Headphones - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

peter.sables · 21st Jan 2008, 3:53 pm

hi...

I've a old pair of headphones complete with cord. Now here is the problem, the phones work well. Although the phone are working I'm worried about the cord. It has dried out and becoming brittle. Is there a way of restoring integrity...

Pete

ben · 21st Jan 2008, 11:57 pm

not that i know of. I have had a few 1970s philips devices with the cream mains lead which has gone all stiff and brittle... I'd just replace it. can't imagine it would be too hard to do on a pair of headphones, if you're a bit of a purist you may have to hunt about for some authentic looking cable though.

peter.sables · 22nd Jan 2008, 2:53 pm

hi Ben.

yes I think thats what its going to be. Just had a thought though. I could use the cords from a old phone.

Ha project on..

ta. pete

Radio_Dave · 23rd Jan 2008, 10:58 am

Hi Pete,

I think your talking about the brown, braided type of flex? If so, you might be able to do something with the flex in this link

http://www.geoffreyharris.co.uk/product/137

David

Nickthedentist · 23rd Jan 2008, 7:12 pm

And Ben Dijkman sells something very similar to that in Dave's link

chipp1968 · 24th Jan 2008, 9:40 am

headphone cable is very fine though and plyable , not like cable intnded for the mains ,useually the fine wire seams mixed with cotten threads in my experience and there is less metal thread than expected .

wireful3 · 24th Jan 2008, 12:02 pm

I remember something like Chipp describes. It is much more flexible than mains lighting flex. Headphone flex seemed to me to be basically cotton core for the strand with very fine flat "wire" wound in a spiral round it. Several of these strands were twisted together to give a stranded wire in the normal way and the braided insulation went over the top of this.

I have a feeling that connections were not made by soldering but that very fine tinned copper wire was whipped round the strands and either formed into a loop for the earpiece connections or crimped into the plug connectors.

Station X · 24th Jan 2008, 12:06 pm

Sound Systems
676 Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP3 8NQ

used to have boxed NOS headphone cords for use with DLR and similar type headphones. These were 'Y' type cords with one leg of the 'Y' going to each earpice. It might be worth checking to see if they still have them. I'm afraid I don't have a phone number.

Nickthedentist · 24th Jan 2008, 12:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wireful3

I remember something like Chipp describes...

It's called "tinsel wire" and was also used on telephone leads.

21st Jan 2008, 3:53 pm	#1
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Headphones hi... I've a old pair of headphones complete with cord. Now here is the problem, the phones work well. Although the phone are working I'm worried about the cord. It has dried out and becoming brittle. Is there a way of restoring integrity... Pete

21st Jan 2008, 11:57 pm	#2
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Headphones not that i know of. I have had a few 1970s philips devices with the cream mains lead which has gone all stiff and brittle... I'd just replace it. can't imagine it would be too hard to do on a pair of headphones, if you're a bit of a purist you may have to hunt about for some authentic looking cable though.

22nd Jan 2008, 2:53 pm	#3
peter.sables Rest in Peace Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 385	Re: Headphones hi Ben. yes I think thats what its going to be. Just had a thought though. I could use the cords from a old phone. Ha project on.. ta. pete

23rd Jan 2008, 10:58 am	#4
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Headphones Hi Pete, I think your talking about the brown, braided type of flex? If so, you might be able to do something with the flex in this link http://www.geoffreyharris.co.uk/product/137 David

23rd Jan 2008, 7:12 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,866	Re: Headphones And Ben Dijkman sells something very similar to that in Dave's link

24th Jan 2008, 9:40 am	#6
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Headphones headphone cable is very fine though and plyable , not like cable intnded for the mains ,useually the fine wire seams mixed with cotten threads in my experience and there is less metal thread than expected .

24th Jan 2008, 12:02 pm	#7
wireful3 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 808	Re: Headphones I remember something like Chipp describes. It is much more flexible than mains lighting flex. Headphone flex seemed to me to be basically cotton core for the strand with very fine flat "wire" wound in a spiral round it. Several of these strands were twisted together to give a stranded wire in the normal way and the braided insulation went over the top of this. I have a feeling that connections were not made by soldering but that very fine tinned copper wire was whipped round the strands and either formed into a loop for the earpiece connections or crimped into the plug connectors.

24th Jan 2008, 12:06 pm	#8
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Headphones Sound Systems 676 Foxhall Road Ipswich Suffolk IP3 8NQ used to have boxed NOS headphone cords for use with DLR and similar type headphones. These were 'Y' type cords with one leg of the 'Y' going to each earpice. It might be worth checking to see if they still have them. I'm afraid I don't have a phone number. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.