[Boatanchors] FT-243 crystal sockets

[Flowertime01 at wmconnect.com]

Chuck,

If you cannot find a batch of crystal holders / sockets you can make your own.

Try drilling a block of plastic. 
Use the pins from some octal sockets.
The pins are keyed in with a release clip.
You literally spring them loose with a small pointy thing slid into the pin 
hole between the pin and the pin hole.

To get the pins to lock into the plastic block,
you counter bore the hole from the top (crystal side) with a larger drill 
size.
Then when the pin is plugged in from the under side it will lock into your new
plastic block.

You can over size the block so you have room for some mounting bolts into it.
The real problem is finding a suitable plastic to use. Most of us just do not
have any in the junk box.

Roger KC6TRU