Here is a great device that I am still looking for info on.   What I do know is that it is used in the creation of brake and shift cables.  It has an attached cable cutter (Top left of photo).  Bulk spools of cable (without ends) would be used to create any cable length you need.

Once the cable is cut the end would be "crunched" into the dies shown here.  This process would create a very nice mushroom type end to the cable.

Cable End after "crunch"

This is where it gets tricky.  As of yet I don't have any info on how the ends (primarily made of lead) would be attached to the cables at this point.  One thought would be that the cable with the mushroom end would be placed in a mold similar to a fishing sinker mold and the lead would be poured around it.

Other thought is that stock lead cable end were available to crimp onto the mushroom tip.

Still digging around for more info....

I have been spending some time cleaning up the ALAN frame (earlier post).  It is cleaning up real well and should be complete sometime in the next week.

More pics... (sorry about the poor photography) but it does look much better than the pic make it look.

Scanned from an original bicycle catalog. I will have other post from this and other turn of the century catalogs. Stay tuned for some killer brazing furnaces!