your solution for wiring the old oval hp power sockets surely qualifies you for the "crown of bodge".
I think the seller I bought my HP 101A crystal oscillator from can also claim that crown, he just hacked up a common IEC lead till it fitted.
I've had a few items with round crimp terminals bodged on too.
David
P.S. I have no idea where that lead is now and yes I still have it.
These are actually NEC/NEMA modular power sockets; one of the first standardized power cord/sockets with ground dating back to the late 50s.
They were pretty universal for about 20 years on all manner of commercial/industrial/scholastic AV & electronics products. My AV Dept manager showed me how to do this bodge as a
temporary fix (They were NOT supposed to leave the shop this way) on the bench with an IEC cord back in the 80s; you just use the tail-end of a 3mm or 1/8" drill bit to open up the 3 contact sockets a little, then use a carpet knife carve 1/8" deep x 1/2" down the skirt on all edges of the IEC connector. Once you've done a few, you get to where you can't even tell the plug's been hacked unless it's unplugged.
The big problem with these sockets has nothing to do with the cord; they're supposed to be the same standardized pinout as the IEC cord. Problem is that a lot of manufacturers didn't fully adhere to the standard; they'd make the equipment with HOT & NEUTRAL swapped in the socket, and make their cord with the plug bass-ackwards to match.
As a result, we had a standing order to check any of these devices that came through the shop for this condition and reverse it in the device, then check the cable for correct pinout and if wrong, cut the socket end off the cable and confirm correct HOT BLADE-BLACK wiring.
Or just cut both ends off and roundfile the cord with extreme prejudice.
mnem
*roundfiling my life*