I was rereading the article on the corrosion pictures I sent earlier, and in the narrative was the note that the copper and iron were plated on the wood.  I had forgotten that my parents had my baby shoes copper plated way back in the day.  (It was apparently popular in the 1890s back when I was born...)  Anyway, that led me to Letter Circular LC1013 from the National Bureau of Standards dated November 1953, entitled, "METHODS FOR ELECTROPLATING METALS ON NONCONDUCTING MATERIALS" (pdf attached).   In it they describe in detail how to do it.  So, it looks like you just need a plating company to restore the AN-104. 

- Mike  KC4TOS

On 1/11/2024 2:12 PM, Michael Hanz wrote:
As long as that antenna doesn't spend much time outdoors, that would certainly work, Ken.  I think the original may have been a deep drawn pressing, very amenable for copper.  Even iron, which was the first  generation I-104 sheath, was ductile enough.  The difficulty is when it sits or flies in rain or salt spray.  Just something to consider.

- Mike  KC4TOS

On 1/11/2024 12:15 PM, Ken wrote:
Mark: there is thin, pure, solid-copper sheeting available from art supply stores which would be very easily formed around a wooden core or "mold". 

You might consider trying that yourself, if you cannot find anyone who does that commercially.
 
The stuff is a little thicker than aluminum foil, yet strong enough to hold together well even after being worked.  

I would wrap it around the core, solder it up the "back-side"  and form it around the top with a small hammer, if necessary, then connect it to the cable at the bottom.

Ken W7EKB

-------- Original message --------
From: MARK DORNEY via ARC5 <[email protected]>
Date: 1/11/24 08:52 (GMT-08:00)
To: ARC-5 <[email protected]>, [email protected]

Anybody know of a vendor or company that makes or can make the copper sheath that covers the wood core of the AN-104 aircraft antenna?

73
Mark D.
WW2RDO