cheers advice noted
we're in search of "spiral" wire insulating covering for the bare wires to the brushes
just saw the local auto elec - called it spira wire or something [had checked the local elec suppliers who hire human robots with no real love for their inventory]
he uses some modern tubular weave "fibre"? glass type stuff - like non shrinking heat shrink - only shiny and with fibres - heat shielding and insulating - used in oven wiring - and available from - u guessed it - the place where we were 10 mins earlier
but the cool thing with the old insulater "spiral" wire covers that are still there - is there would be no need to unsolder anything to put them on
they wrap around the wire like a telephone handset lead wraps round your finger - nifty I thought