On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 12:11:03 -0600, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

I think you are referring to what was generally called "parallel". Parallel
consisted of 2 copper plated steel conductors of 17 - 18 AWG, laying
side-by-side (not twisted) thus the name parallel; covered with a heavy
rubber insulation. Parallel was flat and typically held in reuseable "P"
clamps, although it could be "served up", or wrapped with soft copper to
form a hook for hanging as well. P clamps were easy and fast to hang on
poles in "J" hooks as I remember. Parallel was typically used only for
short haul stuff such as house drops. Being flat, it lacked the cross-talk
rejection characteristics of transposed open wire, or twisted pair.

You just described "C Rural" wire - they still make and use it today
for long runs of one phone line. The big advantage being it will go
300 to 600 foot spans between poles depending on the ice and wind
loading factors, just like the power line on the top of the pole.

http://www.superioressex.com/product...rural-wire.pdf

If they try using regular residential drop wire (1 or 2 pair) it
can't handle that long of a span without inter-setting additional
poles, and for one house it doesn't pay to hang a steel strand and
lash a normal 25-pair Alpeth cable to it.
--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
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