[Boatanchors] Ranger Caps and Solid State Rectifiers

[BLIMPY]

1. Yup, those turquoise caps are old plastic molded paper caps.. and like 
all old paper caps... they have to go !

    Suitable replacements for paper caps are either polyethelene, mylar or 
polyester.   Some hi-fi purists insist on polyester.  They cost a few cents 
more.. and for a radio that sounds a good as the ranger why not... but again 
only for the coupling caps.  Bypass caps needn't be fancy. Use the nice 
yellow japanese ones sold by Antique Electronics Supply or Radio Daze.

   Old electrolytics must go !.  Leave those mounted on the chassis for 
cosmetic reasons, but use nice new jap caps underneath.

   Never mess with mica caps !

    Please !  Forget  using solid state rectifiers in tube radios.  They 
will ruin your tubes by stripping the filaments during warm up... and the 
voltages will all run too high.  Any kind of voltage " sag" was figured into 
the original design specs by the engineers at Johnson.

    There is no heat problem with a ranger or any of the other commercially 
made ham AM transmitters, anyway. Don't fix engineering problems that don't 
exist, is my advice.   If you really want " coolth"   buy a muffin fan.  A 
220v muffin fan run on 110v  runs quiet.  put 4 stick on grommet type feet 
on it.. and go to town.

Larry