Made By Monkeys

What do you suppose the graphic designer thought this adaptor was supposed to do?

I don't know what he thought (probably not a lot). What it would do is kill people.

The graphic artist wanted to make a *shocking* picture. Lets hope it isn't a reflection of the attitude to risk at the bank however.

Erm, In reply, is it some sort of world wide electrical culling device for humans with poor electrical awareness?

Only an engineer would spot anything wrong. Do any of you question adverts showing cars floating into the air on balloons? No, because it's clearly symbolic or just artistic license.

Heads out of a@@es people.

Well thank god its not plugged in, then again I suppose that also reflects the Banks attitudes as well, certainly not plugged into the real world.

the guy only wanted to show that hsbc 'plugs in' anywhere in the world... lol !!!

Come on the majority of people reading this are going to be well on their way to owning an anorak if they don't already! (Hello Dad as I know you will read this later)

Yep the plug is of poor design but as someone else already said it's a symbolic image.
This is where the anorak ownership group falls down though. You know that it's symbolic but it's hard not to say I can't accept it and have to be disappointed.
Superman obviously can't fly, Star Trek and Star Wars can't be real so I can't enjoy watching them. etc etc etc.
I like the design it says everything it needs to. HSBC fits in anywhere in the world but they are more interested in advertising than the Fine Detail.
Oh doesn't that explain why we're in this world financial disaster. :)

Ah! But what you can't see is the brilliant automatic switching arrangement inside that ensures that the plugs are always thoroughly isolated from each other while the load is cunningly connected to the powered plug.

Hmmm. Or maybe not. I'm not going to buy one!

Does anyone remember the cover of the Hawkwind album 'PXR5'? This shows the inside view of a 13A plug with the wires connected to the wrong pins in a sort of lethally dangerous way. After complaints, the record company made a statement to the effect that it was not potentially dangerous because "Hawkwind fans are too intelligent".
Maybe in your universe....

If clever electronic circuitry isolates the other exposed pins what would the device actually do ?
AND is the clever electronic circuitry powered by the mains ?
AND how quickly does it work ?

"Yep the plug is of poor design" is somewhat of an understatement !

Mr Anorak (himself)

Yes, it is for real, I have one, and I'm still alive. (Mine is the version sold to the UK market, so it has a UK 13A socket, not a plug.)

The 3 pin in-line plug is the Italian 10A 230V plug; there exist also a 16A version with slightly more spaced pins. Both are still widely in use, but gradually phased out and replaced with the Shuko plug used in central Europa.