Box of 25 midget connectors.

Part of the Bob Gray collection of electrical objects.

These connectors were used to make a new electrical connection. Two wires could be twisted together and the new connection enclosed within one of these 'midget connectors'. Not the safest way to connect wires, they were a rough and ready solution for anyone who wanted to join wires together in a hurry. Such products became popular in the 1950s during the rise of the post-Second World War DIY culture. This was encouraged by a shortage of skilled labour, the housing boom, and the proliferation of amateur enthusiasts' magazines. Connectors had a tendency to crack and expose wires. Because of this they gained a reputation for being unsafe and were banned in the UK in 1970s but updated versions are still available.