jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone) (06/25/88)
I have a Motorola color TV which we bought for my grandmother in the
sixties. It is pre-quasar, in fact the only transistors in it are in
the tuner. With the exception of replacing a few tubes from time to
time, and re-converging the guns infrequently, it is still going
strong. Beautiful picture, and reasonably good sound. We're talking
20+ years here!
I wouldn't have even thought that this was possible (drying out of
capacitors, transformer windings breaking from 20 years of fatigue,
etc.). Has anyone else had experiences with such long lived
electronics?
--
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, 9805 Scranton Rd., San Diego, CA 92121
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp jnp@calmasd.GE.COM GEnie: J.PANTONEkevin@kjvw.UUCP (Kevin VandeWettering) (06/28/88)
In article <2829@calmasd.GE.COM>, jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone) writes:
Has anyone else had experiences with such long lived
electronics?
I have a 1943 Navy USM-24c oscilliscope, it still works pretty good for
fixing tube TV's and other antiques. Has about a 50 ohm input impedance!.
It should last forever, it weighs about 80lbs and is made out of 12 guage
steel. You could shoot it with a shotgun and it would probably still
work. I paid $30 for it at a surplus store, about 10 years ago, been
working ever since...
Kevin VandeWetteringproctor@ingr.UUCP (John Proctor) (07/01/88)
When my wife an I were about to get engaged, my future fauther-in-law
asked if I could fix radios! I said yes and got an old tube set with
metal enveloped octal based tubes (remember those 6SQ7 et al) and a 12"
electrodynamic speaker. Well I fixed it an electrolytic (HUM) and 1 tube
and it was working. He was amazed, gave me his daughter, and it has been
working ever since. Still have his daughter and he has the radio at his
cottage (has been 20 years).
Yep they don't make'm like they used to!!!
John D. Proctor | Usenet: {ihnp4,uunet}!ingr!jdp!proctor
Intergraph Corp. | ARPAnet: uu.net.uunet@ingr!jdp!proctor
| US Post: 1 Madison Industrial Park
Usual Disclaimers Apply | Huntsville, AL 35807-4201
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little
statesmen and philosophers and divines.
"Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo EmersonR_Tim_Coslet@cup.portal.com (07/02/88)
In article <2829@calmasd.GE.COM>, jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone) writes: >Has anyone else had experiences with such long lived > electronics? I have a "N.R.I Tester" (one tube VTVM) that my dad built in the 1940's as part of an NRI electronics course he took. When I was in high school (about 1973) I built a powersupply to replace its Battery pack. It worked good then (except for a Humm from the Powersupply, wouldn't happen with the original battery power source, in the Signal trace mode on the headphones). I am sure it would still work if I hooked it up now (but I lost my Powersupply I made for it). R. Tim Coslet Usenet: R_Tim_Coslet@cup.portal.com BIX: r.tim_coslet