[Heathkit] Shielded hookup wire

[k2cby at optonline.net]

Back in its waning days Heathkits featured small-diameter, shielded hookup
wire consisting of a pre-tinned stranded center conductor (by "pre-tinned" I
mean lightly saturated with solder, not just tin plated) about 22 or 24 ga,
with a metal foil shield (real aluminum ? foil without the usual mylar
plastic backing), a drain wire similar to the center conductor, and a black
vinyl cover. The outer diameter was a little over 1/8 inch. This wasn't
typical "coax" because it had a non-uniform characteristic impedance. It was
used extensively in low-voltage, low-power RF and audio circuits in Heathkit
ham rigs and test equipment produced during the late 1970s and into 1980s.
It was a joy to work with because the outer jacket cut cleanly, the foil
peeled back easily, it tended to stay pot when you bent it, and it loved to
be soldered to pc boards, switch contacts and terminals. Does anybody know:
(a) what this stuff was called, (b) who made it, and (c) is it still
available anywhere? Was it discontinued when the world went "lead-free"?

 

Miles B. Anderson, K2CBY
16 Round Pond Lane
Sag Harbor, New York 11963-3821
Phone: (631) 725-4400
FAX: (631) 725-2223

e-mail: k2cby at optimum.net