KILLARK Fuses

[Richard M.]

In all of my years changing fuses I've never come across this manufacturer. Could these be factory supplied in 1963? KILLARK?

I'm restoring this gorgeous 1963 Main harness and plan to either repair or replace the fuse clips. The wires are superb, pliable, and clean. I've looked at the wire to terminal connections on many ends and I see no poor joints.

Some of the fuses were rusted tight and I had a heck of a time getting them out. In the process I detailed each fuse location and rating. A 20A where a 10A, and a 20A where a 7 1/2A should have been.

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Here are the fuses...
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S for Superb...
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Nasty clips...
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[Ralph S.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

https://poshmark.com/listing/killark-auto-fuses-30-amps-st-louis-set-of-4-metal-tin-blue-READ-used-damaged-t-64644a96f625336667855daf

[Richard M.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

https://poshmark.com/listing/killark...25336667855daf

Yes thanks Ralph. I saw many in my web search too. Curious if others have seen them in the past. Have you?

They were based in St Louis so I'd say a good chance they were a supplier to the Corvette plant.

Here's a few images from your link.
[m_64644b228634cb648ee19d26.jpeg

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Rich
P.S. I fixed your link it was missing the "h" in http.

[Ralph S.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

My experience is with 1968 to 1973 Corvettes i have never seen that name before

[Gary B.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Rich,

What am I seeing in your close-up photo in terms of the internal element? Is it a double wire?

Gary

[Richard M.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Rich,

What am I seeing in your close-up photo in terms of the internal element? Is it a double wire?

Gary

No it's just a reflection. The wire is flat and the photo is looking at the edge of it. If you zoom in on the photo of all fuses, look at 2nd from the top.

Rich

[Michael H.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Busmann Fuse only plant was located in St. Louis as was Killark and many times Bussmann would mark Glass Tube Fuse, Flashers, etc. for other manufactures. It's possible the Killark fuses were made buy Bussmann but marked with KILLARK brand name. Back in the 70's we made a million glass tube fuses a day I remember seeing many different packaging containers such as ATLAS ( Standard Oil Co. ). I remember when GM approached Joe Bussmann about making the ATC fuses and he told them no way that Bussmann only makes Glass Tube Fuses. GM then went to Little Fuse in Des Plains ILL. and asked them to make the ATC fuse which they said yes. Bussmann then spent the next 3-5 years playing catch up as GM was no longer buying Glass Tube Fuses.

Mike

[Gary B.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Mike,

Great history lesson!

Gary

[Richard M.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Thanks Mike, Good read.

On the back of the fuse pack I posted earlier it shows

KILLARK ELECTRIC MFG CO ST LOUIS

They still exist today and appears they're in to large scale protection.

They began in 1913.

History Here

Which is part of the Hubbell group I see.

Rich

[Mark F.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Busmann Fuse only plant was located in St. Louis as was Killark and many times Bussmann would mark Glass Tube Fuse, Flashers, etc. for other manufactures. It's possible the Killark fuses were made buy Bussmann but marked with KILLARK brand name. Back in the 70's we made a million glass tube fuses a day I remember seeing many different packaging containers such as ATLAS ( Standard Oil Co. ). I remember when GM approached Joe Bussmann about making the ATC fuses and he told them no way that Bussmann only makes Glass Tube Fuses. GM then went to Little Fuse in Des Plains ILL. and asked them to make the ATC fuse which they said yes. Bussmann then spent the next 3-5 years playing catch up as GM was no longer buying Glass Tube Fuses.

Mike

Mike,

I did not know what ATC stood for so I looked it up...
Although this link below is for farmers' machinery, I think it has a really nice explanation of all the "new" kinds of fuses...plus a nice chart
thanks for the background on Bussmanns, too !

There are three common blade fuse sizes: the small minis (ATM), mid-sized regular (ATC/ATO) and the large maxis (APX). There is also a low profile version of the mini, the APS, which uses the same universal Amp colour coding system.

The regular-sized ATC fuse is more common than the ATO. The ATC has a fuse element that is closed (hence the “C” in the code) inside the plastic housing, sealing it from the environment to prevent corrosion from developing. The ATO fuse is open on the bottom, exposing the fuse element between the blades. ATC fuses are the best choice for use on machinery where they could be exposed to the weather. The high probability of corrosion build up could eventually interfere with current flow on an ATO type exposed to moisture.
https://www.grainews.ca/machinery-sh...an%20the%20ATO.

Obviously overseas somewhere and hard to hear or understand, but this video partially shows how they are made (at least wherever this plant is located)...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjis3oqU1mk

[Richard M.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Mark thanks for posting that link about the blade fuses. Good to know open vs closed.
I wonder if our cars that use them have ATC in the engine bay fuse box, and ATO in the cabins. I'll be checking.

Here's a 15A ATO.
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[Michael H.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Mike,

I did not know what ATC stood for so I looked it up...
Although this link below is for farmers' machinery, I think it has a really nice explanation of all the "new" kinds of fuses...plus a nice chart
thanks for the background on Bussmanns, too !

There are three common blade fuse sizes: the small minis (ATM), mid-sized regular (ATC/ATO) and the large maxis (APX). There is also a low profile version of the mini, the APS, which uses the same universal Amp colour coding system.

The regular-sized ATC fuse is more common than the ATO. The inside the plastic housing, sealing it from the environment to prevent corrosion from developing. The ATO fuse is open on the bottom, exposing the fuse element between the blades. ATC fuses are the best choice for use on machinery where they could be exposed to the weather. The high probability of corrosion build up could eventually interfere with current flow on an ATO type exposed to moisture.
https://www.grainews.ca/machinery-sh...an%20the%20ATO.

Obviously overseas somewhere and hard to hear or understand, but this video partially shows how they are made (at least wherever this plant is located)...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjis3oqU1mk

Mark,

That youtube video is not of the ATC or ATO fuse, it's of a tube fuse of some type.

When Bussmann made the ATC fuse it was a closed fuse and Little Fuse's ATC fuse was open between the blades which allowed for spark or moisture to be exposed to the enviorment. So if you had gas fumes around you could have a fire.

Mike

[Michael H.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Mark thanks for posting that link about the blade fuses. Good to know open vs closed.
I wonder if our cars that use them have ATC in the engine bay fuse box, and ATO in the cabins. I'll be checking.

Here's a 15A ATO.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]120224[/ATTACH]

Becareful as Little Fuse ATC fuses at onetime were open between the blades so check all ATC fuses to make sure they are closed.

Mike

[Richard M.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Becareful as Little Fuse ATC fuses at onetime were open between the blades so check all ATC fuses to make sure they are closed.

Mike

Mike, Yes this brought up that question I had about all of our newer cars. I'm going to check and see what's in my '07 C6, '10 Acadia, and '20 Sierra, both in the engine bays as well as in the cabins. I'm hoping closed types in the engine bays.

I also will be checking if ATO or ATC in my John Deere 790 Utility Tractor with 6' Rear Discharge Mower and a JD Z-Track mower. I have a lot of grass here!

Rich

[Mark F.]

Re: KILLARK Fuses

Mark,

That youtube video is not of the ATC or ATO fuse, it's of a tube fuse of some type.

When Bussmann made the ATC fuse it was a closed fuse and Little Fuse's ATC fuse was open between the blades which allowed for spark or moisture to be exposed to the enviorment. So if you had gas fumes around you could have a fire.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks - and Yes, I know the video was for the tube type - I should have mentioned that when I put that link in right after the discussions on ATC type fuses...

Also, very good to know about spark/corrosion/etc. issues with OPEN types. I wonder why they even make open types ? Cheaper ? More heat dissipation ?