From: Dennis R Starks To: PasqualeNJ@aol.com,kg0qe@juno.com,w0nbz@juno.com,jawbrey@juno.com, lee@vtw.net,pmonroe@inwave.com,cranwill@roanoke.infi.net, ranickel@mwci.net,peterada@mindspring.com,haffner@mcs.net, eldim@worldnet.att.net,dr@cei.net,mrhro@pdq.net, kargokult@proaxis.com,ip500@roanoke.infi.net,bstrang@iac.net, jayc@hpcmrd42.sj.hp.com,AAFRadio@erols.com, jupeter@net-tech.com.au,rzelick@inetarena.com,ae4zh@juno.com, fsglong@mscomm.com,noel@mail.li.com,tactcom@rocketmail.com, davprin@gil.com.au,wa5cmi@access1.net,badger@telalink.net, smithab1@bellatlantic.net,jproc@idirect.com,marmot@core.com, torchboots@email.msn.com,adrian_heinrich@hotmail.com, wb4lzq@atl.mindspring.com,DKWkid@aol.com,TVComlGuy@aol.com, located@worldnet.att.net,tscm@jps.net,janschrader@juno.com, richwurtz@juno.com,carmelo.litrico@ctonline.it, jlbowers@planetkc.com,rbrunner@gis.net, spencer12345@classic.msn.com,d2012pn1@ozemail.com.au, dgrev@apollo.ruralnet.net.au,ae4in@webshoppe.net, peter@bergent.net,l.meulstee@wxs.nl Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 04:36:27 -0600 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Dec.10/99 Message-ID: <19991210.043628.-166643.4.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Mailer: Juno 3.0.13 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Full-Name: Dennis R Starks X-Status: Sent X-Juno-Line-Breaks: 0-11,13,15,17-19,21,23,26,32-35,37,41,46-47,49,56-58,60,62,64,66,68-70,72,74,76,78-80,82,84,86,88,90-92,94,96-101,107,112,118,128-134,143,146-149,151,158,167,172,180-312,314-397,402-411,414-416,419,422,424-428,431-433,436,438-439,442,444-459,463-473,476,480-484,495-496,503-505 X-Juno-Att: 0 X-Juno-Fcc: Sent Items X-Juno-Size: 22867 X-Juno-RefParts: 0 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Dec.10/99 Index: CARE AND FEEDING OF VIBRATORS; By Buzz Mueller MEMBERS WRITE; WW-II Naval Inter-Task Force Communications? HUMOR; *********************************************** CARE AND FEEDING OF VIBRATORS; By Buzz Mueller Repairing vibrators for DC to DC convertors by Buzz Mueller I have successfully repaired many H.V. vibrators so I thought that you might be interested in what I learned and how I did it. The theory of the two types of vibrators follows the repair instructions. I like to repair these devices as I like to hear these little hummers operating in older radios. The first step is getting them open. The aluminum cans are usually rolled over the base but on occasion I have seen them crimped. I first used a screw driver to pry up the rolled edge but that makes a mess of things. Now I use a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel and carefully cut a slit around the base as close the rolled edge as possible. The reason being that I glue them back together using epoxy and you need something for the epoxy to adhere to. Now the guts should just slide out of the can. If not, sometimes they use that black sealant and you have to carefully pry the base loose from the can. Once you get the vibrator out of the can, you should find the vibrator itself incased in foam rubber. If the coil isn't fried, or the contacts badly burned, you have a chance at rebuilding it by cleaning the contacts. Forget about a contact file or burnishing tool as the contacts are tungsten and are VERY hard. To clean these babies you're gonna have to disassemble the contact stacks and use a fine diamond hone. It's a tedious job but not to difficult, just take your time and make sketches as you go. If the contact sets are riveted together use several cutting wheels stacked at once in the Dremel tool to grind off one end of the rivet so that you can take it apart. Some times a little penetrating oil helps to slide the fiber separators off of the tubular insulators. As I take the point sets apart I lay them out in the order that I disassembled them so it's easier to get them together again. In order to properly clean the contacts you have to file to the bottom of the pit marks. Place the contact on a solid surface so you can press down on the diamond hone evenly to produce a flat surface. I use a 10X jewelers loupe to check my progress as I work. After I have reached the bottom of the pitting I use crocus cloth to polish the contact. With a little elbow grease I can get the contacts to shine almost like a mirror. I remove as many of the hone scratches as I can so that the contacts won't burn as easily in the future. I tried using course, medium, and fine hones but then it was more work to remove the scratches. After all the contacts have been cleaned, reassemble the contact stacks. If the stacks were riveted use small bolts to replace the rivets. Now all you have to do is adjust the gaps. This is a trial and error procedure until you find the right gaps. I find that usually I'm pretty close if I can just see light between the first set of contacts to make. The opposing contacts usually have a little wider gap. Before you plug the unit into the P.S. replace the buffer capacitor (.01Mfd or so) that is usually across the output windings of the power transformer, then check the filter capacitors (20 to 40 Mfd) for leakage. I have had some luck reforming the electrolytics with a capacitor tester but if they don't come back within 5 minutes or so I toss 'em. Now plug the vibrator into the P.S. and turn on the power. If you're lucky it'll start vibrating, but more than likely nothing will happen. Sometimes, if the point gap is close, you can tweak the vibrating blade with a toothpick and it'll take off. But either way just keep adjusting the blades until it vibrates reliably on it's own. Now just put it back in the can and epoxy the base to the can and it's ready to go. This article may also be seen on my web page at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/vibrators.html