This is definitely off-topic for a teardrop forum, but Shelly and I are spending the summer with my Mom in my childhood home, that my Dad contracted and had built in 1959. Between trips, we're doing some fix-ups and improvements, partly for our improved comfort, partly to increase the appeal for the day when we have to sell the house.
It turns out, this house was wired with 3 wires to each outlet, with the predecessor to Romex. In other words, no conduit, but a true ground wire to every box. However, all of the outlets, except those added or replaced later, were two pronged. Fundamental question is, why is that? At that point, it would seem like they might as well have put three prong outlets in.
Another fact: At some point my Dad had all of the original outlets replaced with a type that swiveled so we (as kids) couldn't put a key in a socket and electrocute ourselves. (By the time I was a teenager, I found other ways to do it ) Mom thinks he may have contracted out the job, which makes sense to me, because if he did it himself the original outlets would be in a box in the basement somewhere, and I never saw them. So, it's slightly possible the original outlets were three pronged.
Anyway, does anyone know why, when they went to the expense of running a cable with ground wire, they stopped at the last step and only put in two pronged outlets? Granted, most devices only had two pronged plugs in those days. Now, there are "cheaters" on designated outlets so we can plug in the vacuum cleaner. (BTW, the center screw is grounded, so they are all good--I made sure they were screwed in correctly.)
I'm thinking of replacing all of the two pronged outlets, at least in rooms we're using for our work spaces, with modern three pronged ones. I could even spring for the modern version of the safety outlets. Anyone see a down side?
We're a few days from our next camping trip, so I'm bored and any and all replies welcome!
Tom