[R-390] 6C4-The Final Horse Beating?

[Barry Hauser]

Well there ... you've gone and done it.  The fabled BallastHorse never dies, 
only goes into hibernation until it's time for the next roundup.

Prehistoric in origin, they're something like a cross between a Clydesdale 
and a wooly mammoth, shaggy, gray with slight orange markings and stand 
several hands higher than a big dray horse on steriods.  They would not 
deign to be fully domesticated -- never be caught pulling a beerwagon, but 
have been known to attack and consume the contents of same when their 
natural feed -- fermented marsh hay -- was in short supply.  If you beat 
them, they'd just stay there, stare you down and maybe try to bite your head 
off a little.  But, due to their size and weight they came in handy 
sometimes.  If the water was running too fast on the river, you tied your 
barge up to one of 'em and they'd just refuse to move, and keep your 
watercraft from going away -- hence the name "ballasthorse".  Instead of 
drayage, their specialty was "stay-age".

Nowadays at the mention of "ballast" or something like 3TF7 going out over 
the wires, the ghost of the BallastHorse merges with it's bones and the 
flesh grows and morphs back to life and rears up, whinnies and gallops off 
down the Interstate -- and attacks a Budweiser 18 wheeler.  "Well, heck, 
that trailor was back there when I started out," says the trucker.  "There 
was this really big horse though."

See what you've gone and done.

Now, ya' see I have an actual ballast tube question, as follows:

They make a solid state replacement for the 50A1 ballast used in the 600 
series of Zenith Transoceanics and clones thereof.  AES sells them for about 
$18, versus the $40 or so for an NOS 50A1, and nearly that much for a used 
one -- so they're in the same price and availabilty category as the 3TF7's. 
These plug-in replacements (also 9 pin) look like some heavy potted white 
plastic or maybe even ceramic.  Until a couple of days ago, I had assumed 
that they just contained a wirewound resistor.  Someone who rebuilds and 
restores Transoceanics (for over 25 years now) assured me there was more to 
them -- couple of transistors and some other parts.  He said that just a 
resistor wouldn't do well in the circuit, but I don't know.

If that's so, then can similar plugin be made for the 3TF7 socket?

Clopita, clopita, clopita, <snort>.. uh-oh.

Barry




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Les Locklear" <leslocklear at cableone.net>
To: "Perry Sandeen" <sandeenpa at yahoo.com>; <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 8:08 PM
Subject: Re: [R-390] 6C4-The Final Horse Beating?


> "Nothing" could go on as long as the Ballast Tube Thread. I think it is in 
> the Beating the Dead Horse Hall of Fame.........YMMV.
>
> Les Locklear
> Gulfport, Ms.
> Professional Curmudgeon & Equal Opportunity Annoyer
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Perry Sandeen" <sandeenpa at yahoo.com>
> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 5:50 PM
> Subject: [R-390] 6C4-The Final Horse Beating?
>
>
>> Gents,
>>
>> Roger nailed it on tube peculiarities and selection.
>>
>> More could be added about tube production and lot swapping among 
>> manufactures but let's get this
>> vampire horse wooden staked in the heart, garlands of garlic placed 
>> around its neck, and buried in
>> a mirrored coffin.  Then we can wind down our pacemakers until the next 
>> knicker-twister issue or
>> sheep arrives.  (If we don't, this could go n as long as the ballast tube 
>> comments. HiHi)
>>
>> The following note is being added to Chapter 7 Parts List Revision.
>>
>> Note 10:  There is a severe error in the 1956 Army R390-A manual.  It 
>> says not to substitute type
>> 6C4W for a 6C4.  It stated that the differences in characteristics are 
>> such that the type 6C4W
>> will not operate properly in the receiver. This is wrong.   Navships 1970 
>> manual lists the 6C4W as
>> the tube to use.
>>
>> The "W" and "WA" postscript designations refer to mechanical 
>> ruggedization specifications.
>> Cross-checking of tube reference data bases confirm that the electrical 
>> specifications of all
>> types are identical.  A 'ruggedized" or "Industrial" equivalent are types 
>> 6100 and 6135 among
>> others.  All  versions will work properly.   Some may be quieter or last 
>> longer.  See Chapter 9
>> supplement for additional tube information.
>>
>> Regards, Perrier
>>
>>
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