What in the world is this thing?

[hackphotographer]

Can someone tell me anything about this thing? I certainly would be grateful.

[Jim C.]

HA ! I haven't seen one of those in years, I used it as contact printer when I worked in animation,
the studio that worked at had one like that except it was floor standing so I'll say it's contact printer.

[CCB]

Contact printer

[hackphotographer]

You guys are fantastic. Thanks so much for the prompt replies. I see no makers mark on it so I guess they were homemade perhaps. Any idea what it might be worth? All of the lighting worked in it but it could probably use some fresh cords throughout.

[CCB]

Try to avoid contact with the wire insulation - it's probably asbestos.

[hackphotographer]

Wow, thanks for that info CCB. I didn't even think about it.

[Paul Bujak]

Don't worry about touching the wires. Just don't breathe the dust.

[C. D. Keth]

That looks quite nice. You should replace the wiring and the cork and use it.

[E. von Hoegh]

Wow, thanks for that info CCB. I didn't even think about it.

Unless you pulverise the (possibly) asbestos insulation and snort the dust regularly over a period of years, the likelyhood that it will harm you is non-existant.

[Sevo]

Try to avoid contact with the wire insulation - it's probably asbestos.

I'd be very surprised if it is. In general, fibres in household cord from that period are organic - silk for fine threads, cotton, hemp, sisal or jute for coarse ones. Spun asbestos was seriously expensive and only used where things were intended to get seriously hot, e.g. in toasters, hair driers or the like. And for sheer economics they did not waste expensive fireproofing materials on anything inherently non-fireproof - you won't see a rubber, guttapercha or other non-fireproof insulation combined with an outer asbestos cover. Which makes it easy to check - an asbestos cord will be all asbestos, or have an asbestos inner insulation with some less fireproof outer one.

Switches and sockets from that period probably will contain mica for insulation - now banned as it will release asbestos dust in production, but the final undamaged product is entirely harmless.