[Boatanchors] Mailing Crystal Microphone Elements

[Rodger]

Possibly a side effect of the irradiation process?  See 
http://www.epa.gov/radtown/mail-irradiation.html for some information on 
this process.  Among my radio souvenirs is the receipt Fair Radio sent 
me for the R-392 I purchased from them.  It was blackened over about 1/3 
of the envelope and repacked in a USPS envelope with the explanation 
that it had been stuck in process for too long.  Fortunately the R-392 
itself came UPS and only was exposed to the traditional UPS bumping as 
opposed to "death rays".

Rodger WQ9E

 Sheldon Daitch wrote:
> Guessing - are they being damaged by x-ray equipment?
>
> 73
> Sheldon
> WA4MZZ
>
> Kees & Sandy wrote:
>
>> 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
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>
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> ** List Administrator - Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE **   ** For 
> Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **         $ For vintage radio info, see 
> the HCI web site $      http://www.w9wze.net  
>
>