[Boatanchors] Historic notes and BC-221 Xtal question

[Philip Atchley]

Hi all,

This week I parted out a BC-221 that was given me.  No, this critter 
wouldn't have won any beauty pageant so it's not like I was blaspheming 
or anything <grin>.

This unit was built by Zenith and I think it's been covered here before. 
However, I was mildly surprised at how the thing was apparently built 
"around" some of the valuable components like coils, main tuning 
capacitor etc.  All riveted and spot welded in such a way that some of 
those things would have required FAR more work than recovery of some of 
the parts warranted.  So I saved what I could,  some NICE tube sockets, 
tubes, Xtal, some trimmer capacitors, power supply etc.

Anyway, the subject at hand is the 1MC Zenith plug-in Xtal. When I 
gently shake it I get a faint rattle out of it. Not the kind of rattle 
you'd expect if the Xtal element was broken loose and flopping around in 
the large housing.  Just a small one like something could move perhaps a 
very small fraction of an inch.  It's hard to explain.

Anyway, is there something "movable" in these Octal Xtals?  Perhaps an 
oven component etc? Do they even have a heater or oven?

Also, are these things Parallel or series mode Xtals and what is their 
"expected" capacitance?  I may want to use this one in some sort of 
calibrator if it's functional.

The power supply also looks like it could be useful for some project 
sometime in the future.  A 5Y3 rectifier and two VR-75 regulators! 
Though I'm sure it'll need a new set of filter caps.

BY THE WAY, in the unit there was a somewhat yellowed and very 
dilapidated Henry Radio sales receipt, dated 5-8-48 for a 8-8-450 Filter 
capacitor ($1.65), VR75 ($1.20) and two RS8 ($.22) in the unit.  Total 
was $3.07 with $.09 tax.  The receipt says "Henry Radio, Ted Henry W6UOU 
Manager, Distributors for Hallicrafters, National, Hammarlund and ALL 
other Principle Manufacturers".  On the back somebody had drawn the 
schematic of the PS.

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
991 Different NDB's heard to date.

http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
Merced, Central California, 37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh