Brown cardboard box of cable clips by Tenby . Brown cardboard box with yellow label containing flat metal cable clips.

Part of the Bob Gray collection of electrical objects.

Cable clips such as these were used most often by professional electricians to hold cable in place. The flat clip was pinned to a wall, the wiring placed flush against it, and the ends of the clips then folded around the wiring to hold it in place. This process took considerably more time than nailing the less-robust DIY-style clips over the wires (these required no bending). However, the finish was much more professional and created straight runs of wire which were securely held in place. Clips like this were most frequently used during the 1950s and 1960s.