Lead Cable

[OnlQQker]

First time I've come across this. Just putting some needles through the wall for acro props and it's running all over the place, though obviously not live anymore. House was built in mid 1800's. The connector block looks ceramic and was in the metal casing.
Thought I would post for anybody interested and could shine some light on when this sort of cable was used?

 

[7029 dave]

Yep its old, first cable to be installed in your house, after gas lighting maybe or installed when house was built late 1800's, see how the rubber has disintegrated just left that cloth type, vulcanized Indian rubber , ripped loads out over the years

 

[buzzlightyear]

House was built in mid 1800's. The connector block looks ceramic and was in the metal casing.
Thought I would post for anybody interested and could shine some light on when this sort of cable was used

yep, to use to spark up the old gas lamps. lol.
mostly used power and lights ,cut a piece off and send to me about 50mters . now really lol.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I would say that joint came later as An addition / alteration to the lead wiring ...

 

[telectrix]

the lead sheath would have been clamped in a metal JB to preserve the cpc.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Lead-sheathed rubber-insulated was most popular for domestic work in the 1930s and this does look like that era. Obsolete by the 1950s. There were lead-sheathed cables from the beginning of wiring but not of this construction, the rubber-insulated cores in this type are served with tape, but otherwise are the same type of cores used in TRS cable.

The junction box is unusual. Could you post more pics of that please? I am always interested to find new kinds of fittings and accessories for the museum.

 

[Marvo]

The porcelain connector blocks are still sold for use in high temp applications like ovens, autoclaves, kilns etc. I've got a box of them somewhere in my workshop.

 

[DPG]

The porcelain connector blocks are still sold for use in high temp applications like ovens, autoclaves, kilns etc. I've got a box of them somewhere in my workshop.

What about the rectangular (lead?) box though?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Normally tinplate. Square types were popular, with a screw-down clamping bar (then called a bonding bar) on each side that would take two or three cables side by side, with knockout tabs in the lid. There were rectangular ones with two bars for through joints. This one is a bit unusual, it has projecting tongues that are part of the box itself but external clamps that both hold the lid on and clamp the tongues against the cable. I don't know who made it but hopefully if the OP can send more pics that will come to light.

 

[Pete999]

First time I've come across this. Just putting some needles through the wall for acro props and it's running all over the place, though obviously not live anymore. House was built in mid 1800's. The connector block looks ceramic and was in the metal casing.
Thought I would post for anybody interested and could shine some light on when this sort of cable was used?

View attachment 61371

View attachment 61372

View attachment 61373

Lead sheathe twin cable, rubber insulation cpc continuity was provided using the metal clamps,

 

[Pete999]

Yep its old, first cable to be installed in your house, after gas lighting maybe or installed when house was built late 1800's, see how the rubber has disintegrated just left that cloth type, vulcanized Indian rubber , ripped loads out over the years

Me as well the sheathing made VG ledger weights for fishing

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

When we rewired Blackpool Town Hall in the 80's,it was still powered by the original cable.
The building was one of the first to get electricity around the mid 1800's and it was a circular lead cable with waxed paper as the insulator.These were terminated into metal boxes with the lead being clamped to the box.The waxed paper was cut back,twisted porcelain connectors jointed and the whole box then filled to the top with bitumen.
It must have been a good job because it worked for 130 years!

 

[Pete999]

When we rewired Blackpool Town Hall in the 80's,it was still powered by the original cable.
The building was one of the first to get electricity around the mid 1800's and it was a circular lead cable with waxed paper as the insulator.These were terminated into metal boxes with the lead being clamped to the box.The waxed paper was cut back,twisted porcelain connectors jointed and the whole box then filled to the top with bitumen.
It must have been a good job because it worked for 130 years!

A lot of the old stuff is still good Mate

 

[freddo]

The only boxes I have with external clamps like that are Henley ones. All the others use some sort of internal clamp arrangement, either springs, or wide screws.

 

[lozarus]

Love how the polarity is incorrect on the connector.

I'm actually quite desperate for a short length of this if you have any going you'd be willing to part with for beer tokens