When Were Cloth Electrical Cords Used

The braided fabric wire insulation was found on a 1960 s fluorescent light ballast while the plastic wire was used in the branch circuit wiring for the light where that ballast was employed.

When were cloth electrical cords used.

Even the old knob and tube wiring that predates cloth wiring was perfectly adequate at the time. Nonmetallic sheathed cable was born which incorporated a rubberized fabric coating sheath much like knob and tube wiring but here the hot and neutral wire were run together in this one sheathing. Cloth covered wiring in residential buildings usually dates from the first half of the 20th century. Cord plugs and switches for electric lighting 1900 1940 s these rayon covered cords are the safe and modern versions of the old silk wrapped cord.

Aluminum electrical wiring types click to enlarge any image. The old style ballast and its wire could have dated from the 1950 s. Many power systems installed prior to 1950 were built with cloth covered electrical wire. By the 40 s only certain things like clothes irons retained cloth cords.

It was 1 of 2 popular methods of residential wiring in its time. In my own experience the cloth cord was used because it was a superior product for heat producing appliances such as toaster irons etc. The other basic electrical wiring system of this era was a bare electrical house wiring system commonly known as knob and tube. The plugs and switches are also specially designed specifically to work with these cords in the rewiring of all types of lamps.

Some companies switched as soon as neoprene became available. You can also find some original rubber cordage from the very late 20 s. Aaron s ettco wire looks like a paint coated asphalt impregnated fabric sheathed electrical wire widely used from about 1949 1975. Since it wasn t at all a mandatory thing the changeover is spread out over many years.

In the 1930s a quicker installation method was developed.