[Boatanchors] Mailing Crystal Microphone Elements

[Kees & Sandy]

This is one coincidence too many...........
I've now lost three expensive Crystal microphone elements which were shipped overseas. I tested all before shipping (several times) with my scope and both had good output when talking into the 1Meg scope load. I've done this many times before with no ill effect. All were said to be "dead" when received. Not understanding that at all, I requested that the crystal elements be sent back to me to test again. Sure enough, no output at all. Since they were bad I took them apart. The crystal in a microphone element is pretty thick (audio range) and I didn't figure there would be mechanical damage, and there was none. However ......there are considerable burn marks, enough to melt the solder and black burn soot inside the element. I know they have piezo fire starters where they strike the element to creat a spark. These were too well packed to be mechanically hit but maybe they are subjected to some sort of field in the Homeland Security inspections ???
Anyone have any info on this ?
73 Kees K5BCQ