The Dossert Manufacturing Corporation has been making connectors which have been used underground almost since the first underground electrical distribution systems were installed. Early records show that Dossert connectors were used in underground installations dating from 1910. Until the last decade, however, the company's experience has been limited to just a-few types of connectors

Changes in the industry altered Dossert's position and in 1952 the concentrated development and manufacture of a complete line of connectors and fittings for underground use started. Research in materials and manufacturing techniques enabled Dossert to offer certain positive improvements without effecting standardization and interchangeability.

The main emphasis in the development program has been on interchangeability of the connectors and fittings and of their various components. Fortunately most underground connectors are manufacture to standards established by several public utilities and these standards have gained wide acceptance throughout the country. -The advantages of this standardization are great as not only may various components in a system be replaced without concern over the name of the manufacturer, date of manufacture and catalog numbers, but training of personnel and stocking of components are simplified. Compression tools which very often represent a sizeable investment will not be made obsolete.

It did not seem wise to introduce radically different connector designs even though present experience would point to some ad vantage of newer designs. This is an area where maximum reliability is an essential requirement, and where because of standardization an training of installation crews any change would be disadvantageous. Improvements in underground connectors were, therefore, limited to those changes which would not effect interchangeability.

of great prominence in the improvements instituted by Dossert is the almost complete elimination of the "factory taped joint." The use of factory taped joints in place of the fully vulcanized and seamless insulation has been at best a poor compromise between economy of manufacture and reliability. Too often have these joints proven defective because of improper fabrication or rough handling before installation. Dossert does not make this compromise, a wherever possible fully molds the insulation around the connector without seams of any kind. This feature has been incorporated in all of the MICON and crab connectors.

Improvements in the insulating materials by the development of MYPAR and MYPRENE natural and synthetic insulation is perhaps of greater significance although it may not be immediately apparent. The superior insulating and aging qualities greatly extend the useful life, and reliabilities of underground installations. The specifications and physical properties of these insulation are presented herein.

In addition to the introduction of a complete line of underground connectors and accessories, Dossert offers engineering and manufacturing service for any special requirements in this field. A portion of our engineering department has been organized to respond promptly to inquiries on special fittings and unusual problems which Dossert has always considered as important as the regular manufacturing production. Frequently "specials" may not be specials at all, even though they are not catalogued, and may be readily and quickly supplied at nominal cost.