Before Stage Pin???

[musicmanelem]

I just moved to another school. This school was built in the late 60's or 70's. It has a big stage but there is a type of lighting connector that I am unfamiliar with . I used the standard stage pin before but this is different. It looks like a triangular..ish hole. Any ideas???

Thanks!

 

[Chris15]

Any ideas???

Any photos?

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

A control booth article notes that Kliegl started making stage pin connectors in the 1920s and Union Connector in 1930s. Don't think your building was pre- stage pins.

Google "NEMA PLUG CHART" and see if you can find it there.

 

[jhochb]

Good Morning

check out
Interpower Cord Sets and Power Cords for the Global Market
for international connector as well
stranger things have happened.

photos would help

 

[RonHebbard]

I just moved to another school. This school was built in the late 60's or 70's. It has a big stage but there is a type of lighting connector that I am unfamiliar with . I used the standard stage pin before but this is different. It looks like a triangular..ish hole. Any ideas???

Thanks!

I'm voting for a grounded paddle plug.
Are these primarily in floor and/or wall pockets?

Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

 

[JohnD]

Does it look anything like this:
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting-electrics/24415-questions-about-stage-plug.html
I think this is what RonHebbard was referring to.

 

[JD]

60's/70's is a little too recent for the old "electric chair" plugs (stage plug.) But, a picture would help

 

[musicmanelem]

Thats it!!! Looks like I should get them replaced. I read where someone called them suicide plugs. Not a good thing to have in a school. Any idea how expensive they will be to replace (ballpark)? We have at least five boxes of three plugs along the back wall of the stage.

Thanks!

 

[JLNorthGA]

Thats it!!! Looks like I should get them replaced. I read where someone called them suicide plugs. Not a good thing to have in a school. Any idea how expensive they will be to replace (ballpark)? We have at least five boxes of three plugs along the back wall of the stage.

Thanks!

Five boxes of three plugs? Say about 15 or so? The plugs might run on the order of $5 or so. Try BMI Supply, Barbizon or some other vendor for a more accurate price.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Do you know if these are dimmed 20 amp circuits? The stage plug was often used for up to 50 amps (or more - not sure) as I recall. A 12 X 6K piano board I think would have stage plugs

I kind of think you need some help from somebody that has expertise in electricity and stage lighting before arriving at a solution. But assuming that you need to replace the box or at least guts with a box or plate with three grounded stage pin receptacles - maximum 20 amp circuits - I'd estimate $75 or so per box - plus some electrician work to install. There could be less expensive ways but I'm guessing the stage plugs are flush now - in a wall pocket - and I wouldn't want any projection from the wall when not in use.

 

[JohnD]

Do you know what they are connected to? Direct to dimmers or a patch bay of some sort? Does your school have an electrician on staff who could trace circuits?

 

[jhochb]

Good Morning

This needs to be dealt with by a licensed electrician
The source needs to be found & new wires need to be pulled
Even if they were 30 year old stage pin, I'd want new wires pulled.
The insulation breaks down after so many years & could be unsafe.
Any good vender can recommend parts but you need a licensed electrician to do the work.



BTW
save some of the old parts as a history lesson.
cool stuff to look at, not to use.

 

[JD]

Thats it!!! Looks like I should get them replaced. I read where someone called them suicide plugs. Not a good thing to have in a school. Any idea how expensive they will be to replace (ballpark)? We have at least five boxes of three plugs along the back wall of the stage.

Thanks!

Wow! I can't believe a school would still be using these! They fell out of favor in the 1940's. What else is around there, a hydrogen powered Limelight maybe?

Replacing these should go to the top of the priority list. Their only place in the modern world is on the set of the play "Frankenstein."

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Wow! I can't believe a school would still be using these! They fell out of favor in the 1940's. What else is around there, a hydrogen powered Limelight maybe?

Replacing these should go to the top of the priority list. Their only place in the modern world is on the set of the play "Frankenstein."

I don't know. Polished up and varnished - they make nice nick knacks in a theatrical office.

I'm curious now. I'll see what I can find out from Richie Wolpert as to when the stopped manufacturing them. Of course knowing UC they'd probably make one for you today.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

Would still love some pics.

And when taking pics, OP, see if there are any makers names on the wall plates/floor pockets.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Richie says UC supplied 25 or so in 1983 to Charlie Altman.

Seemed B'way transitioned from piano boards to scr's in mid 1970s so I'd guess the demise of piano boards was also the end of stage plugs. I'm sure Steve Terry could fine tune vague timeline notion.

 

[STEVETERRY]

To my knowledge. the grounded stage plug in a triangular form factor was never used in piano boards on Broadway.

Piano boards started to go with A Chorus Line in 1975. By 1982, they were all gone.

ST

 

[derekleffew]

...By 1982, they were all gone.

Err, 1980?

Or was my research here:
From wiki entry Piano Board

I believe the original Broadway production of Grease, which opened in 1972 and closed in 1980, has the distinction of being the last show on Broadway to use them.

incorrect?

Also,

... The stage plug was often used for up to 50 amps (or more - not sure) as I recall. ...

A "full" stage plug was 50A; a "half" plug was 25A, and two could fit side-by-side in a full receptacle. Brilliant system actually, except for that exposed copper thing.

Back to topic:
Something is still amiss here I suspect. I find it hard to believe that any venue "built in the late 60's or 70's" would have installed TRIANGULAR stage plug s. In fact, I've never even seen a grounded stage plug (other than in ship's photos). And I've seen a lot.

Someone posited that these may have been made by Century Lighting. Do we need to summon our Century historian(s)?
.

 

[STEVETERRY]

Err, 1980?

Or was my research here:
From wiki entry Piano Board

incorrect?

[/COLOR]

My memory is that Four Star was still putting them out on the smaller and lower-cost rentals until about 1982---but I could be wrong.

ST

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

My memory is that Four Star was still putting them out on the smaller and lower-cost rentals until about 1982---but I could be wrong.

ST

I just want to know what Altman wanted with the ones they bought in 1983.

And the wiki here has each half plug as 30 amps FWIW. 25 and 50 made sense for 3k and 6k plates. Good pictures on the wiki here as well - including the triangular.