Cloth-covered appliance power cords.

[mikael3]

I always thought that cloth-covered cords on appliances didn’t make it past WW2, but apparently I’m wrong.  I see a lot of toasters and irons on eBay that are clearly from the ’50s, and they have those old-looking cords.  It seems that lamps and radios from the ’50s also have cloth cords. 

 

I wonder if the cloth provided a barrier to protect the plastic from melting on those heat-producing appliances, of if the cords on the lamps were meant to be decorative.

 

But the main reason I’m asking is that I want to know what’s “correct” so I can be a smarter buyer.  eBay in particular has a lot of shady deals, and I feel better bidding if I know that what I’m looking at is correct for it’s time period.

 

[xraytech]

I can't speak for other appliances, but irons seemed to have cloth cords into the early-mid 1970s
I've seen avacado irons from GE and Proctor-Silex with cloth cords

 

[classicguywi]

In my own experience the cloth cord was used because it was a superior product for heat producing appliances such as toaster, irons, etc. I have replaced failing cloth cords with modern replacements and in several cases the cords have heated up to the point of being unsafe to use, at which point I do not use the appliance again until it is fitted with the correct cloth cord.

As far as lamps, radios, etc, depending on the age of them they could be something that was replaced to look more "vintage" or was something that grandpa had laying around and just put on to replace a failed cord. I know I saw my own grandfather do that many times. There are reproduction rayon covered cords for decorative proposes mainly in lamp restoration.

One of the ways that I use to tell if it is a vintage cord or modern replacement is color, and secondly looking into the cord ends if possible. A modern cord will have some sort of plastic innards, where as the vintage cords might have a rubber innermost with several layers of cloth, or other material.

~Mike

 

[NYCWriter]

Be careful with those older cloth cords ...

... that may be rotting.

They used asbestos as the primary insulant.

 

[brisnat81]

Cloth covered cords still exist in Australia, but these days its a layer of fabric over a normal plastic sheathed cord, so three layers of insulation

The individual conductor insulation, plus an outer sheath and then the fabric cover on top to make it look nice.

 

[iej]

Irons in Europe have double insulated, heat resisting plastic flexes with a cloth cover.
Steam generator cords combine the electrical flex and stream tube in a clothe covered cord.

 

[tolivac]

Cloth insulated cables-yes,used mostly on older heating appliances.And--the insulation as pointed out above was asbestos.At that time only material that could take the heat.On radios and other early electronics-some of these the cord was a resistor or sort for the devices tube filaments wired in series with the line.these cords often get very hot and can burn items near them-hence they were often called "curtain burners"Modern restorers no longer use the nichrome wire resistor cords-they install a proper value resistor in the device and use a reproduction cloth cord.Better safety this way.

 

[iej]

The logic for the iron cords is that they don't catch on fabric while ironing.

The old appliance flexes were just woven cotton with heat resistant rubber insulation on the wires.

Current generation iron cords are just like normal cords covered in cotton.

There are differences between US and EU cords. Since the early 1970s double insulation has been mandatory. So zipcord was banned. There are also different rules on flexibility and resilience.

European cords also don't need to be as thick as the we use 230V thus halving the amperage for equivalent wattage.

The British system used to allow very thin flexes on small appliances as the plugs are fused. However, these things were standardised across Europe, so modern appliance cords are designed to survive a 16amp fault for sufficient time to trip a breaker. That doesn't mean they can carry 16amps on a thin flex for radio, just that it won't catastrophically fail during a short circuit fault.

 

[frigilux]

Asbestos alert: I'd press the 'Like' button on Matt's comment a dozen times if I could. The stuff lurks in many unsuspecting items of that era from flooring to filing cabinets. While the items may have been safe enough to handle in their day, the deteriorating effects of time are not to be underestimated.[this post was last edited: 11/25/2014-05:43]

 

[iej]

That's one reason to always be VERY wary of old / vintage heating appliances even hairdryers.

Asbestos was used extensively and it gets crumblier with age.

