I just received an early 1950s vintage Medalist and was surprised that it had line on it. The line is sound…at least it didn’t break when I pulled on it…but I can’t tell if it’s silk or nylon since I’ve had little experience with either. It is limber, which seems to say silk, and is tacky with some dressing which also suggests silk. (Did old nylon lines use line treatment as silk lines did?)
FWIW: The line is a coppery brown.
Anyhow, is there any easy way to tell if its silk or nylon?
(Also, if silk, I know there’s a method for stripping off the tacky stuff and refinishing them, but I’ve forgotten it.)
One way to tell is to burn a little of the end of the line. Burn the end…if it melts and balls up like nylon, that’s what it is. If it smells kind of like burning hair and the ash that is made is not very solid, but disolves when you touch it, chances are that it is silk. I have an article on it somewhere. I will try to find it and send it to you.
Dean
Silk lines are woven and usually have some small texture, nylon lines are largely slick to the touch. You may have to wipe away the accumulated “tacky” part to tell, as likely any dressing the line had has picked up debris over the years of storage.