You can find it on the Ten Most Wanted website here: http://10most.org.uk/artefact/light-switch

Tenby Electrical Accessories changed its name in 1986 to BSR One and was dissolved in October 1996. But at the same time as TEA became BSR, Tenby Industries plc became plain old Tenby Industries ltd. One back in private hands, it changed its name to Legrand Electric in 2001, which still manufactures some stuff under the Tenby brand. If (could be a big if) that's the right Tenby, Legrand might have an archive...

Have now e-mailed Legrand to see if they have an archive. It is the right company, I can now see on their site. Let's see what happens.

They've now replied and say they'll have a look but it might take a while - and they might not be able to help. Fingers crossed.

Go Rupert!

I now know that this is a Tenbyluxe switch with the R&R pattern. A plain version was also available. Am ploughing through some documents but it appears that this switch was a bit of a revolution at the time. More to follow....

Looks like the example MoDiP has comes from the 1950s, given that it's UF plastic. It was still being advertised in 1956. The four holes in the back were (originally) for little cork plugs to stop the switch moving around. It was manufactured in Bakelite in the 30s and proved to be Tenby Electrical Accessories great hit. It was the first switch designed with working parts that could be enbedded in just the depth or plaster. It was expensive - 24/- per dozen in Brown, Walnut or Ebony and 26/- in White (28/8 for a bespoke colour) for just a one-way switch - but the cost was outweighed by the convenience of not having to put a mounting block on the wall, which is what was needed up to then. The cream example on MoDiP seems to appear in the 1950s. More when I've a moment. Still can't find its patent or design registration....

PS: my great thanks to Malcolm Graham of Legrand, who has been very kind and dug stuff up for us. I fear I will have to pester him again. If you see this, Malcolm, you are a star.

Two shining stars, Malcolm and you Rupert. I wonder if the white you describe was really white or could it be cream like the MoDiP one? It may well have darkened with age. Bakelite only comes in relatively dark colours so the 1930s white one is likely to have been UF too.

I've a copy of the catalogue from 1936, which says Brown, Walnut, Ebony, White and bespoke colours, all in Bakelite. The 1956 version also has cream and is in plastic. Will post pics in due course!

Interesting... Must be an example of Bakelite being used as a generic term ... it happens quite a lot. But yes, if the 1956 mentions cream specifically, I see your point. Idiot question coming - what does the R&R in the title of the pattern stand for?

No idea, I'm afraid! But it refers to the twiddly fasces on reeding decoration on the top. The plain version omits that.

Is this an example, like the cocktail shaker, of an object being made first in Bakelite and later in a 'modern' plastic?

On the face of it, yes, but I still can't find the patent. The design will be at the National Archive but the register for the early 20th century has not yet been digitised, so not available online. Irritating.

To remind users that interesting material posted here may be copied to www.10most.org.uk or www.modip.ac.uk for posterity.

I don't think UF is that different from Bakelite - one is urea formaldehyde and the other phenol formaldehyde. Both traditionally required compression rather than injection moulding. Cocktail shaker was UF too. It was widely in use in the thirties.

This from the 1937 British Industries Fair catalogue. Note the plain one.

And this. More when I've a moment.

Great stuff. Is there anyone going to the National Archives or who lives near Kew who would be able to go and look for the patent?

I wonder Rupert if you might be able to upload any more images? Good to be able to see the quote about white bakelite in context... Do you have a 1956 catalogue?

When I have a moment...

Hello Rupert - I thought I would let you know that we are going to be trying a new tack and replacing objects that aren't eliciting comments. It would be great were you able to share the other information you have. I am especially wanting to get to the bottom of the 'white bakelite' issue....

Hi Sue - entirely understandable. Will try to find a few minutes later in the week but if you need to archive this, so you should. Best R

Hello Rupert - I am just moving it to cold cases but you can find it there if you feel inspired to add those pics. S

Right - it's 7.22pm on a Saturday evening and at last I have time for the pix. First one here.

Here's a bit about the trademark - click on the pic to see

And a bit about the designer.

Thank you so much for coming back to this and on a Saturday evening... Interesting that the photographs are not of the same design as the one in the collection or am I missing something? Might that one be on another page of the catalogue? I love the newspaper article.

Same one, just a different colour - see post a while back. The design and ornamentation fit perfectly.