[Boatanchors] Do Headphones Age-Away?

[Rob Atkinson]

If a xtal element goes bad then you're done.  In theory the element
could be rebuilt with a new crystal but I've never heard of anyone
doing that.

So, prevention is the best solution if your microphone or cans have
not sailed away on you.

It's not complicated:  Keep them in a room temperature dry
environment.  I have a number of D104s and they stay in the house
where I have A/C in summer and heat in winter and a dehumidifier for
spring and fall.  Don't take a xtal element anything and put it in a
box and put the box in the garage, attic, or back seat of a car and
leave it there.  That's how these accessories get destroyed.

Old mics like 1930s D104s are around, but I've never seen or heard of
one with an original element.  I have a 1937 Youngstown but its
element is from the 1970s.  They're identifiable because they have 1
inch deep heads, and the knurling on the front grill edge is engraved.
The original Astatic elements are no longer made just like a number of
other vintage things like certain vacuum tubes.  Let's preserve them.

73

Rob
K5UJ