Old Cloth Covered Electrical Wire

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Old cloth covered electrical wire. Cloth covered wiring in residential buildings usually dates from the first half of the 20th century. Basics of cloth wiring. However as you see in my photo below this old cloth covered electrical wire is charred in two places making me think it may not contain asbestos. The reason why people used cloth is simple cloth is a great insulator.

One of the types of electrical wiring systems that were quite popular in the past before the middle of the 20th century is cloth wiring. Click to enlarge any image. Even the old knob and tube wiring that predates cloth wiring was perfectly adequate at the time. Use our fabric covered wire create the perfect plug in pendant light or pendant light kit.

Often times a professional electrician changing a basic switch or receptacle in an older cloth covered system will experience large pieces of insulation crumbling off the wire due to its frail nature. Copper aluminum copper clad aluminum tinned copper. In the electrical wire history old wire identification article below we illustrate a variety of types of electrical wiring found in older buildings based on the wire insulation material asbestos cloth plastic metal and the wire material itself. You ll find that our cloth wire makes the perfect cloth lamp cord cloth pendant light cord and is a great for lamp parts and light sockets.

Whether you choose from our designer collection with its added flexibility and vivid colors or our industrial collection with its increased thickness and rigidity your sure to find the perfect wire for your project or restoration. You can choose between round cloth covered wire braided twisted cloth covered wire or nautical rope electric wire. Over time the insulation on cloth covered electrical wiring becomes brittle cracks and in many cases literally falls of the wire. However no tests were performed.

We manufacture over 150 colors styles and patterns of fabric covered wire. Many homes in florida have this kind of wiring even today. On 2020 06 04 19 43 51 349276 by danjoefriedman mod andrew see my notes on my copy of your photo. It was standard insulation at the time and managed to keep homes electrical currents running for many years.