Old fashioned wire types -- interconnect and magnet wire - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ezalys
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2024, 03:42:13 am
content: I'm interested in making a clock with early 1920s style components. I've seen a type of magnet wire that when wound has a sort of matte finish -- what is this called? And then, what is a standard kind of fine gauge, low current, insulated interconnect wire from back then? Something like you might lace together with other such signaling wires?EDIT: Sorry I should say 1920s-1940sish. That pre-integrated circuits, mechanical telephone exchange era.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2024, 10:03:18 am
content: Before plastic, the metal wires were often wrapped with a silk or a textile wire, in order to isolate the metal wire.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2024, 03:04:04 pm
content: You're probably after "DCC" (double cotton covered) or silk (higher end) magnet wire. I went down this hole a while ago and I don't think it's been made for a long time. The old fiber wrapped wire had thicker insulation, larger diameter for the gauge, less turns per inch. Litz, TIW or maybe kynar wire wrap wire? My thought for an antique Tesla coil build and general old timey apparatus construction was to use heavier green enamel magnet wire and cover it in a less than high gloss varnish. I have seen emerald green DCC in a 20s kit TRF radio before.1920 to 1940 covers a lot of development. If you're after the more open look with wood and brass the 20s is likely where you need to be.Hookup wire is easier, look at radio restoration suppliers. Cloth covered or bare, tinned, "bus wire".

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 05:14:00 pm
content: Quote from: BrokenYugo on January 14, 2024, 03:04:04 pmhttps://www.wires.co.uk/sell both cotton and silk covered copper wire.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 06:41:51 pm
content: Quote from: BrokenYugo on January 14, 2024, 03:04:04 pmCotton covered enameled wire works well for tesla coils because the cotton spaces the wire out a little bit more, reducing the volts per linear length, and soaks up the varnish.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 06:58:44 pm
content: The patch cords used in manual telephone exchanges back then often used “tinsel wire” for its extreme flexibility: metallized textile thread.Also common for communication headphones.Impossible to solder; one must crimp to the wire ends.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2024, 10:20:09 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on January 15, 2024, 06:58:44 pmI hate that stuff.

author: srb1954
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2024, 01:43:41 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on January 15, 2024, 06:58:44 pmAnd surprisingly high resistance per foot.It can be a trap for the beginner trying to power electronics e.g. radiotelephone control microphone, through a tinsel microphone cable as you can get several volts drop through the cable.