Museum of Plugs and Sockets logo, small Busch-Jaeger socket
for Miele washing machines
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Two nearly identical Busch-Jaeger switched sockets have been donated by Wieger Nieuwenhout.
The two samples differs with respect to wiring of the rotary switch. The socket shown below, probably meant to power a Miele washing machine, has a single pole switch, the other has a two pole switch. Details are given in the caption to image 5.     {WN}

 

Busch-Jaeger socket with Switch for Miele wasching machine
1 - 4

Bakelite, combined Schuko socket and switch, made by Busch-Jaeger in Schalksmühle (logo top right).
The Miele logo on the hinged socket cover indicates that the socket belonged to a special series of wall sockets for installing Miele washing machines. Both companies were - and still are - based in the German Westphalia region.

Dating: both types of logos suggest that the Bakelite socket is a 1950s model.

Rating: 10A - 250V.
Busch-Jaeger socket with Switch for Miele wasching machine
The knob of the rotary switch is - on purpose - not fully round, but has two coves on opposite sides.

The position of the coves as shown in image 1 allows to lift the socket cover (image 2). The switch is turned off. A plug can be inserted (image 3). Rotating the knob 90° turns the switch on, and locks the plug (image 4).

Removing the plug is only possible with the switch in off position. The cover can be closed. The cover shape makes it impossible to switch the socket on with closed cover.
Busch-Jaeger socket with Switch for Miele wasching machine
Busch-Jaeger made for Miele, details
Busch-Jaeger socket with Switch for Miele wasching machine

5

To connect the wall socket to mains, the Bakelite top part has to be removed. Three pins connect the socket contacts with the porcelain (steatite) base.

The rotary switch has four contacts. The wiring of the Miele socket results in a single pole switch. The bottom right switch contact with screw has a fixed connection to far left pin contact (blue lines*). The top right switch contact is connected to the adjacent pin contact (dotted brown line*). The top pin contact has to be connected to earth.

A similar (non-Miele) Busch-Jaeger switched socket in the museum collection has a different wiring. The two screws to wire the switch to mains are positioned on top of each other This results in two pole switch. Note that the top left switch contact of the Miele socket (image 5) is not used.

* The device does not have any indication of L and N, but it makes sense to wire the sockets as indicated by coloured lines.

 

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