[Hallicrafters] SX 42 capacitor question

[Rodger Singley]

I would vote with those who say that these are paper caps.  There were a lot
of paper caps using packaging just like the mica units in the old boat
anchors.  I have an RME-45 that had a pair of these "mica look-alikes" as
line bypass caps and they were soldered to the transformer terminals and
mounted beneath it; this particular RME-45 also had no fuse.  When I bought
it at a hamfest (for cheap thank goodness!) those caps had shorted and
caught fire and burnt much of the paper on the bottom of the power
transformer.  Although the transformer still tested ok on leakage and did
not heat up in use given its looks and fire exposure I decided to replace it
anyway.

Also, mica caps have always been more expensive than paper and although I
have a lot of Hallicrafters radios (and like them) I would be surprised to
see Halli use more expensive parts than what was necessary  :)

73, Rodger WQ9E