They used to solder massive cores in the street[1] - I believe they usually
crimp them these days.


Can you believe the soldering involved pouring molten solder from a ladle
over the cable and ferrule and catching the runoff in another ladle - all
while the cable, and ladles were live whilst sitting on a rubber mat...


Yep.. Seen 'em do it albeit sometime ago now:!..
--
Tony Sayer