[NJARC] Two subjects for mailing to members

[Louis]

(1) Looking for a Panasonic combo TV.

Sorry this is not radio oriented but I'm looking for a Panasonic TV/VCR 
combo pkg. The one my dad had in his nursing home room now only has a 
thin blue horizontal bar in the middle of the screen for the picture 
(has sound) so I assume one of the chips has failed. If a ARC member has 
or knows someone who still has one of these "old" Panasonic CRT sets, 
PV-C20xx, PV-C25xx, PV-M20xx, PV-M25xx, I can make use of it, thanks.

(2) Replacing old caps, blk band question.

I've replaced the caps on my Philco 38-12 and she now works just fine 
(thanks Matt, Al). But the issue of the blk band on the old caps has me 
curious. Does correctly placing the outside foil on the gnd or low 
impedance side of the circuit actually reduce hum in the circuit with 
the caps we have available these days?

I've read a little bit about the subject and perhaps there may be some 
discernible noise reduction, in some cases. Just curious as I don't have 
a scope (keeping my eyes open for one, hint, hint) to test the caps for 
the outside foil lead and I'm not sure if the other approaches I've read 
about will easily determine which end is which, in the end :o

I suppose I could connect a cap to an AC line and listen on an AM radio 
for hum and then any reduction/increase in hum by reversing the wires. 
But in a typical vacuum tube radio from the 1930-60's, will this make 
any difference (cumulative effect of multiple caps incorrectly oriented) 
or is it just splitting hairs trying to achieve something non-obtainable 
on these old radios?

Thanks,
Louis