Finding a replacement old-school shifting cable
 

So, I've got a '65 Ladies Schwinn Varsity that I'm flipping, and I'm currently stuck on replacing the ages-old cables, specifically the shifting cables. What's got me stuck in the mud is that neither I nor my LBS can find a cable with the right end that fits into the downtube shifters.

End of old shifter cables
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=303419
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=303420


Internal of downtube shifters where the cable end locks into
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=303421

I don't have the cash to buy a new shifting set-up. This is what I have to work with. Are shifting cables with that end still sold, or even made?

The guy at my LBS sold me shifting cables with these ends and said to just file them down to fit, but I honestly can't fathom how I'd get them to work.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=303422

You'll probably get more answers on the "Bicycle Mechanics" forum. Lots of knowledge about obscure parts there.

My guess is that you should shop around for a cheap, double-ended gear cable. Look in the non-bike-shop world- I've seen them at department stores. Cut off the end you're not going to use and you're set.

Better gear cables generally go with better shifters, which all use the barrel end cable that you have.