[Milsurplus] TBX Field Antenna.

[David Stinson]

I recently acquired at a hamfest, 
a nearly complete TBX antenna with the bag.
I say "nearly" since I don't have a list of everything that goes in there.
But it does have the bottom ground stake, insulator,
center piece with all the ropes and all the elements.  
Some of the elements are pretty thin stuff- look like copper-clad
steel.  A couple were rusted through and broken.  I repaired this 
by cleaning them, soldering some braid between the two pieces
and sleeving them both back together tightly with aluminum tubing,
which I epoxied in place.  Have also cleaned and repainted them.
Looks very nice.
Were all TBX antenna elements this thin, or did I get an early version?
Exposure to salt air would certainly raise cain with them, 
which is probably what happened here, unless the paint 
was perfect.
What's the best oil to put on the threads to protect them?
Plain motor oil OK?  
73 Dave S.