There were several types of cloth covered cords.  The older one
was made of two individually insulated and lacquered cotton braided
conductors twisted together, usually some yellow and green combin-
ations.  The later style had parallel conductors with a gold or brown
rayon braid.

Underwriters Laboratories, the authority on this type of question,
usually rates #18 AWG wire for about 7 amperes, and #16 AWG for 11
amperes for short runs.  Some places that restore old lamps may also
carry these items.

Ed Kigler

 [ Most old fractional-horsepower induction motors (such as found in
 [ everything from washing machines to electric pianos) create a huge
 [ surge current when starting, and so I'd recommend 16 gage wire to
 [ minimize the voltage loss and temperature rise during start-up.
 [ -- Robbie