To be honest, I just liked the look of the wooden bobbins.
The thicker wire is 0.5mm diameter, the thinner 0.1mm
Both come from The London Electric Wire Company and Smiths Limited. I can't see any dates on the paper labels affixed to the end of the bobbins so this is all I know.
I wonder how old they are? I'm thinking over 50 years, possibly a war surplus item?
5 comments:
I guess you've already hit the basic google search, but there's some interesting notes on the companies history up until the 1960's here:
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/London_Electric_Wire_Co_and_Smiths
It seems it was in existence until more recently, filing returns with Company's House until 2012 when it was wound up, finally being dissolved in 2016.
However the accounts had been filed as a 'dormant company' since about 2003, when the accounts were less than £3k. The accounts from 2002 are a bit thicker, but even then the income was from "discontinued activities". You have to go to 2001 accounts to find money as the result of "continuing activities". These accounts also give the company's "...principle activity is the distribution of copper wire rod.". These accounts also state the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of TT Electronics Plc.
It seems it was active for about 92 years in total then, 1909-2002
I've got some similar, used to belong to my Dad when he messed about with radios in the 1930's. I've used it for my first crystal set in 1960 and for rewinding motors when I did slot car racing. The wire size will be in S.W.G rather than metric.
Happy days.
Brian G
Phil,
When I started work for Post Telecommunications Development Department way back in 1971 there was a lady in the next lab whose sole task was to wind coils. She had more of those wooden reels thank you could imagine varying from thick to very fine and also esoteric stuff called litz wire. The stuff you have got has a brown coloured laquer on it. Before you can solder to it the laquer has to be removed by either burning it off or abrading withe emery paper. It was superceded by a red laquer that would melt away when you applied a soldering iron and cored solder. That was so much easierto use - especially for the tiny UHF filter coils we had to make ourselves.
Geoff
I have lots of spools of wire, but it is for jewellery making rather than electrical , though I have loads for that too. I think I inherited the 'it'll be useful one day ' gene from my father.
Your are not the only one who likes spools of wire...
i have several spools and coils of wire...you never know when it will come in handy...it's been a staple in my shop for as long as i can remember...at 75 years young, that goes back a ways...
speaking of handy...i like metal plumber's strap, too...i prefer the older soft metal to the newer punched tin and plastic of some kind...
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