[Boatanchors] Calling Radio and TVl techs from days gone by

[james.liles at comcast.net]

Hi John:

Disassemble one of each to determine whether they are paper or Polyethylene.  If they are Plastic, they will be as good today as 50 years ago.  If paper, I wouldn’t use them even if they test good.

Point, radios as early as the SX-100, SX-117, and others used Polyethylene film capacitors that looked to be paper caps.  They test today as good as when they were installed.  

Kindest regards Jim K9AXN  


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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 9 May 2014 10:59:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: John King <k5pgw at yahoo.com>
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] Calling Radio and TVl techs from days gone by
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<1399658343.54467.YahooMailBasic at web160304.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
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I need to get input regarding NOS capacitors. I bought a tube caddy with tubes 
and capacitors and need to get your thoughts about this particular type of 
capacitor. These OLD and UNUSED capacitors  are as follow"

1.Brown chocolate drop  caps
2. radial leads
3. various values including .01 and .047 @ 500vdc.-
4 .Marked M PVC with some ,1 @600 vdc
5. Some marked M6247 10% .0047 @600  v

My question is whether their unused age is a negative factor concerning use at 
present. Do they have a shelf life and if so, what is it? I feel sure that they 
are NOT Mica, but plastic dipped paper caps. Any thoughts? Thanks and 73, John, 
K5PGW