[Milsurplus] BC-348Q being cheap

[Bruce Gentry]

On 9/7/12 4:47 PM, Ray Fantini wrote:
> With all due respect I am questioning your statement:
>
> Judging from AN and T.O. dates, I think that it is incorrect to refer to the models using single ended tubes as the "newer" models.  They did not supercede the "older" models.  A more accurate characterization would be to call them the "cheaper" models.  Based on manual dates, the BC-348-J, K or L, and M all date from early to mid 1942.  And models in each of the three contractor groups were produced through the end of the War.
>
> The Wells Gardner BC-348Q has always been and will continue to be a favorite of mine. I have owned many BC-348 R and Q versions in modified and all original configurations and have never considered one any better than the other but have a personal preference for the newer component and construction of the Q
> I have on occasion seen this same statement in regards to the Wells Gardner built sets and would like to discuss in this open forum what information you and others have.
>
> Ray F
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Milsurplus mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
The "Q" version is regarded by  many as being a superior performer, and 
comparing them at a friends shack seems to bear it out.  I have a theory 
based upon experiences with1948 vintage RCA and Hallicrafters TVs.  The 
dark brown fiber insulating  material and/or the varnish used on it in 
those sets tends to become leaky at RF frequencies with decades of age. 
This is not from moisture, heating the material does not change the 
leakage. All BC-348s were supposed to meet performance specs, and if one 
was significantly better in the day, I think it would have been noted 
and become legend very early on.  Replacing the fiber insulators in the 
TVs with Plexiglas drastically improved the performance of the RCA  set 
and got the Hallicrafters working well when it was dead before. Antique 
entertainment radio hobbyists I have asked about this agree that RCA 
products seem to suffer from this degradation far more than others, 
especially on shortwave and FM bands.


    Bruce Gentry, KA2IVY