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Restoration of braided flexible cable, circa 1925 (Low Voltage!)

AncientMariner
Managed to locate a pair of circa 1925 Ericsson BBC Headphones suitable for my similar age Ericsson Crystal Radio. The braided flexible cable looks a bit mucky.

I suspect that the inners are tinsel wrapped cotton similar to that used by Post Office Telephones in the days of plaited handset flexibles of the 1940s 50s. I guess there would be rubber overall insulation beneath the braid.


Question is, how to clean the cable up?  Ideas that have so far come to mind are 1) Hand hot water with some washing up liquid, or 2) electrical solvent such as Isopropyl Alcohol. I am a little wary as to be would be kinder to the rubber over insulation (If any) and the tinsel covered cotton?


Either way, or any other way, would be to afterwards jang the wet flex close to a CH radiator to dry out.


Thanks.

Clive

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    In a former life I used to restore 1920s thru 1950s GPO phones, and my advice with tinsel flex is if you do use a wet solvent (water as opposed to IPA)... make absolutely sure it's rinsed clean of any detergent before drying. The fine tinsel can be attacked by some detergents.


    I had great success with very dilute biological washing powder for a couple of hours, with a gentle scrubbing with a toothbrush. As always, test a small section first!


    The method of terminating by wrapping with fuse wire is authentic for sure. I still have a 3Lb reel of no.35 SWG tinned copper wire that I used to use. :)


    Bind the wrapped ends with coloured beeswax impregnated cotton for best authenticity!
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  • 0
    In a former life I used to restore 1920s thru 1950s GPO phones, and my advice with tinsel flex is if you do use a wet solvent (water as opposed to IPA)... make absolutely sure it's rinsed clean of any detergent before drying. The fine tinsel can be attacked by some detergents.


    I had great success with very dilute biological washing powder for a couple of hours, with a gentle scrubbing with a toothbrush. As always, test a small section first!


    The method of terminating by wrapping with fuse wire is authentic for sure. I still have a 3Lb reel of no.35 SWG tinned copper wire that I used to use. :)


    Bind the wrapped ends with coloured beeswax impregnated cotton for best authenticity!
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