Close up of the wire wrapped cob. Why the copper wire? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.

Answer: (Courtesy of Lou Hall - 'The Pin Man') "This picture shows copper line wire wrapped in the wooden threads of a 1 3/8" dia. pin. As one can see, the wooden threads are well worn, offering little holding ability. The wire creates new threads with slightly larger diameter and greater holding strength. I feel confident that this is a field application as I can find no reference in supply catalogs offering wooden pin manufactured with the wire wrap in wooden cut threading. There are pins manufactured that use spring steel wire to create the threads on the pin."