My interest in plugs and sockets started when I was working as a geneticist at University of Amsterdam. Because of projects with colleagues abroad and congresses all over the world I was confronted with various types of plugs and sockets. Gradually I became fascinated (not frustrated !) by the diversity of incompatible systems.

When my university institute moved to a new building in the early 1990s, a technician found some old three-phase plugs and sockets (see images above). Knowing that I was not only interested in DNA and chromosomes, he dropped them on my desk, rather than in the rubbish bin. It was at that time the idea was born to start collecting old and new plugs, sockets and related devices from all over the world.

It does not make much sense to only collect things. You like to know more about them. For which applications are they meant, what is known about their history, what else is on offer, and what is missing in the collection?

Through the years the collection has grown to several hundreds of items, stored in boxes and specially designed cabinets. Occasionally people show some - more than just polite - interest in my unusual hobby, but the collection is not particular accessible to others.

My retirement has marked a new phase of life in which priorities are re-defined. Creating a digital museum of plugs and sockets has now become a feasible project. Developing an internet site is a never ending story. There are always things that can be, or have to be, improved. Moreover, I hope the collection will grow with old and new plugs and sockets.

If people like to comment or contribute to the collection, please find my email address at the about the collection page.

Oof Oud,
Culemborg, Netherlands, December 2009.