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selvage cable
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selvage cable

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Quick Summary

A selvage cable is a type of wire rope composed of parallel wires bound together, often covered with tarred hemp yarns. This construction is particularly well-suited for the main cables of a suspension bridge.1

The term "selvage" itself refers to the finished edge of a woven fabric that prevents unraveling, or an edge intended to be cut off. In the context of cables, the term likely refers to the parallel arrangement of wires, distinct from the twisted strands found in most wire ropes. The first successful stranded iron wire rope was developed in the 1830s, but prior to this, selvage cables were already in use.21

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