At 03:50 PM 11/10/2008, Wayne Bingham wrote:
>While on the subject of interesting tools, I recently acquired an
>interesting cable making tool, or maybe better described as a
>"machine". It's a fairly elaborate production-type device, but I'm
>not sure of the approximate time-period. The devise basically "preps"
>the end of the cable, I'm assuming to accept the appropriate
>cable-end. This is the part that's unclear. Were the ends (likely
>lead) formed in some kind of mold? Or possibly crimped on?
>
>My friend John's shop was the appropriate repository for this tool.
>If you saw his shop, you would probably understand and agree.
>
>The machine can be seen on John's site here:
>
>http://lincolnsmithy.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/antique-bicycle-cable-machine/
>
>We are trying to find out anything about the device that we can, but
>primarily time-frame and the end-termination type and method.
>
>Any ideas out there?
This takes me back to my mis-spent youth as a motorcycle mechanic. There were cylindrical brass brake cable fittings with a cable sized hole drilled crossways all the way through and a larger recess to accept the wadded up wire end. The recess was then filled with solder. The other end would sometimes get soldered into a treaded bit that resembled a long, slender bolt with a cable sized hole drilled longitudinally. I rear ended an Oldsmobile when this solder joint failed on the front brake of my BMW R69S.
I assume there were also pear shaped fittings as it looks as though the lower end of some older English 3 speed double ended brake cables were made this way.
Mark Stonich;
BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S. - Minneapolis. MN 55417
Ph. (612) 824-2372 http://bikesmithdesign.com
http://mnhpva.org