Early wire types ? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

60 oldjohn · 28th Oct 2021, 2:29 pm

Re the battery powered clock c1900 mentioned in a previous thread. What twin wire was available c1900. I have some single 18 SWG paper covered enamelled copper wire. I thought about twisting two strands together but only about 4 or 5 twists per 30cm. Was 2 core wire available in 1900? Any ideas what would have been used originally?

John.

G6Tanuki · 28th Oct 2021, 3:05 pm

Electric light, telephones etc had been around for quite a while by 1900; If you look at old catalogs of plugs and light-fittings from the era the twin flex usually depicted is cotton-covered [presumably over rubber insulation] twisted togther.

Such stuff was still available in the 1970s - the cotton covering often being gold-coloured, or a maroon/purplish colour. The gold variety was often used for table-lamps, the maroon-purple for lighting pendants.

28th Oct 2021, 2:29 pm	#1
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,988	Early wire types ? Re the battery powered clock c1900 mentioned in a previous thread. What twin wire was available c1900. I have some single 18 SWG paper covered enamelled copper wire. I thought about twisting two strands together but only about 4 or 5 twists per 30cm. Was 2 core wire available in 1900? Any ideas what would have been used originally? John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

28th Oct 2021, 3:05 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: Early wire types ? Electric light, telephones etc had been around for quite a while by 1900; If you look at old catalogs of plugs and light-fittings from the era the twin flex usually depicted is cotton-covered [presumably over rubber insulation] twisted togther. Such stuff was still available in the 1970s - the cotton covering often being gold-coloured, or a maroon/purplish colour. The gold variety was often used for table-lamps, the maroon-purple for lighting pendants. __________________ I'm the Operator of my Pocket Calculator. -Kraftwerk.