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Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
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Thread Tools |
10th Mar 2021, 7:10 pm | #21 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
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Re: Worst mains lead yet!
That twisted single-insulated flex [and its figure-of-8-moulded buddy] were ubiquitous as leads on table-lamps, standard-lamps and electric clocks well into the 1970s. it was also popular as the pendant drop-cable from ceiling roses to bulbholders - where the heat from a 100-Watt bulb rapidly hardened and embrittled the insulation.
Somewhere, I've got one of those 1960s 'rocket' lamps with a spun-fibreglass tube suppoted on three stamped-metal 'fins' as legs; it has two 60-Watt bulbs, daisy-chained with that twisted-pair flex, and terminated in a 5A 2-pin plug. Haven't used it for decades, but when new it was definitely on-trend, and also lethal as I remember the flex skinning itself on one of the metal fins |
10th Mar 2021, 7:24 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,339
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Re: Worst mains lead yet!
AFAIR the insulation is thicker than it looks. The transparent insulation acts like a lens, making the conductors seem closer to the surface than they really are.
When we went to Warners a couple of years ago, the bedside lamps appeared to be fitted with this type of flex. On close inspection, the twin twisted individually-insulated conductors were sheathed with equally transparent insulation. The additional sheath meant they were slightly less flexible than the old single insulated stuff. |
10th Mar 2021, 7:49 pm | #23 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Co. Durham, UK.
Posts: 1,117
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Re: Worst mains lead yet!
I use that transparent twin wherever the old figure-8 would be appropriate. It really looks the part.
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10th Mar 2021, 7:51 pm | #24 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Basildon, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,100
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Re: Worst mains lead yet!
OK to laugh at that twisted pair mains lead, but that sort of cable was used on Christmas tree lights just a few decades ago.
Mike |
10th Mar 2021, 7:58 pm | #25 | |||
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 1,898
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Re: Worst mains lead yet!
Quote:
As I said previously, the flex (that I have seen) used on Christmas lights, table lamps and the like is thicker and more flexible than this was. |
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