Why do Callins capacitors command such a high premium?
Callins 300uF 25V Audio Capacitor Vintage Low ESR OL0382B | Rich Electronics
What's so special about them?
What's a good substitute?
Callins 300uF 25V Audio Capacitor Vintage Low ESR OL0382B | Rich Electronics
What's so special about them?
What's a good substitute?
Perhaps it's the history behind Callins capacitors which makes them special.
Fred Callins co-designed the first viable miniature electrolytic capacitors for use in palm sized transistor radios.
This miniaturisation of capacitors helped initiate an industry that led to the computer revolution.
Callins capacitors were, internally, an entirely new invention using proprietary electrolytic formulas and unique methods of establishing the oxide film.
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HISTORY OF THE CALLINS CAPACITOR
Written By Robert L. Callins
Compact low-voltage electrolytics had very short life. A wheezy farm-boy pulled together the materials and techniques to do good.
But 45 years on, it is "looks" and nostalgia, not performance or "sound".
The earlier Callins link was only for reference to give people an idea of the price and physical characteristics.
My questions actually pertain to a 100 μF 6 V Callins, which looks identical. It's used in a PAIA VCO module from the 1970s. The schematic's shown here:
https://crcomp.net/paia/2720-2A.png
C7 is the Callins. C6 is a plain vanilla electrolytic in a can. They both have a value of 100 μF.
Although the simpleminded answer goes through everyone's mind first, it doesn't add up. Why pay more for a Callins back in the day? Why not buy twice as many electrolytics in cans to get a better price break?
Or, if Callins was the cheap alternative back then, why pay more for electrolytics in cans?
Perhaps the answer's as simple as the late John Simonton inheriting a pile of Callins. It's too late to ask John, but there's a PAIA forum, which may supply some answers, provided they process my registration. For the time being, the Callins will be substituted with a new
electrolytic in a can.
But they are NOT the same.
C7 is 6V and is used in a regulated 6V line, C6 is 10V and used in an UN-regulated 9V line, so a slight extra voltage rating is a safety feature.
Both dangerously close by today´s standards, but then today we have wonderful automated Factories churning millions of excellent quality partys, for peanuts.
Way back then it was not so.
Rather than brand, I´d focus on specs.
WHO says they paid more?
Again, they are not the same.
You *assume* a price difference, and forget different specs.
EDIT: just downloaded and slightly browsed the Callins History.
Although he must have been a pioneer , way back then, this eulogy is written by his beloved Son.
Nice proof of filial love, to be commended, but hardly impartial, interesting but take it with a grain of salt.
And even if it were accurate and unbiased, 45 years is a loooonnnngggg time as far as Electrolytics Technology goes.
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Note: it turns out the schematics wrong. There's actually a 25 V Callins on the board itself.
Meanwhile, capacitors have indeed come a long way, as you say. A brand new (cheap) capacitor will probably work as well as a Callins back in the day.
Thank you to all.
Meanwhile, capacitors have indeed come a long way, as you say. A brand new (cheap) capacitor will probably work as well as a Callins back in the day.
Thank you to all.
> Perhaps the answer's as simple as the late John Simonton
PAIA wasn't about magic parts. It was John using as few parts as possible. Their stuff was a lot of fun, at 1/10 the price of other gear, but not precision. (One trick John pioneered was using an early 4?-bit CPU to massage voltage-control of pitch, allowing much cheaper D/A conversion.)
PAIA wasn't about magic parts. It was John using as few parts as possible. Their stuff was a lot of fun, at 1/10 the price of other gear, but not precision. (One trick John pioneered was using an early 4?-bit CPU to massage voltage-control of pitch, allowing much cheaper D/A conversion.)
Thank you for your insight about John using as few parts as possible. It explains a great deal about his design. The resultant lower price also made synthesizers more available to non-professional users.
Allow me to revise #9. It turns out the typo's with D4 (and not C7). D4's correct value is 5.6 V. By inspection the emitter voltage of Q12 is then determined to be ~ -4.93 V, which jibes with the measured drop across C7 of 4.87 V.
Allow me to revise #9. It turns out the typo's with D4 (and not C7). D4's correct value is 5.6 V. By inspection the emitter voltage of Q12 is then determined to be ~ -4.93 V, which jibes with the measured drop across C7 of 4.87 V.
While Callins, i.e Fred, did design and improve the capacitors produced, many don't know the 'rest of the story' behind his advancements. Callins industry by the mid 70's was going/gone belly up as it was taken over by his offspring, with this the production standards changed. He and Velma (his wife) started Transpector Inc., a competing company, down the road from their home on Airport Road outside of Greenfield Tn, which was active up to 1980's. Those capacitors were some of the first none ceramic on the market and higher precision. Good luck on finding those as most were industry/government contracted. Fred was a true gentleman supporting both community and fellow man, if he had not fallen ill I have no doubt he would have been on the forefront of todays micro circuit components we find common today.
Had some of these in an EPI M50 speaker crossover.Replaced them with new Solen Film caps,huge difference.The Callins were 50 year old garbage.
I find the "garbage" label quite unfair and undeserved.
Just stating they were 50 year old electrolytics is enough
By the way, doubt how well will Solen ones perform 50 years from now.
Just stating they were 50 year old electrolytics is enough
By the way, doubt how well will Solen ones perform 50 years from now.
I have seen posts stating that the plastic sleeve with the value printed on it taints the sound of an amplifier.
Callins capacitors have plastic cans so those who peel the sleeves off metal canned capacitors will always say that they are rubbish.
They worked for a few years from new and then just wore out.
The resin end plugs are likely to detereate making NOS ones poor.
The novel plastic cans were only used for a few years of production for some commercial reason.
Callins capacitors have plastic cans so those who peel the sleeves off metal canned capacitors will always say that they are rubbish.
They worked for a few years from new and then just wore out.
The resin end plugs are likely to detereate making NOS ones poor.
The novel plastic cans were only used for a few years of production for some commercial reason.