Product Overview
Vintage Sylvania Brand Tungsten Wire Filament (Wolfram Wire) - 152 Meters, 0.00191" Diameter, NS 55 3%, AW237-C
Unused Sylvania Tungsten Wire Filament – NS55 AW237-C, 152m Reel
This vintage Sylvania tungsten wire filament, also known as wolfram wire, was manufactured in 1975 and stored on its original metal reel. It remains unused and in excellent condition, offering 152 meters of fine, high-temperature wire suitable for precision work.
Sylvania’s metallurgical heritage runs deep—its tungsten alloys once illuminated, measured, and powered 20th-century science. This reel carries that same engineering discipline into today’s labs and restorations.
Product Condition
Unused, new old stock. Factory wound on original Sylvania metal reel, stored since 1975. Wire surface remains clean, ready for technical applications.
Product Overview
This fine tungsten wire (NS55, AW237-C) has a 0.00191-inch (0.0485 mm) diameter and a total length of 152 meters. The “3%” in its designation most likely indicates a tungsten–3% rhenium alloy, which enhances ductility and non-sag performance at high temperature—though the exact composition cannot be fully confirmed.
Key Features
- Length: 152 meters (498.7 feet) on original reel
- Diameter: 0.00191 in (0.0485 mm)
- Designation: NS55, AW237-C (possible tungsten–3% rhenium alloy)
- Manufacture year: 1975
- High strength and thermal stability for fine filament applications
- Excellent resistance to creep and corrosion
- Consistent mechanical properties under extreme temperature
- Supplied on original metal reel for easy handling
Applications
- Crosshair and reticle repair in microscopes or telescopes
- Radiation detectors and ionization chambers
- Filaments in incandescent or electron microscopy systems
- Heating elements for vacuum furnaces or lab instruments
- Thermocouple and high-temperature sensing experiments
- Fine jewelry and miniature craftwork
- Restoration or prototyping of precision optical and electronic equipment
Frequently Asked Questions
What length of wire is included?
Each reel includes 152 meters (498.7 feet) of filament wire.
Is this in wire form?
Yes. It is a very fine tungsten filament wire with a 0.00191-inch (0.0485 mm) diameter. You can see the delicate strand in the product photo highlighted with a bright green arrow.
Is it 97% tungsten and 3% rhenium?
Possibly. The NS55, 3%, and AW237-C designations align with common Sylvania and industry coding for tungsten–3% rhenium (W–3Re) alloys used in the 1970s for non-sag and high-temperature applications such as thermocouples and lamp filaments. While the original Sylvania material certificate is not included, the combination of the “3%” notation, the NS55 specification, and the AW-series product code strongly supports that interpretation. Without the manufacturer’s datasheet, it cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty, but tungsten–3% rhenium remains the most probable alloy composition based on context and designation.
What other uses does tungsten wire have besides light bulbs?
Beyond lighting, tungsten wire is widely used in thermocouples, electron emitters, furnace elements, and precision optical crosshairs (reticles). Its extreme melting point and tensile strength make it valuable wherever heat and stability matter most.
Is vintage tungsten wire still functional?
Yes. Tungsten wire remains chemically stable when properly stored. This reel has been kept clean and dry, and the material remains in excellent, usable condition.
Once drawn for precision work and kept untouched for decades, this Sylvania wire now waits for its next purpose—whether in experiment, restoration, or design, its next story belongs to you.
