Poles for signal wire?

[Grant Bowker]

Just theories about the long pole with loop-
stringing cable as you suggest,

opening/closing high voltage switches on power lines (though most modern ones seem to be a peg on the end of the pole fitting into a loop on the blade or fuse).
Based on the long pole, I think the load/force is expected vertical (either overhead or down a hole) rather than at the end of a horizontal reach.