De-Ion Line Starter???

[warmsecondrinse]

Not long ago I did a sub job in an elementary school that went up in the 1930's.To one side of the classroom door, underneath the light switch was this. I've googled but found little explaining what it actually is for. Anyone know?

 

[circlew]

Motor Starter

I usually associate the "De-Ion" name with circuit breakers, but Westinghouse also had motor starters under that name. The link is to a 1938 brochure that explains the difference between them and regular motor starters.

http://https//archive.org/stream/Sweets1938Sec237WestinghouseElectric/Sweets%201938%20Sec%2023-7%20Westinghouse%20Electric#page/n23/mode/2up

 

[cuffs054]

Never saw such a thing. Maybe it was for a whole room fan? My forth grade room had a large "attic" type fan mounted over the door (very high ceiling) but I don't remember how it started.