Indeed. Small addendum: at least in Germany, early telephone wires (up until the 1950s?) were wrapped in paper, drenched in oil. The bundles were then enclosed

Indeed. Small addendum: at least in Germany, early telephone wires (up until the 1950s?) were wrapped in paper, drenched in oil. The bundles were then enclosed in a lead-copper alloy to protect them from moisture. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KabelbaumFMAachen_4907.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KabelbaumFMAachen_49...