Does anyone know what this is? It is over the basement door in our 1890’s home.
Thanks, for the good and entertaining ideas!
I was able to pull the dome off and it looks like it is for a tiny bulb!
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE’S OPINION ON IT:
Ken said:
Maybe a light to let you know that the basement lights are on.
Scott said:
I’m going to guess a small light to illuminate the other socket for nighttime operations.
Anne said:
I’m going to guess a small light to illuminate the other socket for nighttime operations.
Roxane said:
It’s called a pilot light to let you know the outlet is hot. According to my hubs it had a lightbulb in it.
Ed said:
Pretty sure it’s an electrical outlet. It’s been painted over so it’s hard to tell but the trick is you can still see the two holes where the prongs go.
It was a red light that came on when the outlet was on. The outlet was Likely controlled by a light switch
Indicator light, there is a bulb under the cage. typically for basement, closet or attic lights.
I always wonder, why, when someone is requesting help, do some people have to provide stupid/smart-ass answers. Just leave it alone if you can’t help. You are not being funny..even if you think you are.
We had one in 1956 house but it had a switch by the plug and it was exactly some people say a light to indicate that basement lights on
My 124 year old house has one. It lets you know when the basement light or outside light is on depending on what it is wired to
Some older houses used these to plug in a sump pump…the light let you know that the pump had power…
Let you know there power and maybe the Basement or other light is on!
That’s where you poke your finger in and give your heart a jump. Just flip the switch back and forth
Whatever it was it’s pretty old and most likely somewhat dangerous now from an electrical perspective.
Yuk paint on the outlet, don’t paint the outlets
It’s a helmet in case the top outlet got his feelings hurt
So evil spirits can get out of the basement and find their way back.
It lit up with the basement lights were on in our home
There was a light in the dome part to indicate when the basement light was on.
It’s a light that is low wattage to see where you’re going
Utility plug w indicator light to let you know the wires are hot?
Sump pump or water well pump light. Grandpa used one.
It’s a light so you can see where the switch is had them in many homes.
Probably had a light in it that tells you you left the basement light on
Maybe a vent because they used to believe electricity had vapours
Keep the demons from escaping
Think that is a night light
What’s your opinion, I think it’s simply an old electrical outlet left over. And it was truly a wonderful memory.