[Milsurplus] crystal has lost activity?

[J Forster]

john p hutchins wrote:

> Group -
>
> Now educate me please.  A crystal is a rock,. that vibrates when
> electrical stress is applied through metal plates at particular angles
> to the crystalline grain?
>
> I have seen many of these kinds of statements:
> "After years it is possible that the  crystal has lost activity."
>
> To stop a crystal form working would be corrosion forming on the metal
> plates or loss of conduction to the crystal surface.

Possibly some fine quarts powder could form on the surface in addition to
oxidation of the plates.

> Any of combinations of these conditions could be rectified by cleaning,
> adjusting contact pressure on crystal surface, repairing conductive
> path?   So with the correct tools any crystal could be "fixed." to operate?
>
> Am I off base?
>
> Thanks
> Hutch

Any openable crystal  with non-deposited electrodes could likely be
reactivated. The frequency might be out of tolerance though.

-John