Mohican question, capacitors.

[jebem]

(01-23-2016 07:31 PM)Geoff Quickfall Wrote:  Okay,

Searching the web and Gigi is applying itself in full force: what is the term for a multiple capacitor in a single can.

I am trying to locate a replacement for an:

MEC Nashville 885-0-35 100/100/100 mFd can in the Mohican, anyone got a source for an equivalent?

Geoff

Hi, Geoff,
Thank you for sharing your other excellent radio's hobby here.
Radio is a cherish theme to many of us here, myself included.

Edit: I found the correct designation, I believe:
It is a Multi Section capacitor

Concerning that 100+100+100 uF capacitor, well, they don't make them anymore as far as I know.
It was common in the good old days to have two, three and even four caps in the same can, specially on tube/valve radios.
In fact it is still easy to find them as twins in the can for high voltage (above 300VDC) to be used to restore old tube radios.

I understand perfectly your restoration choices.
We should maintain the original design and technology as much as possible.
Replacing original components by modern ones is kind of misrepresent the original product.

So, I only replace components in vintage equipment when it is really necessary.
In this case, a capacitor meter is of great value. Even many multimeters can measure capacitors.

One idea shared by a fellow in other (radio) forum where I'm a member, in order to preserve the original spirit and fix the faulty capacitors, goes like this:
- Strip/remove the old contents from the can (foil plates, dielectric and electrolytic)
- Save the can only to insert modern, discrete capacitors inside and seal the can once done.

One example of this cap rebuild here and here and also here.


Edit2:
Sorry, I missed your question on the Germanium transistors.
Should you need to replace any of those transistors, it is easy to find equivalents, for instance on eBay that's where I go for this stuff, including Russian/Ukraine/Bulgarian sellers).
Russian Germanium transistors are of good quality and will outperform easily the original 2N series used in this radio; however they are not the original ones, so again, I try not to install substitutes on vintage equipment in order to keep their value as high as possible.

One word about testing Germanium transistors, if I may (I know you are aware of this, but others my find this info useful:
Most of the he usual modern multimeters are not adequate to measure Germanium semiconductors, as they are designed to test Silicon semiconductors that have a junction barrier voltage of about 0.7V, while Germanium has only 0.2V.