the ignoramus who spred the words 'plug tops' around!
Thankfully, most people have reverted to the correct usage i.e., plug &
socket.
In a way it's a bit like the parts of cars. The American 'hood' v British
'bonnet', 'boot' v 'trunk'. If you go back far enough you find that
horseless carriages had sometimes a trunk on the back, sometimes a
lockable boot just inside. Bonnets and hoods both kept the rain and mud off
the carriage; eventually just the engine, so both are right.
For some reason the words 'tomayto' and 'tomahto' keep running through my
head so I think I'll go perk a cup of coffee and sit watching the TV in
my apartment while the song goes away.
All the best. Ian.
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