What was the outer diameter measurement of the original grey cables as supplied with the modulars? Ive made up some cables that measure about 4.75mm but looking at various photos I now wonder if they are 6mm or so. Also were they stereo or was that just the jack plugs?
A few pics for the archives.
These are original R.A. Moog patch cables from the summer of '69 during the Trumansburg, NY days.
The ends are labled on the inside with “Switchcraft Chicago”.
Seen here next to a 6" guage.
There is a little bit of grey, same colored shrink tube on the ends, about 1 1/4".
The cable is labled “Belden 8421” and is about 4.65 mm diameter.
The little colored tape on the ends looks to be 1/4" for the small inner band and 1/2" for the outer band. Seems to have been 6 colors used, red, orange, yellow, white, brown, and green. So 36 combinations to aid in patch identification.
These were the cables you would see in almost any photo from the 60’s with a Moog modular. More than likely made in house, as that same colored tape is used in various places inside the modular for ID. Sometime in the early 70’s they moved to the molded ends with grey cable and red, black, white or grey molded ends. Like the colored ends on the accessory cable.
I had assumed the original poster meant the molded plug patchcords that are much like the plugs on the accessory cords shown above.
Perhaps not?
While I have some of the Switchcraft styles shown above and they measure about the same that CZ measured, when I measured an original Cinch to 1/4" cable, they were larger.
I can’t find my molded cables easily, so didn’t post.
Did you note any differences in diameter between the molded plug cords and the hand-made ones, CZ?
The cable on the molded 1/4" ends is a little smaller diameter.
Getting about 3.80 mm on those.
Guessing these come from the Switchcraft “Custom Overmolded Cable Assemblies” line.
Thanks, CZ.
I found and checked one of the molded plugs and got about the same diameter as you.
About 3.72 to 3.80mm depending on where measured and how much pressure is applied to the caliper.
But… I checked some of the early cables that sport those same black-shelled Switchcraft plugs.
One is marked Belden 8401 (4.96 to 5.01mm- guessing 5.0mm is the intended diameter.)
Another is marked Belden 8421 and is 4.50 to 4.60mm diameter.
I used the same type of digital caliper as you used, btw.
So apparently Moog used various Belden cables and there is no one standard they continuously employed.
I couldn’t ask for better information…thanks once again for your effort with the detailed replies… Its fascinating to see the originals in such detail and description.
trying to locate replica cable has been quite a problem..after one false order (colour Graphite ..not grey as advertized!)After quite a while I found just one small company in UK with the correct cable..about 5mm diameter..and the correct colour ..( at a sane price)
but trying to locate Switch craft black jacks or similar is again a big problem..I found 1-2 companies doing similar but with ludicrous prices i.e. £2+ each..some companies advertise with the correct image but on ordering you get a totally different product.
I always think the modulars look better with the grey patch cables rather than the modern multi coloured ones but thats just my preference.
But trying to make “original” replica patch leads is quite a marathon due to obtaining correct components.
From what I can tell, the plugs are Switchcraft #250.
Mouser Electronics (mouser.com) has them as their part #502-250.
Switchcraft prices are high, but they’re good quality.
Check out Mouser’s prices.
Btw, I have about 13 or 14 of them. Two additional ones in red.
But shipping to the UK would be a deal-breaker.
thanks Kevin for the offer..I think I found a place that does them for about 75p ($1) some are charging £3 ( about $5 each) and their not Switchcraft.