Also included is the theory of vibrators but since there are diagrams I didn't include that part. Buzz Mueller Ed) The most common failure with vibrators is the contacts sticking closed. Before cutting it open, try tapping it a few times on the floor. This will often times free up it's guts, and it will then go ahead and work. Be careful not to dent the side of the can, as if you do, and down the road need to cut it open, the dents will prevent the can from sliding off over the internal contacts/coil. The aluminum used in the cans on these vibrators is very soft, and easily deformed. I have seen unused spare vibrators that had been stored inside equipment that were crushed by the spring clip that was there to hold them. PE-117, and PE-120 power supplies for the BC-620, & -659 are notorious for this. Vibrators are often times very hard to unplug from there respective power supplies. If it does not come out by grasping it with your fingers, no not use pliers! If at all possible fit the blade of a flat screw driver under it, and gently "twist" it up(do not let the screw driver contact the phenolic socket, as it too is very fragile, and might even break under normal extraction(typical of the PE-114/BC-1000). Great care must also be taken when placing the vibrator back in it's socket. The only index device used are the one or two pins that are larger than the rest. It's often difficult to tell just by looking which are the larger pins, especially in the socket. Even when it is easy to tell, it can still be a real chore getting the things lined up and maintaining this alinement while pressing down firmly. So it's a good idea to make your own index mark with a permanent marker along the edge of the vibrator and chassis before removing it. Lastly, once the vibrator is removed, spread the retaining fingers of the socket slightly so as not to be so tight when you go to put it back. Dennis *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; WW-II Naval Inter-Task Force Communications? A question: Have just finished off a book on the Okinawa campaign that makes a couple comments about the Navy being short of communication equipment for outfitting Destroyers that were used as radar picket ships in the campaign ( the pickets were a favorite target of the Japanese , lots of replacement were needed ) . the question I have is ( A) were tactical ship to ship and ship to air communications still handled by the old AM HF radios this late in the War? (B) If their was a tactical VHF or UHF radio system at that time what kind of radios were used ? I thought most of the 200 to 400 MHZ AM stuff came out after the war . I would like to think that by 44/45 they had evolved beyond AM HF communications for local point to point communications but don't know myself. Ray Fantini Ed) I would think that the shortage you mention would have been in the available frequencies that could be used rather than radio equipment. It is true that by 1944 inter-task force/short range Naval communications had progress beyond low power HF radios like the TCS and a long list of semicommercial marine radios. The most notable types being the Collins TBS, and the TBY. Yes, the TBY! Both operated just above the 6mtr band, on AM(the TBY could operate below). While UHF/AM sets had been available by wars end, these were, as now, used for communications with aircraft, and never ship to ship. Ever wonder why such radios as the BC-620, BC-659, and the TBY had a 110vac power supply available. This was for shipboard use of these radios(though usually as the counter part to the radio on the beach calling in artillery fire). The BC-1000/PP-114 combination is also known to have been mounted in landing craft as were the already mentioned BC-620's & -659's. But low power HF/AM radios did serve extensively for short range communications(20 miles)with both Naval, and civilian maritime service until the replacement of this band/mode with VHF/FM in the early 70's(or was it late 60's?). Dave Stinson Posted the below with another group back in September. It details the use of TBY's in trans Atlantic convoy duty. This use could have been an expedient to foil the attempts of the German Wolf Packs in DF'ing the convoys and should not yet be considered as normal practice until more evidence has been collected. One last note, Picket Ships were not a favorite target of the Japanese, nor any other attacking force, rather, they usually served as only a consolation prise. They were there to serve that purpose as represented by their name, I/E to form a "Picket" around the main task force, playing the role of body guards. This body guard duty might include, and often did, throwing themselves in front of speeding torpedos to prevent them from hitting the more important, larger ships in the center of the task force. Anyway, their life expectancy was indeed short. Dennis Forward from Dave Stinson: I've just received two very fascinating books- the signalman's ship log books from STK South Mountain, radio call sign KWEQ, which was making convoy runs out of New York from May 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. One of the most interesting details is the use of the TBY radio as a sort of "interphone" for the convoy. Never seen that documented before. I especially like this entry: 6 June 1944 From: Commodore Commanding Convoy to: All Ships Time: 0525 hrs. "For the information of all hands. The invasion of France started at 0330 this morning." And it was sent via TBY! One of the columns used for noting a communication is titled "Method." I've figured out, using the context of what I've read so far, most of the abbreviations used in this column, but need the help of any "old salt" out there who might know the last one: Sem: Semaphore C.L.: Colored Lights TBY: TBY VHF Radio transceiver F.H.: Flag Hoist F.L.: ??? Could this be "Flashing Light?" It seems to be the only one missing from the list. Great books! Bought them on Ebay for a song, too- so there, you Ebay haters ;-P (heh heh!). 