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What are these?

Started by TelePlay, June 17, 2012, 02:01:10 PM

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TelePlay

May seem like a silly question but at $10 each, I'm curious as to what these are and where they were used to be so pricey.

Greg G.

#1
I'm not positive, but they look like they are part of the electronics that old TV's used.  I remember a TV repairman that came out to our house when I was a teenager and he asked me to tell him the color of the rings on them because he was color-blind.
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
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e

twocvbloke

They look like resistors to me, but the price for a resistor, it's a bit steep... :o

DavePEI

#3
Quote from: twocvbloke on June 17, 2012, 02:41:38 PM
They look like resistors to me, but the price for a resistor, it's a bit steep... :o
Nope - they are Sprague Bumblebee Precision .022 uf capacitors. Pretty steep price even though they are hard to find now... And they look well used, clipped out of something. