[ARC5] Wartime FT-243 xtal mfrs

Sun Apr 5 19:05:44 EDT 2026

I have looked for this book for years but have yet to find a copy.

Scott W7SVJ

From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Mike Feher via ARC5
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2026 6:00 PM
To: 'Doran Platt' <jeepp at comcast.net>; 'ARC-5 Mail List' <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Wartime FT-243 xtal mfrs

Not to be confused by the same titled book by Maurice Sievers which is about Antique Crystal Radios. 73 - 

Mike B. Feher, N4FS

89 Arnold Blvd.

Howell NJ 07731

908-902-3831

From: arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > On Behalf Of Doran Platt via ARC5
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2026 8:20 PM
To: ARC-5 Mail List <arc5 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net> >
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Wartime FT-243 xtal mfrs

The best historical tome for crystals is the book "Crystal Clear".  It lists over 50 wartime crystal providers.  It goes over the Brazil Connection, Leo Meyerson, and a whole lot more.  

Jeep K3HVG 

On 04/03/2026 7:46 PM EDT hwhall--- via ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net> > wrote: 

Resurrecting an old thread.  But I'm fascinated by crystals. Lemme grab some popcorn! I think AF4K's old website had a list (incomplete) of manufacturers. 

https://af4k-crystals.com/RadioCrystals-Holders-Companies-History.htm#companies 

Wayne 

WB4OGM 

On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 05:11:52 PM MDT, Richard Knoppow via ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net> > wrote: 

    I don't know if there is a list of companies but there is certainly 

a lot of historical material out there. Making good crystals was black 

magic until it was discovered that synthetic crystals could be made. 

Most crystal material came from Brazil and was difficult to get during 

war time. A great many crystals turned out to be defective. It was then 

discovered the bad ones could be crushed up and new, synthetic crystals 

grown, which were nearly perfect. Other discoveries were etching and 

plating. At the beginning of WW-2 making crystals was a sort of 

specialized cottage industry. There had been a relatively small market, 

which exploded with the requirements of the war. 

    Let me see what is in my files and if I can find on-line sources. 

    It is an interesting subject, somewhat akin to the discovery of how 

to make optical glass (mostly by Bausch & Lomb)  and how to coat lenses. 

On 7/30/2023 6:28 PM, Paul Thekan wrote: 

I recently obtained a box of close to 800 or more FT 243 xtals ,haven't 

counted them all yet, and was going through them looking for any useful 

freqs on the ham bands and noticed how many different companies were 

making xtals during the war. So far I've identified at least 45 

companies making these xtals. 

   Is there any info out there that talks about how many companies were 

involved in making these xtals. 

Thanks 

Paul 

N6FEG 

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Richard Knoppow 

Los Angeles 

WB6KBL 

SKCC 19998 

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