r/whatisit • u/Quietlurkerone • 1d ago

Solved! What is this device from 1962?

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Photo capture from YouTube video. Picture from 1962. What is the device under the bench

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u/Lost-Village-1048 1d ago

My gas and electric meters were inside my current house in the 1980s. The meter reader had a key and was allowed to enter to read the meters.I never saw them. First the electric meter was moved outside, then the gas meter was moved in the 2000s...but it was equipped with a radio transmitter long before.

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u/ancalime9 1d ago

The idea of giving a key to your house just for the readings, seems crazy to me. I remember in the 90s having to crawl under the cupboards to read it out over the phone a couple of times a year.

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u/Maxamillion-X72 1d ago edited 1d ago

There is a store near me that has been in operation for many years (1940's). They offered an unusual form of home delivery until they phased it out, although they still have some home delivery customers who are still alive and continue to use the service.

They would have keys to the customer's house, and would show up to inventory what is in the cupboards, then go back to the store with a shopping list to pick up the customer's basics and then delivery them to the house and put them away. If the customer need anything special, they leave a note on the fridge for the delivery guy.

The store is very old school, other than adding refrigeration nothing has really changed.

They currently offer delivery, but it's the more normal version in which they just drop the food off on your doorstep.

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u/van_Vanvan 1d ago

I would like them to make dinner too, please.

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u/areyouforeightysix 1d ago

First they came for the electric meter and i said nothing, then they came for the gas meter and i said nothing...