Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a stranded conductor for use in an electric power cable, the cross-sectional shapes of wires being drawn towards or through a rotatably driven lay plate by which the wires are laid helically in a layer around the axis of the conductor are so modified that, on emerging from the lay plate and passing into at least one die downstream of the lay plate, the wires of modified cross-sectional shape fit tightly together and, if present, around a central wire or a preceding layer of helically applied wires. The wires of each layer preferably are initially of the same cross-sectional shape and size as one another, e.g. approximately circular, and, preferably, the modified cross-sectional shapes imparted to the wires of each layer are the same as one another, e.g. approximating to a sector of an annulus. No compacting of the wires is required in the die or dies and, as a consequence, a capstan drawing the wires through the die or dies is not subjected to a undesirable load.

Abstract: A kit of parts for assembling an elongate former suitable for transversely folding a longitudinally advancing tape around an advancing cable core comprises a primary former having a conically-shaped channel therethrough, a plurality of separately formed nose cones each having a conically-shaped bore, the cross-sectional size of the bore of each nose cone at its downstream end differing from that of each of the other nose cones, and means for detachably securing any nose cone to the downstream end of the primary former. Each nose cone has a length substantially less than the primary former and, as a consequence, each nose cone is readily formed from a transversely folded strip of sheet metal.