73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S arc5@ix.netcom.com *********************************************** HUMOR; TRIVIA TEST -- mostly Christmas From the board game Trivial Pursuit 1. What was Grandma drinking when she got run over by a reindeer? 2. What do six of the first seven gifts from my true love have in common? 3. What does Alvin want for Christmas? 4. What army received its name on Christmas Day, 1878? 5. What Irish song was a Christmas hit for Bing Crosby? 6. What instrument does Amahl play as he leads the procession? 7. In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, what did Clarence get for completing his mission? 8. What were Frosty's last words? 9. What woman is mentioned in the song Jingle Bells? 10. What popular Christmas toy is based on a 1903 political character? 11. What color is the Grinch? 12. According to legend, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar formed which group? 13. What Christmas Carol was first performed on guitar in 1818? 14. In the song Winter Wonderland, who does the couple pretend the snowman to be? 15. When is Christmas over? 16. What was the name of Rudolph's dogsled driving friend? 17. How much does Lucy charge Charlie Brown for psychiatric services? 18. In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, what two friends share their names with Sesame Street characters? 19. Who wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas? 10. Who kept time with the Little Drummer Boy? Answers: 1. Eggnog 2. Birds 3. A hula hoop 4. Salvation Army 5. Christmas in Killarney 6. A reed pipe 7. Wings 8. "I'll be back again some day" 9. Fanny Bright 10. The teddy bear 11. Green 12. The Wise Men 13. Silent Night 14. Parson Brown 15. Epiphany (the twelfth day after Christmas) 16. Yukon Cornelius 17. Five cents 18. Bert and Ernie 19. Clement C. Moore 20. The ox and lamb ----------------------------------------------------------------- TOP BUMPER STICKERS SEEN AROUND THE WORLD * If You Can Read This, I've Lost My Trailer. * You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me * The Earth Is Full - Go Home * I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha * This Would Be Really Funny If It Weren't Happening To Me * Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult * If We Quit Voting Will They All Go Away? * The Face Is Familiar But I Can't Quite Remember My Name * Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway * Honk If Anything Falls Off * Cover Me, I'm Changing Lanes * He Who Hesitates Is Not Only Lost But Miles From The Next Exit * I Refuse To Have A Battle Of Wits With An Unarmed Person * You! Out Of The Gene Pool! * I Do Whatever My Rice Krispies Tell Me To * It's Been Lovely But I Have To Scream Now * I Haven't Lost My Mind, It's Backed Up On Disk Somewhere * If You Can Read This, Please Flip Me Back Over..[Seen Upside Down, On A Jeep] * Remember Folks: Stop Lights Timed For 35mph Are Also Timed For 70mph. * If Walking Is So Good For You, Then Why Does My Mailman Look Like Jabba The Hut? * Body By Nautilus; Brain By Mattel * Boldly Going Nowhere * Honk If You've Never Seen An Uzi Fired From A Car Window * Money Isn't Everything, But It Sure Keeps The Kids In Touch ----------------------------------------------------------------- Two guys wanted to go drinking, but they only had a dollar between them. One of the fellows looked over at a hot dog wagon nearby, and had a sudden inspiration. He spent the dollar on a hot dog. He threw the bun away, and stuffed the hot dog down his underwear. "We're gonna walk into the bar, order beers and drink them down. When the bartender asks for payment, I'm gonna stick this hot dog out my fly and you're gonna drop to your knees and start sucking on it. The bartender will be so grossed out that he'll immediately thow us out of the bar," said the guy. They entered a bar and the gambit worked like a charm. After the seventh bar, they were both extremely drunk. One of them started complaining, "Sheesh, I'm starting to get bad bruises from dropping down on my knees." His companion slurred, "You think you got problems? I lost the hot dog four bars ago!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- While most companies refrain from allowing consumption of alcohol on the premises, there are some arguments for changing that policy. Reasons for allowing drinking at work include: 1. It's an incentive to show up. 2. It reduces stress. 3. It leads to more honest communications. 4. It reduces complaints about low pay. 5. It cuts down on time off because you can work with a hangover. 6. Employees tell management what they think, not what management wants to hear. 7. It helps save on heating costs in the winter. 8. It encourages carpooling. 9. Increases job satisfaction because if you have a bad job, you don't care. 10. It eliminates vacations because people would rather come to work. 11. It makes fellow employees look better. 12. It makes the cafeteria food taste better. 13. Bosses are more likely to hand out raises when they are wasted. 14. Salary negotiations are a lot more profitable. 15. Suddenly, farting during a meeting isn't so embarrassing. 16. No one will remember your strip act at the Christmas Party. ----------------------------------------------------------------- While most companies refrain from allowing consumption of alcohol on the premises, there are some arguments for changing that policy. Reasons for allowing drinking at work include: 1. It's an incentive to show up. 2. It reduces stress. 