[Collins] KWS-1 part II

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

In 1960, GC offered three dial cord constructions. Braided nylon over a 
stranded nylon core, .028" diameter. Braided nylon over a stranded no 
stretch fiberglass core also .028". And Braided bronze over a stranded 
bronze core .040" diameter. I'm guessing that if you can tie the loops 
or make them with a crimp sleeve that the miniature wire rope fishing 
leader will work for a long time, providing its flexible enough to do 
the bends around the idler pulleys, you can anchor the pointer assembly 
to it, and its small enough to fit in the grooves of the idler pulleys. 
And to get that flexibility it probably will need to be made of gossamer 
strands that make spider web strands look thick.

Another raw material might be violin strings, that sometimes come with a 
loop on one end. Modern strings are flat wound steel over a steel rope 
core but perlon strings also are made as well as gut strings but you 
don't want the gut, and light weight braided or rope fishing leader will 
be cheaper but the steel versions will be harder to tie loops in. The 
designers of the KWS-1 probably would have rejoiced at the selection of 
potential dial cord materials we have today as found in the fishing 
department or violin strings.

Berkeley Trilene braided poly looks like a prime candidate though its 
not metal, its strong and flexible. Unfortunately :
www.berkley-fishing.com/products/line/superline/trilene-braid-professional-grade
doesn't give dimensions and it comes in long lengths.

The perfection loop: 
www.animatedknots.com/perfection/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
looks like an appropriate knot to make the loop with braided line, I 
don't know if it will work with braided bronze.

73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Adviser to the Collins Radio Association.

On 12/30/2013 9:27 PM, KA9EGW wrote:
> Got all the knobs off, getting ready to pull the panel to replace the drum
> cable and restring the pointer cable.I'm thinking something along the lines
> of that miniature-wire-rope fishing leader.good idea or bad?  The manual
> [thanks for the tip, Perry] doesn't seem to give a length, only part
> numbers.I just know for sure the shoelace for a drum drive is NOT OEM HI HI
> 73, Brian KA9EGW
>
>