[Elecraft] OT - Tin whiskers

[John [K7SVV]]

Back in the late 60's IBM was almost brought to its knees by a problem with 
silver migration (whiskers) in its flat cable connectors.  This happened 
primarily in their System 360 Models 50 and 65 mainframes.  It cost the 
company many millions of dollars because every Model 50 and 65 plus some 
others had to have every flat cable replaced.  Each machine had a LOT of 
cables, I can't even guess how many.  It took teams of 5 people working 
around the clock 2 days to recable a Model 50.  Them were the good old days. 
The Model 50 made me a lot of money over the years.  73

John    [K7SVV]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Kopp" <k0pp at rfwave.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 8:28 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] OT - Tin whiskers


> These conductive "growths" from metal plating were a -severe- problem for 
> early versions of GE 2-way radio's MASTR II (sic) series of radios. The 
> plated cavities that held the tuned circuits for the RF front ends grew 
> almost invisible whiskers off the walls of the housing that were 
> astoundingly strong.
>
> 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
>       ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net
>
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