16 gauge magnet wire DCC - opinion?

[RadioHist]

I'm wanting to make accurate replicas of mid/late 1920s short wave coils as are in the American made Grebe CR-18. I've proven to my satisfaction that I can make the coils but for my proof of concept trial I have only 22 AWG...

The correct wire for these Grebe coils #16 AWG DCC magnet wire (natural white color). I think that translates to about 1.3mm wire. Have yet to find a US source but did find a link to: wire.co.uk offering 1.25mm wire..

My question for this group is: Do you know if this wire on offer looks to be fabricated as it was in the 20's? (The best for me would be vintage, new old stock in as new condition.) They offer in 125g units which I think would be about 10m for this gauge wire... Each coil would take about 3m.

The coil shown is a rendering of my 3D model.

Comments welcome.

[Lucien Nunes]

I have bought DCC from them before for restorations, and it looks reasonably convincing apart form being snow-white. If you are a connoisseur of insulation you might see a difference in the layup but the ordinary observer will not. IIRC some or all of the wire I bought was plain copper rather than tinned, at the time it did not matter to me but it might in your scenario.

[RadioHist]

Thanks for the response. I actually want the bare copper. Sounds like I need to 'take the plunge'. I can always use a little tea or coffee to knock down the brilliant white.

Robert

[Station X]

Originally Posted by RadioHist

The correct wire for these Grebe coils #16 AWG DCC (Double Cotton Covered) magnet wire

Originally Posted by Radiohist

I actually want the bare copper.

I'm confused. Bare copper wire will have no insulation whatsoever. If you want to wind coils with it you'll have to be very careful with the spacing.

[Herald1360]

Err bare as opposed to tinned, so dcc plain copper rather than dcc tinned copper was how I read it.

[RadioHist]

Over here, in the early days, magnet wire did not have enamel insulation. Insulation was solely by wraps of cotton or silk about the bare (not tinned or plated) conductors.

Robert

[kalee20]

It was the same in the early days here, too. Michael Faraday had to wind calico around his bare wire when he made his horseshoe magnet.

[Radio Wrangler]

Wires.co.uk is the retail branch of the scientific wire company.

I've dealt with them a number of times and had no problems. They have a very wide range so a phone call for a chat with Danny is advisable for anything unusual.

David