[Boatanchors] Repair of B&W Tank Circuit

[Mike Clarson]

Gentlemen: I have recently aquired a B&W LPA-1 "Widowmaker" linear
amplifier. No interlocks, plenty of exposed HV under the easy to open cover,
and, just for fun, exposed 120 volt terminals on the back of the power
supply. 4 866s powering 2 813s. The tank coil used to have plastic keeping
it rigid, however, this palstic has turned to some grey shards of some other
flakey substance. It is one of the standard B&W tank circuits with the
switch. Has anyone referbished one of these tanks and repaired the coil? I
am open to suggestions before attempting trial and error repair
mysef. --Mike, WV2ZOW