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Suspicious wire in wall question

JLazaro317 | Posted in General Discussion on February 13, 2005 10:50am

Hello All,

I went over today to help a friend’s Dad haul material to his house that he’s rehabilitating. This is an old National or American Homes house built in the 50’s. The house is on a wire reinforced slab and has 2X3 exterior walls. Anyway, inside all the walls are a wires 16-18 ga. uninsulated that run from the slab all the way up the walls and through the ceiling.  I did not trace them through the ceiling to see where they go.

Can anybody tell me what these are for?

Thanks,

John

J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

Indianapolis, In.

http://www.lazarobuilders.com

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Feb 13, 2005 11:06pm | #1

    Copper, steel?

    How many, how often?

    1. JLazaro317 | Feb 14, 2005 05:38am | #4

      Steel.....every 3-4 feet (my guess)....interior and exterior walls.John

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

      http://www.lazarobuilders.com

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Feb 14, 2005 07:23am | #6

        "Steel.....every 3-4 feet (my guess)....interior and exterior walls."Or they regularly spaced? Every other stud bay?Are they taught?I wonder if it was some kind of tensioning system?

        1. JLazaro317 | Feb 14, 2005 07:26pm | #10

          I'm not sure of the exact spacing....just a guess. I didn't bother measuring and I don't plan on going back because some of the wires have been cut and it sounds like we started the Apocalypse.  ;)

          The wires are not taught and therefore I would say they are not for tensioning. I didn't look in attic to see where wires go so I don't know if they were for some type of grounding system.

          I was hoping that some of the old timers on Breaktime might know.John

          J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

          Indianapolis, In.

          http://www.lazarobuilders.com

          1. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 14, 2005 08:02pm | #11

            probly a Heath kit radio ant. no kidding. 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

          2. User avater
            Luka | Feb 15, 2005 02:21am | #17

            That's exactly what I was thinking.Back then, "enthusiasts" got QUITE enthusiastic.It would not have been all that unusual for someone to do that, to pull in london or tokyo, or moscow...

            The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow

          3. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 15, 2005 03:13am | #18

            see..we ain't nuts 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

          4. User avater
            Luka | Feb 15, 2005 03:43am | #19

            You remember your first crystal radio ?Look ma, no electricity !Did you ever run wire sort of as described here, in your attic, to try to get more reception ? I know of at least 3 people in my junior high, and high school who did.; )

            The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow

          5. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 15, 2005 04:43am | #21

            yeppers....I was 4, Daddy made me....I'd rather forget. 1964 was a fun time, the real FUN was '66...Sharon , the babysitter...playin dominoes on a 17 year old's nekkeid bod........that was tuff. 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

          6. ravz | Feb 16, 2005 12:42am | #28

            You can't just post that without details.. how does a 6 year old get his baby sitter nekked? inquiring minds want to know.!

          7. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 16, 2005 02:11am | #29

            it was completely her idea..I didn't do anything to force it..what can I say, she was a ho 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

          8. Tyr | Feb 15, 2005 06:58am | #26

            Actually I had a wire going out my window to about 50' of antenna wire.  Both ends insulated.  Had to keep just the right slack in it because one end was attached to an apple tree and when the wind blew..........was that carbon tet we used to clean the crystal?  Headphones!  Ah..the good really old days!  Tyr

          9. MikeSmith | Feb 14, 2005 08:41pm | #13

            john... so ...what's the story about these uneducated wires  ?

             Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          10. DanH | Feb 14, 2005 10:13pm | #14

            How do you know they weren't self-educated?

          11. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 14, 2005 10:21pm | #15

            he meant "elucidated"
            remember he's a Yankee extrordinaire..They got him years ago..cuz he soooo busy with the insulation, he forgot the isolation from stray wavelenghts..poor guy..he actually doesn't know he been diddlyflopped by the beings once known as aliens...now the drooling will be classified as tool lust baby garnered business expenses..wait till he deducts a new grandbaby as a purchase on his Sched. C...They got him....they got him.. 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

          12. JLazaro317 | Feb 14, 2005 11:32pm | #16

            I don't know....that's why I'm asking "The Wise Ones"......before the aliens whisk me away......John

            J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

            Indianapolis, In.

            http://www.lazarobuilders.com

  2. User avater
    Sphere | Feb 14, 2005 12:01am | #2

    cold war antennae technology, they trigger the silo doors to open and launch in the event of a first strike. Do not cross them, whatever ya do!

     

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

  3. User avater
    RichColumbus | Feb 14, 2005 01:31am | #3

    I saw some bailing wire used for supporting some old foil wrapped insulation, one time.  They ran perp to the studs, though.  Perhaps this is the same application.. only from a different approach?



