The PHILCO Phorum

Hello:

I'm considering replacing a section of the three wire bundle from the speaker plug to midway in the line to the speaker. A fair amount of insulation has cracked here and there. I'm considering shrink tubing, but that might not fit in the bakelite plug opening. Would cloth covered reproduction electric light wire work okay. Probably would work. It would look pretty good. 

Thanks, 

Dave

Hi Dave,

I've had good luck with reproduction automotive wire from Rhode Island wire:
http://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthread.php?tid=12753

If you can find reproduction electric light wire that has the right appearance that would be preferable since it would be rated by the manufacturer for a higher voltage.

Hi Dave,
There are a few places to get cc wire but it's usually a bit larger in diameter. Not the wire but the insulation. The original stuff is copper wire wrapped with thread then covered with a cloth sheaf. Modern replacement wire has wire with a plastic cover and a woven cloth cover.
If you are looking to original looking I'd (but I'm a nut) either repair the original w/shrink tubing which you don't have to remove the rivets from the spkr plug or find some nos cc wire and paint it to match the original. The original are 3 different colors, and one has a tracer. It's a bit of a job.

GL

Repaired insulationis still 1) very rigid, 2) is cracked and wll keep cracking in places poorly accepting repair (the inlet of the plug or of the speaker frame), and 3) will look like crap.

Just replace it with a cloth covered wire. Even the thicker one still fits fine. Especially in 70 where it'sjust 3 wires.

Your radio deserves better than spliced speaker wires! Order three colors of 20 ga. stranded cloth covered wire and replace the old wire completely.
Actually, the new wires can be installed in the plug without drilling out the rivets. Strip the wires about an inch and a half. Solder only the very end of each wire, say about 1/8 inch, just enough to keep the strands together. The rest of the stripped sections will be unsoldered and flexible. After the old wires have been removed and the pins cleaned of the old solder, you should be able to thread the new wires through the back of the plug and work them into the pins. when the wire starts to come through the other end of the pins, grab it with a pair of pliers and pull it the rest of the way through. It will take some patience but, it can be done.

Here is one I did a couple of weeks ago.


Steve

I just noticed, Radio Daze now has a small profile 20ga cloth covered wire.   http://www.radiodaze.com/20awg-stranded/     This is what we have been waiting for.  
Steve

Why can't they clearly and conspicuously show the length of the wire they sell?

And yes, it is way more convenient for chassis wiring than what I've bought from them before.

  Mike its true that wire length is not mentioned in the first page. If you click on a wire it gives you that info. 25' per roll with option to order in different lengths.
I bought all the colors some months back for the one price. Really like it for chassis wiring and speaker.