Abstract: Forming a metal shield on a cable core in which a frusto-conical forming surface for the shield has a plurality of former sections disposed side-by-side from a downstream end of the former. The sections are removable, in order, from the downstream end to increase the downstream end diameter of the forming surface and may be replaced, in order, so as to decrease the diameter at the downstream end for the purpose of applying shields to cable cores of different diameters.

Abstract: A metallic strip and a cable core are advanced together along a passline through conventional apparatus for wrapping the strip around the core to provide a partially formed shield around the cable. The shield and core continue along the passline through apparatus according to the invention for closing the shield around the core. This closing apparatus includes a support roller for supporting the shield and core on the passline, shield engaging members resiliently urged against the shield to hold flanking regions of the shield against the core as the shield is closed, and edge region guide means for urging edge regions of the shield in overlapping relationship onto the core. The edge region guide means are radially adjustable relative to the passline to accommodate different cable diameters.