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antique knob and tube wiring (C) InspectApedia.com DavidOld Electrical Wiring HIstory
Early Chronology & Research History of Types of Electrical Wiring in Older buildings

History of electrical wire & electrical wiring.

Here are key research articles and patent citations that trace the earliest development of electrical wire and that name key inventors such as Edisonand Greenfield.

Page top photo: antique knob and tube wiring in an older U.S. home.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Old Electrical Wire Patent History

Warner electric wire manufacturing patent 1980 cited at InspectApedia.comAbove: illustration from Warner's 1890 patent of a method for manufacturing electric conductors.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Given below, in order by patent date, are examples of early U.S. patents that help provide invention and first-use dates for types of electrical wiring and electrical wire conductor insulation and insulating sheathing.

Separately at OLD ELECTRICAL WIRING TYPES you will find we provide a timeline of early electrical wiring invention, properties, types, and examples of different types of electrical wires or wire insulation and sheathing or jackets.

There you'll also find our photo guide to all types of old building electrical wires.

Also separately, at OLD HOUSE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS we give advice for inspecting & repairing old house or old building electrical wiring and we describe and illustrate common unsafe conditions at old electrical wiring installations.

Edison-s electric conductor wire patent March 1892 cited & discussed at Inspectapedia.com


Sawyer telephone or telegraph wire patent cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Greenfield's Patent  616612 for Armored Cable 1898 cited at InspectApeida.com

Burley patent US 1458803, filed in 1922, granted in 1923, describes electrical wire insulation cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Above: electrical wire insulation illustration from Burlery's 1923 patent cited below.

Original DC electrical wires from beneath New York City Streets  (C) Daniel Friedman

Photo: remnants of the oldest and original electrical wiring used for underground electrical power distribution in the U.S. Solid pipe Edison electrical cables excavated during street work in New York City.

See our separate page with details about this earliest DC electrical wiring

at SOLID PIPE EDISON DC CABLE HISTORY

Research on the History of Electrical Wiring

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-05-07 by David - can anyone identify this very old electrical wire?

i am curious if anyone can identify this very old and very risky wiring style...this is really old to me and i never seen it before...see my link

Re-posted by mod [links are blocked for reader & website protection]

antique knob and tube wiring (C) InspectApedia.com David

On 2023-05-07 by InspectApedia Publisher - antique knob-and-tube electrical wiring

@David -

Sure, that's antique knob-and-tube electrical wiring

Your wiring has been spray painted, apparently as part of someone's painting of the joists and subfloor overhead. That's why it's all white.

From your video description of brittle wire, particularly likely at the electrical boxes, it's time to replace at least those portions of the circuit. Safest would be to replace all of that circuit.

Watch out: be sure to read the safety concerns at KNOB & TUBE WIRING

Thanks for the question. We've posted 2 photos clipped from your video to show other readers what you've found.

antique knob and tube wiring (C) InspectApedia.com David

On 2023-04-15 by Nancy - what is the white string included in old MN 14/2 electrical cable?

I have some old MN 14/2 cable that has a white string running alongside one copper wire with a black sheeth and one copper wire wrapped in paper. Is it likely that the white string is asbestos? (I tried to post this also with a photo but I am not sure if I did it correctly so I thought I would try without the photo). Thanks very much!

Thanks - I thought that the image did not work. The first one is of the markings and another showing the string.

I am still not sure if the photo is getting to you. I get a notice that you need to approve it but then the whole thing seems to freeze.

If it helps the markings are CAPEX 14/2 Type NM 600V E-34378. (it is a bit worn so some of the digits are a bit faded).

This is the wires themselves

modern electrical  wire (C) InspectApedia.com Nancy

On 2023-04-17 by InspectApedia Publisher - modern electrical wire won't be asbestos

@Nancy,

That looks like modern electrical wire using an internal cord for strength - it won't be asbestos.

Usually the string is included to add pull strength to the wire - not something that an asbestos cord would offer.

On 2022-11-28 by Steve - asbestos in 1950s electrical wire?

Hi,

My house is wired entirely with what's shown in the picture. It was built in 1957. The pictures shown is from the interior breaker subpanel. I am concerned with what part of the wiring might contain asbestos?

fabric insulated wire coverings (C) InspectApedia.com Steve

On 2022-11-29 by InspectApedia (Editor) - fabric insulated wire covering

@Steve,

Nice photo, well marked. I see some fabric insulated wire covering.

You'll want to check the details we give at

ASBESTOS ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION

 

On 2022-05-02 by Jay - What kind of old wiring could this be?

What kind of wiring could this be? It is long-ago decommissioned. Single conductor in a very stiff tar or rubber outer insulation with shiny crystals in it. There is also decommissioned knob and tube in some places, but this wire does not use knobs or tubes.

Decommissioned single conductor in stiff rubber insulation (C) InspectApedia.com Jay

On 2022-05-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Jay,

Probably knob-and-tube - see KNOB & TUBE WIRING

On 2021-09-18 by Meg - which wire is neutral, ground and line in my old electrical wiring?

How do I know which wire is neutral, ground and line?

On 2021-09-18 5 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - How do I know which wire is neutral, ground and line?

@Meg,

Old cloth covered electrical wires: how to identify hot, neutral, ground (C) InspectApedia.com Meg If we can pretend for a moment that the electrical wiring has been installed correctly throughout the building including at this electrical box,

then follow the wires back into the box.

Ground Wire ID: If you see one of the wires connected to the metal box body, typically by a screw or a grounding clip, that should be a ground wire.

Usually the ground wire is bare or sports green insulation or insulation with green and yellow striping.

Hot Wire ID: Another method is to go to the electrical panel and identify the circuit on which this electrical box is wired.

Usually the hot or "live" wire is black, perhaps red, or a combination of red and black.

With power off the electrician would follow the hot wire back to find the cables leaving the electrical panel.

Neutral Wire ID: In the electrical panel neutral wires are connected (usually) to the neutral bus or to a shared neutral and ground bus.

Usually the neutral wire is white.

The electrician might, in the wire cable entering the electrical panel, find the neutral wire and follow in the panel it to its connection on the neutral bus.

There she might temporarily disconnect the neutral wire and cap it.

Now back at the electrical box the ground wire will show continuity to ground using it an ohm-meter or continuity tester, and the neutral wire should not, since it has been disconnected at its other end.

Watch out: if you're not trained and familiar with safe electrical wiring, you should know that you can be shocked or killed.

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