Your oldest "over the top" audiophile story

scott wurcer · 3rd March 2004, 02:40 AM

I have to share this story. Someone at work had a grandfather (MIT) who worked on the original Trans-Atlantic cable. Anyway in the 30's he built a system (mono) of cascaded push-pull 45's with interstage transformers ending in a speaker mounted in a closet door as a baffle. He tested his oil bath capacitors by charging them up and shorting them with a screwdriver. He claimed the ones with the loudest spark sounded the best. I guess he was measuring the ESR in an indirect manner.

Sch3mat1c · 3rd March 2004, 04:15 AM

Um, three interesting sentences but, they have nothing to do with each other. What was your point?

Tim (the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, as it was the style at the time . . .)

scott wurcer · 3rd March 2004, 11:45 PM

Frankly I'm baffled that you don't get it. No hard feelings.

Peace -

Duo · 3rd March 2004, 11:48 PM

I think he was testing the capacitors for the amplifier.

Perhaps that's the link between the cascade 45 amp and the oil caps...

Tube_Dude · 3rd March 2004, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scott wurcer
He tested his oil bath capacitors by charging them up and shorting them with a screwdriver. He claimed the ones with the loudest spark sounded the best.

He surely like Fire Works!!!

I call it...spark voiced!!!

RetroAudio · 16th March 2004, 04:30 AM

I think it's pretty cool the kind of stuff old timers did to test their circuits in the old days. They probably knew a lot more than what we care to give them credit for, but just weren't published and didn't have all the killer equipment we got today.

ashok · 16th March 2004, 07:50 AM

Quote:

I call it...spark voiced!!!

How about " spoiced " ?

Cheers.

3rd March 2004, 02:40 AM	#1
scott wurcer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cambridge ma	Your oldest "over the top" audiophile story I have to share this story. Someone at work had a grandfather (MIT) who worked on the original Trans-Atlantic cable. Anyway in the 30's he built a system (mono) of cascaded push-pull 45's with interstage transformers ending in a speaker mounted in a closet door as a baffle. He tested his oil bath capacitors by charging them up and shorting them with a screwdriver. He claimed the ones with the loudest spark sounded the best. I guess he was measuring the ESR in an indirect manner.

3rd March 2004, 04:15 AM	#2
Sch3mat1c diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI	Um, three interesting sentences but, they have nothing to do with each other. What was your point? Tim (the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, as it was the style at the time . . .) __________________ See my Electronics webpage -- the home of Vacuum Tube Drag Racing. The key to being a successful Audiophile: "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

3rd March 2004, 11:48 PM	#4
Duo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada	I think he was testing the capacitors for the amplifier. Perhaps that's the link between the cascade 45 amp and the oil caps... __________________ -- Duo, W1ngs, VA7MON, and lesser known handles. -- -- http://www.w1ngselectronics.com -- My Work and Projects --

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3rd March 2004, 11:45 PM	#3
scott wurcer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cambridge ma	Frankly I'm baffled that you don't get it. No hard feelings. Peace -

16th March 2004, 04:30 AM	#6
RetroAudio diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Everett, WA	I think it's pretty cool the kind of stuff old timers did to test their circuits in the old days. They probably knew a lot more than what we care to give them credit for, but just weren't published and didn't have all the killer equipment we got today.

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