For the first time, I have run across lead covered romex. It's out of a house built in the late 50's. Does anyone know what this wes used for, or has any of you ever seen this. I have been rewiring old homes for about 21 years, and this is the first time I've seen it.

I believe it was early UF.

-Hal

I've seen alot of it too, in the houses' here in the seattle area. I think it was early 1845-or so when it was first used in the U.K.

I thought it might be an early UF type of cable, but it was used in the walls of this old house. Don't believe that they would use this much of it ( half of the house was wired in it ) in the house; especially if it was made for underground. The other half of the house cloth covering, so I know that the lead covered wire was not the only type available.
Also, does it not seem strange to ya'll that they are using a conductive covering to protect two insulated electrical wires. Looks like a hazard just waiting to happen.

Very forward thinking electrician might have used it to prevent emf fields from affecting the occupants of the residence. The true causes of our increased cancer rates still isn't solved and the jury will be out for some time to come on emf cancer link.

I don't have a link but I heard that rodents liked the shine and would chew through this stuff.

Not sure when it was not allowed for use anymore here in Canada.

I lived for a couple of years in a flat in Edinburgh, Scotland that had lead covered 'twin and earth'. If it gets overloaded the lead melts and dribbles off...

After seeing some of the work that I have, I'm thinking more along the lines of it's what the spark had a bunch of lying around in the shop... :lol: