[Milsurplus] Meissner 150-B Parts needed

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Last fall I picked up my final big transmitter project, a Meissner
150-B with its matching VFO/exciter, coil box, and all but one plug-in
tank coil(which has since been located). I'd wanted one of these for
many years and actually passed one up back around 2009-2010 when I was
in NC. Kicked myself since. Then this one came available up in New
England and the seller offered to deliver it free to NEAR-Fest in NH
which I was attending. Twist my arm.

For those not familiar, the 150-B is a big (for a table top) unit, 40"
wide, 305 lbs, exciter adds another 11.5 inches and 39 lbs. It's one
of the few (only one I can think of, actually) WWII transmitters that
doesn't carry a BC- or other military designation. Speculation is that
it was a design Meissner was building for the amateur market to
compete with the Hallicrafters HT-9 but along came Hitler.

Some photos of this transmitter from AMfone.net:

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43283.0;attach=56811;image

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=43283.0;attach=57159;image

It was badly mauled by a previous owner and for some reason, converted
into a monoband transmitter. Manual calls out 1500-12,500 KC but they
would go up to 20m as I understand it.

There are three separate decks inside bolted to a front panel assembly
with a single plate across the back chassis aprons to hold them all in
place inside the rather stout cabinet. Fortunately 99% of the hacking
was confined to the RF deck in center.

So far I've been able to procure most of the missing parts, but to
complete the project I still need the following (from the manual):


- Plate Blocking Condenser, Mica, 0.006 Mfd,  +/- 10%,  2500VDC
working voltage,  Sangamo # A2LS-5260

- Plate Tuning Condenser, Variable,  245 Mmfd (pf), ....  E.F. Johnson
# 250E45  *or*  154-16-1  (same numbers used later by Cardwell and
Viking)

- R.F. Plate Choke, 10.32 MH,  200 MA DC,  28.17 ohms (DC),  2-pie
winding,  Meissner # 02441

There are also three plug-in padder caps made from Sangamo micas with
banana plugs attached. I can build these if the caps can be located.
Their values are: 0.0003 Mfd, 0.0006 Mfd, 0.0012 Mfd, all +/- 5% at
2500VDC working volts (5000 Test).


I realize I can likely do some substituting for the blocking cap & RF
choke, but wanted to see if originals could be found first. The air
variable is the tough one as it needs to fit a narrow footprint to
line up with the front panel shaft, so the original EFJ design is a
must. The original is still on the deck but has had numerous plates
removed and is now held together by a metal strap as a result. The
antenna tuning variable, also made by EFJ, was missing entirely but
I've located that one. The 154-16 plate tuning unit was used in many
commercial amps like the Drake L4B and Collins 30L-1 if I recall
correctly. Roughly 11 inches long, 55 plates, 18" spacing. Use to see
them on ebay and elsewhere fairly often until I needed one, of course.

If anyone has a 150-B parts unit with the RF deck still in place, I'd
love to hear from you as this one looks like Swiss cheese due to the
modifications. Could also use a couple other sheet metal items from a
donor.

TNX  -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4