[R-390] replacement tubes

[blw]

> From: "Roger L Ruszkowski" <rlruszkowski@west.raytheon.com>
> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2002 12:56:38 -0800
> To: r-390@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [R-390] replacement tubes
> 

> Hell, Ford has been making cars since 19 ought.
> Surly they can get out a new 2002 model this year with out a
> major recall. God knows the tires they buy for parts would be up
> to speed. Do we not think Ford wants to make a good product.
> 
> 
> Can you imagine a commercial broadcast station buying a
> 100KW transmitter tube from the Russian tube factory?


Depends on our (as the consumer) definition of a good product as opposed to
their (as in the manufacturer) opinion. We want cars that work right from
the beginning and lasts for decades. Ford wants us to be repeat
buyers...which means that we keep returning often for another Ford. Part of
the problem is cost cutting. Saving 10 cents on plastic additives means
saving millions along the life of the production run. It also means we buy
plastics that deteriorate, crumble, warp, or discolor quickly. You can prove
this simply by going to a store with a large parking lot full of cars. Look
at the crumbling paint that you see and add it up in two columns. One
column- domestic auto. The other column- foreign auto. Look at your totals
after counting a few dozen cars with flaking, crumbling, moth eaten paint.
You can do the same by counting cars with warped, sagging, drooping plastic
bumpers and trim strips that discolor after a year or so.

Yes, I can see broadcast stations buying Russian tubes if they keep upping
their standards as it appears to be the case. The Russians remained
committed to tube technology long after we abandoned it too quickly. Some
are quite good and some are quite bad.



Barry