The technology is so old that the plastic leader which was used on some 
brands usually doesn't survive. My estimates for transferring wire used 
to include replacing the leader when necessary. When the leader needed 
to be replaced, my favorite was to use thread about the same size as the 
wire.
I wrote an article on this: 
https://www.baileyzone.net/PLAYING%20A%20WIRE%20RECORDING.htm

Cheers!
CB
Corey Bailey
www.baileyzone.net

------ Original Message ------
From: "Tim Gillett" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 11/10/2022 12:55:41 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Wire recording archival housing vendor

>Ideally, the loose end of wire has a suitable leader tape attached to it and fastened,  to prevent the wire coming away from the wind and becoming damaged or entangled.  Cheers,  Tim G. -------- Original Message ----------
>
>Hi all, We have a number of wire recordings on original spools in
>original cardboard boxes, that we are looking to rehouse. They are
>standard commercial size (2.75" diameter, 0.6-ish" wide). Some are
>starting to unravel, though fortunately they were almost all already
>digitized. My main concern is giving them individual housing so the
>wires do not tangle with others. ARSC's guide
>(p64)https://www.clir.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/ARSC-w-cover.pdf
>says they should be stored in acid-free boxes of the appropriate size,
>but I have not been able to find a vendor selling the right size -
>either labeled as for wire recordings or reel-to-reel audio tapes. I
>imagined I might find 3" reel-to-reel tape boxes at Hollinger or
>Gaylord, but they only go down to 7". The closest possibly suitable
>thing I can find is microfilm storage boxes, but those are also
>slightly bigger (3.75" diameter). Does anybody know of a vendor
>selling acid-free boxes for wire recordings? Or has anyone had success
>getting custom ones made, or using something of similar size? Thanks!
>Paul --- Paul Sutherland Archivist at
>www.amphilsoc.org/library/CNAIRhttp://www.amphilsoc.org/library/CNAIR
>Musician at www.hearlambeth.comhttp://www.hearlambeth.com