    Edited 2/13/2005 5:31 pm ET by Rich from Columbus

    1. JLazaro317 | Feb 14, 2005 05:42am | #5

      I would believe that if it were not on the interior walls also. It appears to be the equivalent of bailing wire and the exterior 2x3 walls have only a thin approximately 1-1/2" fiberglass insulation (semi-rigid). By the way, drywall has a foil face on exterior walls.John

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

      http://www.lazarobuilders.com

      1. onthelevel | Feb 14, 2005 07:25am | #7

        Sphere was only partially correct. It's not cold war technology , it's anti-alien technology from the late 60's and early 70's. The wires are connected to the wire mesh in the slab and they create a super ground all the way to the roof. In conjunction with the foil backed sheetrock it acts like co-axial cable in totally insulating the house from any spurious interjections of rf,uhf vhf, or lightning strikes. If you own a house with this technology still installed you should not operate a microwave oven or any appliances with remote control devices. The emissions from these appliances can reflect around the house and cause cancer in infants and lab rats. the only cure is to open up all the walls and snip the wires. Good Luck. Also watch out for the guys in the white suits! 

        1. 4Lorn1 | Feb 14, 2005 08:59am | #8

          Wasn't this system in the movie 'Ghostbusters'? Something about 'containment' for evil spiris. And when the spirits are released the end of days comes to pass.Hmmm. Maybe you shouldn't be cutting those wires. Or do we want to just get it over with?

          1. User avater
            Sphere | Feb 14, 2005 04:38pm | #9

            "just get it over with"Reminds me when my fuel pump shut down in my van's tank..I was testing all he wires for power , to see if it was a relay or what the hell...a buddy was there who had a lot of exp. with GMC trucks..As I was poking the tester into wires and looking for the right one..he warned me " NO, NOT THAT ONE"...I dumbly asked why..He said "THAT one will deploy the air bags" OOOOPPS.. 

            Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

        2. BSayer | Feb 14, 2005 08:05pm | #12

          Faraday cage, to keep the mother ship from locating the escaped aliens with their probes....

  4. fireball | Feb 15, 2005 04:32am | #20

    John,

    I'm not sure what a National or American home is, but the house that I grew up in was a 1950 prefab house and it had those wires in the walls.They were necessary for the electrician on site to fish the romex in.Our exterior walls were 2x3,laid on the flat with plywood paneling glued on the inside and exterior plywood glued on the outside.Horizontally there were 2x3 pieces between studs as well so there was no drilling and fishing of wall cavities.So, they preinstalled pull wires in the walls.Interior walls had paneling glued on both sides.The walls came in by railroad car and were set on the slabs very quickly.After the trusses were set, and the roof put on, the electrician could pull that silver Romex up into the attic using those little thin pull wires.

    Boy was that house cheap.I fixed it up and sold it,but what a pain in the butt buying windows,doors,etc. with those thin walls.Mass production to meet the needs of those who created the baby boom.

    Barry

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Feb 15, 2005 04:45am | #22

      cornflakes=pissed on..you can't play with Luka, nomo..stalwart, geeze. 

      Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

      1. fireball | Feb 15, 2005 05:14am | #23

        ?

        1. User avater
          Sphere | Feb 15, 2005 05:59am | #25

          Be cool...I was just chanelling that ...nevermindIf ya gotta ask..maybe here is not the best place..cuz somtimes, we ain't right..............deal with it, or not.I do gain info from yer posts, so , please do not mis-interpret my previous post (s)..................with that abdication, I remaian, at Uncle Dunc's ever cognizant vigilance..
          "just a bus on the Bozo" see? Life is joie...ialso had her momma.........joi is now living in the carribe with "montoi" funny huh? I got 6/10ths of my island..wanna buy some sand? 

          Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

          Restoring, Remodeling, Reclaiming The Quality..

    2. JLazaro317 | Feb 16, 2005 12:29am | #27

      Barry,

      I'm thinking that with your explanation that you're on the right track. This was definitely a prefab house, but it had drywall on the interior walls and plywood glued to the exterior. Maybe at one time it had the panelling or maybe it came with the drywall attached.....I like your explanation the best......no offense to anyone else intended.

      Thanks,John

      J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.

      Indianapolis, In.

      http://www.lazarobuilders.com

  5. JerBear | Feb 15, 2005 05:54am | #24

    When you watch TV in that house, are you pulling in any old shows like The Jack Benny Show, Your Show of Shows, People are Funny or Ted Mack?  Some of those signals were lost years ago and you might be able to pull them in there.  When you're sitting in the living room do you pick up radio signals in your fillings?

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