Classic/Antique Car Repair: oem 1948-49 cadillac negative battery ground cables, ground cables, auto parts warehouse

Question
Having owned 3 48's and 9 49's Cadillacs over the years, the question has come up whether the oem packard cable was bare copper woven or tinned ?

I've never seen a tinned 48-49 Cadillac negative cable on any of my cars.

Comments please.

Thanks

Jeff clc 4194 calif

Answer
In the early 50s, I worked at an auto parts warehouse, and all our ground cables were tinned.  These were not OEM parts, but it is my recollection that those were tinned also.  The ones I have seen in the Packards I have owned were always tinned also.  I don't recall ever seeing a bare copper ground strap - and I've been playing with old cars since 1944!

Of course, this is just one man's opinion and recollection - I can't claim to have seen them all, and I have no recollection of new Cadillacs of that era. I did a mechanical refurbish on a low mileage 47 Fleetwood a few years ago, and it had a tinned ground cable - probably from new but I can't be certain.  You'll see this car at the CLC shows from time to time in the LA area - it's a black 60S with a replacement interior - but otherwise a beautiful original car - owned by a good friend of mine who owns a few 40s Cadillacs.

Dick