"Click on any image to enlarge"
Welcome to the tour.
Rhode Island Wiring Service has thousands of harnesses already in
their catalogs. Some cars are not in the catalogs because we have
not seen an original sample yet. Our Wire Sets are created from
originals only, thereby ensuring you of getting an "As
Original Show Quality Harness". Here are the steps involved
in reproducing the Harnesses you will find in our catalogs now
and in the future!
Here at Rhode Island Wire we receive Original Harnesses almost
every day. With any luck the customer will provide us with any
information they have on the vehicle. Between the info sent and
in our research library at the shop we can piece together the
mysteries of wires created several decades ago. Within weeks a
quote will be sent out to the customer based on the supplies used
to make the harness, and time spent to Make, Loom, and Finish the
final product.
Above is a box sent by a customer with the intent of receiving
quality reproductions for the vehicle. Along with doing cars, we
have done several tractors, motorcycles, and even some boats. The
customer was kind enough to tag each wire end. From there we
determine the original gauge and wire color of each wire and map
the harness on paper. The harness is then entered into a computer
using EasyCad and high quality sheets are used to complete the
harness and provide the customer with explicit instructions to
install the harness back in the original vehicle.
Here we find a sample of some old and dirty harness work from a
Rolls Royce. We compare the wire to the schematic, scrape the
dirt, cut into the loom to look for splices and original colors
used. We cut our fingers, get really dirty, and wake up in the
middle of the night thinking about this wire. All for you!
Here is the same area of the Rolls Royce after if is finished.
The colors are vibrant, the terminals shine, and the harness is
clean. This is the reason we are the leaders in wiring for
antique vehicles. We stand behind our product, willing to answer
questions if any exist, as you re-install the wire you waited for
so patiently!
Once a harness has been recorded on paper there are 3 steps taken
to build most harnesses. The first step is the Build process. The
paper work is used to cut all the wires needed to create a
harness and placed on a pegboard. Once all the wires and tubes
and such needed to build a harness are cut the builder binds the
wires together in proper order. Now they are ready to loom.
Here is small portion of the wire we use to make our harnesses.
Just like the terminals used to make a harness, all this wire is
available to you through our Supplies Catalog. You will find a
complete list of the available colors and gauges of braided and
plastic wire in the back of the Supplies Catalog.
Most harnesses are loomed with cotton yarn on braiding machines.
Some are just taped with plastic tape, depending on the original
manufacturer and when the vehicle was made. Not only are
harnesses braided, but each wire in a harness may be braided as
well. We take modern PVC wire and braid over it on small 16
carrier braiding machines. We also offer to re-braid old
harnesses for you if you desire, depending on the condition of
the wire.
Here are some wires that have been loomed and are awaiting the
next step… Finishing. The wire has been pulled through the
braiders, taped, tubed, and whatever else they need before the
terminals are placed on the harness.
We have many terminals at our disposal; this is just a small
sampling. A single harness may use dozens of these, it's up to
the finisher to place the terminals on the correct wire end using
the information provided by the documentation developed for the
harness. All these terminals are available in our supply catalog,
allowing you the customer to purchase all the supplies we use to
build our harnesses.
Here is a harness getting finished. The finish people check
everything the Builder and Loomer have done to the harness to
ensure everything is correct. The finisher trims the wires and
places the terminals wherever they belong.
Each terminal is crimped and soldered by the finish person, just
like the originals where done so long ago. Each terminal is
quickly checked before it is packaged for the customer to ensure
the solder set correctly, and no terminals were missed.
Here is a box being filled with quality harnesses. Each bag is a
separate wire set for a particular vehicle. Each bag contains
detailed instructions to install the harness, and a factory
schematic is provided along with the wires. You can buy all the
wire available for a single car, or just one. You will get the
same quality service.
Now you know a little more about the hard work put into a harness
from start to finish. We may not make any money on a harness
until it has been purchased several times depending on the size
of the harness. The desire to expand our catalogs and offer more
products prompts us to absorb the cost of research and
development.
Unfortunately some vehicle manufactures custom make each car
specifically for the customer. These harnesses may be very
expensive to reproduce and not fit any other car ever made. We
will warn you if we believe a harness will not expand our
catalogs so you know exactly what you are getting into.
This is the end of the tour, thank you very much for considering
our company! Does anyone even read this page? I finally updated
it after 4 years of sitting here.
Large collector car clubs are encouraged to make a stop if they
are touring the area. Saturdays are the best, but you must call
well in advance to make sure we are prepared. We do so many cars
but get to see so few! If you decide you have time I will try to
feature your cars and club on these pages if you desire.
Thanks again Travis Pease
Vice President RIWS