David Johnston posted:In my experience with later prewar trains, Lionel used #22 or #24 solid push back insulated wire. The push back wire has a fabric insulation. To install a length of wire, it is cut to length, but the insulation is not stripped. The insulation is just pushed back on the wire. After the wire is soldered, the insulation is pushed back into place leaving little bare wire showing. Connections to trucks or couplers were made with a stranded wire. It was probably a natural rubber insulation, but it is usually gone. For these applications super flex plastic insulated wire, silicon jacketed fine steamed wire , and finely stranded fabric insulated push back wire are all available.
The old fabric covered wire insulation tends to turn black with age. Close examination may show signs of color. In my experience in some cases Lionel used yellow for connections to brush holders, green to field connections, and, only rarely, red for center rail power. All other was black.
All of these wires are available. Jeff Kane, The Train Tender is one source.
Thanks great info and I agree the original rubber insulation looks like it was natural rubber. Glad you explained the push- back wire or I would have been stripping back the ends. In regards to locomotive wires feeding the brush holders or manual operated reversing switch, passenger car lighting, etc... ie parts that don't move but are still subject to vibration, would these have had stranded wire?
All of the accessory wiring like street lamps and signals look like they used black wire exclusively. Did they ever use a tracer or painted end to keep the hot wire identified or you just have to keep track of it yourself ?
Dieseler I agree it may sound like work but it's fun restoring this stuff back to working order. I enjoy trying to make it look exactly the way it was made originally.
