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In our 1959 ranch-style home there is an outlet on a living room wall more than halfway up. Anyone know for what use this may have been installed? It looks built-in when the house was built.enter image description here

nobody
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Hilldilly
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    Does a switch control it or does the room have ceiling lights? – crip659 Dec 09 '21 at 12:23
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    Was it for a radio on a dresser? – Solar Mike Dec 09 '21 at 12:35
  • Or was it put above the flood level and the later outlets "forgot"? – Solar Mike Dec 09 '21 at 12:36
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    A picture would help. You can press "Edit" above to edit your question and copy-paste in a JPG. – jay613 Dec 09 '21 at 13:01
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    Any chance the room used to be a kitchen (or part of one)? The outlets for refrigerators are also often placed higher up on the wall. – Darrel Hoffman Dec 09 '21 at 22:15
  • Probably so, we suspected a clock, but that seems much ado about nothing. But who knows, maybe it was considered that important at the time. I did hang a picture over it. And yes, it is recessed. Thanks all for the help. – Hilldilly Dec 10 '21 at 00:28
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    If it was recessed, then yes, it was a clock. In the 1950s-60s, electronic wrist watches weren't technologically possible; you had to wind your watch and you needed something to check its time against. Even today the Electrical Code has a special exception for wall clocks to be on circuits that don't normally allow such loads. – Harper - Reinstate Monica Dec 10 '21 at 07:26
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    @Hilldilly sounds like a wall clock outlet to me. In the 50s, alkaline batteries didn't exist, the best they might've had were "heavy duty" zinc chloride batteries -- and the highest-capacity "heavy duty" batteries then pale in comparison to the cheapest alkalines you can get today... so a wall clock would've had an abysmal runtime on an AA battery. Also, 60Hz provides a relatively reliable timing pulse courtesy your local power company, vs. trying to make something that maintains stable timing as battery voltage degrades (now cheap electronics can compensate for this). – Doktor J Dec 10 '21 at 15:53
  • Why does it matter? – Hot Licks Dec 10 '21 at 23:07
  • I need instructions for posting a photo... – Hilldilly Dec 11 '21 at 16:38

3 Answers3

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Probably for a plug-in electric clock.

Ecnerwal
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    Yep. Some were recessed into the wall so the cord could be hidden. My 1950s home had one in the dining room. – isherwood Dec 09 '21 at 13:56
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    A good idea in places with a stable power supply... In some places you are better off with a sun dial. – Solar Mike Dec 09 '21 at 14:02
  • Our 1950'S home had one in the living room above the fireplace for a clock. the outlet was recessed into the wall – JACK Dec 09 '21 at 14:26
  • Our 78 home as one also. Thing is that even that we did the electric circuits, I have no idea why it was placed there. The only one in the house. – crip659 Dec 09 '21 at 15:13
  • The thinking was probably, "if they don't want a clock they can hang a picture over the outlet." – Steve Wellens Dec 09 '21 at 15:34
  • See also https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/236119/why-is-there-only-one-receptacle-in-this-outlet – P2000 Dec 09 '21 at 17:48
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    I guess this is another that depends on where you live. In the UK clock plugs are different to any other plug in the house. Small, maybe 1 1/2" square, recessed. I can't find a picture as I doubt anyone's installed one since the 50s over here either ;) – Tetsujin Dec 09 '21 at 19:36
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    @Tetsujin [UK clock plug & socket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets:_British_and_related_types#UK_electric_clock_connector) – Graham Nye Dec 09 '21 at 22:12
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    @GrahamNye - that's the one. Well found. I don't think I've seen one in 40 years. – Tetsujin Dec 10 '21 at 08:17
  • "hang a picture over the outlet" more than likely, an outlet over the fireplace **is** an outlet for a picture. They would use a t-base tube light in a brass housing on an arm attached to the frame at the top. ( https://www.amazon.com/Picture-light-painting-display-_PCT14/dp/B01921CKIW ) – Yorik Dec 10 '21 at 21:58
  • I'm in Michigan, I don't see the sun from November to March. lol – LarryBud Dec 11 '21 at 20:55
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I would bet it is for a what was called a "pin up" lamp. A wall lamp with a short cord that was considered stylish and ornamental then. Sometimes placed in pairs, one slightly higher than the other.

mytestperson
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Is it near the front door? It may have been for powering a doorbell.

Is it located near a telephone? Could have powered an external ringer/clapper unit to alert on incoming phone calls.

But what can it be used for now? Sounds like an excellent position to put a wireless repeater or access point, or even a low power LED left on all the time as a night light.

Criggie
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