When Men were Men and Sparkies played by the Sparks.      Wenatchee Home Inspections

From the National Electrical Manufacturers Association- NEMA - Here is a little history of electrical codes-

“National Bureau of Standards Circular No. 49—1914

National Bureau of Standards Circular No. 49, 2nd Edition—1915   

Well my collection does not go back quite this far but I have all the NEC code cycles from 1947 forward and electronic version of the 1920, 1933, 1935,1937, 1940 ELectrical codes.

Then there were guidebooks published by authors other than National Bureau of  Fire Underwriters (NBFU)/NFPA

The following is an excerpt from The American Electricians Handbook of 1942. “A Reference Book for Practical Electrical Workers”.

“Electricians often test circuits for the presence of voltage touching the conductors with the fingers. This method is safe where the voltage does not exceed 250 and is often very convenient for locating a blown-out fuse or for ascertaining whether or not a circuit is alive. Some men can endure the electric shock that results without discomfort whereas others cannot. Therefore, the method is not feasible in some cases. Which are the outside wires and which is the neutral wire of a 115/230 volt three wire system can be determined in this way by noting the intensity of the shock that results by touching different pairs of wires with the fingers. Use the method with caution and be certain that the voltage of the circuit does not exceed 250 before touching the conductors.“

Now thats what I call manly but it gets better.

The following  paragraphs was taken from the “American Electricians Handbook” of 1914

“91. The presence of low voltages can be determined by “tasting.” The method is feasible only where the pressure is but a few volts and hence is used only in bell and signal work. Where the voltages is very low, the bared ends of the conductors constituting the two sides of the circuit are held a short distance apart in the tongue. If voltage is present a peculiar mild burning sensation results which will never be forgotten after one has experienced it. The ‘taste” is due to the electrolytic decomposition of the liquids on the tongue which produces a salt having a taste. With relatively high voltages, possibly 4 or 5 volts, due to as many cells of battery, it is best to first test for the presence of voltage by holding one of the bared conductors in the hand and touching the other to the tongue. Where a terminal of a battery  is grounded, often a taste can be detected by standing on moist ground and touching a conductor from the other battery terminal to the tongue. Care should be exercised to prevent the two conductors ends from touching each other at the tongue, for if they do a spark can result that may burn.”