[Boatanchors] The URM-25D, a testament to AMERICAN QUALITY!

[Bonddaleena at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/2/2005 3:45:50 PM Eastern  Standard Time, 
beaconeer at sbcglobal.net writes:
Hi All,

I was the  recent recipient of a Navy URM-25D signal
generator.  Now, this unit  had/has no lid, the unit
appeared to have been through the Battles at  Normandy,
The Bulge, Korea and Vietnam and also dropped from an
aircraft  "sans-parachute" a few times.  I'm not
exaggerating.  No feet, some  missing lid snaps and BIG
dents in the case testified of that.  It had  to take
some mighty BIG BLOWS to put it in this condition. The
man I got  it from said the edges of the case were so
badly bent that he had to beat it  out with a hammer
before it could be removed from the case!  He said  it
appeared to have a bad (open) power cord.

Yesterday I pulled it  from the case, inside the unit
was immaculate (except for the case  dents).  I tested
the tubes, ALL were good and even 'looked' new.   Then
I replaced the Micamold capacitors in the audio
section, all the .1,  .2 and .01 capacitors tested
leaky well below rated Voltage on the Heathkit  checker
and several had oil leaked out.   Then I replaced  the
power cord, opened up the RF compartment and cleaned
the switch  contacts, tested tubes etc.  All looked
GOOD.

This morning I  powered it up and was pleasantly
surprised to discover that it not only  worked well,
BUT the frequency calibration was "spot on".  This
puppy  probably hadn't been powered up for anywhere
from 20-40 years It has a '64  BEMO sticker.
Using my DVM at 20KC (meter is supposed to be good to
1MC)  the level meter calibration on the 2 Volt output
was off by perhaps  50mV!

Now, let me ask you.  Is this a testament to  AMERICAN
QUALITY or  what?


******************************************************
73 de  Phil,  KO6BB
DX begins at the noise floor!  Merced,  Central
California

THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
QSL GALLERY:  http://photobucket.com/albums/y123/KO6BB/
Merced, Central  California,    37.3N  120.48W   CM97sh

******************************************************


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Phil, right on! Mine was in similar condition. I was just getting into  
restoring boatanchors when I opened mine up, but the puddles of oil made it REAL  
clear, the Micamolds were bad. I SSed the PS, and it works like a  champ....
 
 
ron
 
N4UE