# Do you have "mystery" light switches?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-mystery-light-switches/638134>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 18, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-mystery-light-switches/638134 "2012-10-18T15:54:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-mystery-light-switches/638134/61 "2012-10-20T00:07:04Z")

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> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#):
>
> I mention the building date because I assume the house wouldn’t have had electric light when it was built, so presumbly lighting was retrofitted in the last 100 years, then removed from this room?

1900, might have had electric lighting. More likely though would be gas lighting ([Gas lights in old homes](http://www.1900s.org.uk/1900s-lighting.htm)), the pipe for which was often reused to run electric wires with electric lights replacing the gas. So, you might be looking for holes in the walls, rather than the ceiling that were fixed if that were the case.

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-mystery-light-switches/638134/62 "2012-10-20T02:16:02Z")

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gas lighting was not bright you needed multiple fixtures. they could be a ceiling chandler as well as around the room on the walls.

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**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-mystery-light-switches/638134/63 "2012-10-20T19:04:38Z")

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No holes in the wall, or ceiling rose for a central light. Otherwise the original cornicing is still there.

Maybe they just had a really really good plasterer though 🙂

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