Seen during and inspection. What is this.

[William J. Decker]

Ran accross some very interesting things during an inspection the other day. Anyone want to hazard a guess of what these things are?

[ldapkus]

Old and Commercial

[sspradling]

Will,
Is it old ham radio? That's my guess.
Stu

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

Will was the building a concert hall or theater at one time??

Regards

Gerry

[William J. Decker]

The inspection was of a condo conversion. The development was called "Substation Lofts - Post-Industrial Living".

The building was originally a Chicago (Broadway and Ardmore) Commonwealth Edison electrical substation serving the north part of Chicago. Originally built in 1907. The building was about 25,000 SF and the developer converted it into neo-industrial syle condo lofts. Exposed brick walls, huge wooden beams and steel girders, hardwood floors and all that other popular stuff (Marble, whirlpool tubs, Viking stoves, 50" plasma TVs, track lighting and totally computerized controls).

They left many of the old knob and tube cables installed (but not energized. I checked!) and the whole place was like living in a cross between a power station and Frankenstein's Castle. They even had a functional Whetstone Bridge in the lobby.

The developer saved all the old panels and meters and fuse boxes and stuff and put them up on the walls as 'decoration'. He gave me some of the leftovers. It was a very cool inspection. I had a new guy along (ride along) and he just stood around, all wide eyed and all. I tried to explain to him that this was just a normal, run of the mill, inspection.

If anyone wants some of the pictures (I have more) like for a class or just for their own "private collection" , just let me know.

Some pretty cool old stuff.

Kind of a strange milieu, but evidently very popular with yound couples.

Bet ya Paul Abernathy would LOVE to have a unit there.

[Marc D. Shunk]

That's an old dimmer rack in the middle picture. Not sure what the deal is in the first, but the third picture is typical of the lighting panel in old retail stores and larger old commercial spaces.

[William J. Decker]

I believe that those modules in the middle picture were relays. At least that is what was stamped on them. Also Amp gauges going up to 600 amps.

All the equipment was GE.

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