3. It leads to more honest communications. 4. It reduces complaints about low pay. 5. It cuts down on time off because you can work with a hangover. 6. Employees tell management what they think, not what management wants to hear. 7. It helps save on heating costs in the winter. 8. It encourages carpooling. 9. Increases job satisfaction because if you have a bad job, you don't care. 10. It eliminates vacations because people would rather come to work. 11. It makes fellow employees look better. 12. It makes the cafeteria food taste better. 13. Bosses are more likely to hand out raises when they are wasted. 14. Salary negotiations are a lot more profitable. 15. Suddenly, farting during a meeting isn't so embarrassing. 16. No one will remember your strip act at the Christmas Party. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men? They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and, brought practical gifts. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Comprehending Engineers - Take One Two engineering students were walking across campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?" The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want." The second engineer nodded approvingly, "Good choice; the clothes probably wouldn't have fit." Comprehending Engineers - Take Two To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. Comprehending Engineers - Take Three A pastor, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, "What's with these guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!" The doctor chimed in, "I don't know, but I've never seen such ineptitude!" The pastor said, "Hey, here comes the greenskeeper. Let's have a word with him. Hey, George. Say, what's with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?" The greenskeeper replied, "Oh, yes, that's a group of blind firefighters. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime." The group was silent for a moment. The pastor said, "That's so sad. I think I will say a special prayer for them tonight. The doctor said, "Good idea. And I'm going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there's anything he can do for them." The engineer said, "Why can't these guys play at night?" Comprehending Engineers-Take Four There was an engineer who had an exceptional gift for fixing all things mechanical. After serving his company loyally for over 30 years, he happily retired. Several years later the company contacted him regarding a seemingly impossible problem they were having with one of their multimillion-dollar machines. They had tried everything and everyone else to get the machine to work but to no avail. In desperation, they called on the retired engineer who had solved so many of their problems in the past. The engineer reluctantly took the challenge. He spent a day studying the huge machine. At the end of the day, he marked a small "x" in chalk on a particular component of the machine and stated, "This is where your problem is." The part was replaced and the machine worked perfectly again. The company received a bill for $50,000 from the engineer for his service. They demanded an itemized accounting of his charges. The engineer responded briefly: One chalk mark $1.00. Knowing where to put it $49,999.00. It was paid in full and the engineer retired again in peace. Comprehending Engineers-Take Five What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers? Mechanical Engineers build weapons, Civil Engineers build targets. Comprehending Engineers-Take Six The graduate with a Science degree asks, "Why does it work?" The graduate with an Engineering degree asks, "How does it work?" The graduate with an Accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?" The graduate with a Liberal Arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?" Comprehending Engineers-Take Seven Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible designers of the human body. One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints." Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous system has many thousands of electrical connections." The last said, "Actually, it was a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?" Comprehending Engineers-Take Eight "Normal people ... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet." -----Scott Adams, The Dilbert Principle Comprehending Engineers-Take Nine An architect, an artist and an engineer were discussing whether it was better to spend time with the wife or a mistress. The architect said he enjoyed time with his wife, building a solid foundation for an enduring relationship. The artist said he enjoyed time with his mistress, because of the passion and mystery he found there. The engineer said, "I like both." "Both?" Engineer: "Yeah. If you have a wife and a mistress, they will each assume you are spending time with the other woman, and you can go to the lab and get some work done." Comprehending Engineers - Take Ten An engineer was crossing a road one day, when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week." The engineer took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket. The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want." Again the engineer took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, and that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The engineer said, "Look, I'm an engineer. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool." *********************************************** The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information concerning this group or membership contact Dennis Starks at, . A list of selected articles of interest to members can be seen at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/backmail.html ***********************************************