 

[mikael3]

I’ve seen Sunbeam T20B toasters and Sunbeam CG waffle irons with both cloth cords and plastic cords--and the plastic looks old and original.  Was there a choice, I wonder, or were the units from different years?  There may be no good way of answering that question.

 

[washer111]

Yes, the Asbestos danger is ever real, and present. As Eugene stated, it can be lurking everywhere. People with older homes might find it in their HVAC systems (ducting/water pipe insulation), in electrical conduits, in textured ceilings, drain pipes, roofs, fences, floor coverings, carpet underlays, walls and so on. There is a huge crisis in Australia right now - Asbestos has been lurking in many of our hospitals, in service tunnels where many personnel travel through daily, and it has induced sickness in workers. Many were unaware of the danger, or even its presence.
You might also be aware if working on older cars, I believe some included it in the air intakes or air filtering assemblies (At least was true for the E34 BMW 5-series, not sure about other cars).

Getting back on topic, I can confirm that cloth coverings as still around here in Australia - Our previous waffle iron (a Sunbeam from the early 1990s) used a cloth cord, as do both our irons, an older early 90's Black & Decker, and a current Phillips product.

 

[brib68]

I remember my mother's appliances when I was a kid in the 70s were a mixed bag, mostly plastic cords, but some cloth cords. Most of her standard appliances were from the 60's--married in 1964.

I'm pretty sure her waffle iron had a cloth cord, but I know her toaster had plastic--and an odd, wide rectangle plug instead of the usual shape. It was one of the automatic kind that slowly lowered the bread, and then slowly raised it when done--no lever, no pop-up. (Was that a Toastmaster? For the life of me I can see everything else clearly, but not the name.) Her old GE iron might have had cloth--I was too little to get close enough to it, and she'd replaced it by the time I was a little older. Non-heat appliances, like mixers and blender, were plastic cords.

We also had a vaporizer that today a lawyer would follow you home if you bought it. It seemed kind of old-fashioned even then, so it might have been from a garage sale or someone's hand-me-down. It had a brown glass bottle on top for the water, and you put the Vicks vapo-stuff in somewhere. Pretty sure that had a cloth cord. Anyone ever seen one of those?

 

[iej]

It was even in cigarette filters in the 1950s!
So, you could have been smoking AND inhaling asbestos!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, again no one knew it was bad for you back then--Smoking OR Asbestos...!

-- Dave

 

[washer111]

Asbestos Filters

This was the "Kent Micronite" product. Asbestos fibres do provide very good air filtration properties, if you exclude the fact they release asbestos fibres.

I don't believe the product ever progressed from testing phase, although I think the test group was around 60,000, plus factory workers who handled the asbestos product and were also sick.
However, you can't really blame anyone, since the dangers of asbestos were not yet realised, and BigPharma hadn't caught on to fabricate all sorts of 'science' on smoking, and launch a huge anti-smoking, draconian, freedom-reducing march they have today.

 

[iej]

It was the 50s... Atomic Asbestos Cigarettes kept bug free with DDT for that smooth taste.

Also available in patronising pink fluffy version for ladies.

 

[vintagekitchen]

brib68

The toaster you described was a Sunbeam, and they work amazingly well. Here's a link to one on youtube, and they are usually easy to find on eBay.

http://https//www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=Jrp1VOn4B7easQTn6YGAAg&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Da6s7e3aSzSc&ved=0CCsQtwIwAA&usg=AFQjCNFKhKHA_U6CWS7AuR6oKf38H-8qtQ

 

[dustin92]

Yes, the Sunbeam Radiant control toasters are excellent. I have one from the mid 60's. It has a rubber cord. Don't forget, asbestos is only dangerous if it's being disturbed- it's usually better to leave asbestos floor tiles where they have been for the last 50 years, covered and protected by many layers of wax. I believe our walls are insulated with asbestos fibers, and it is staying right where it is- it isn't making anybody sick, so why mess with it and take the chance? Same goes for cords/wiring with asbestos insulation- if it's working and not damaged, leave it alone.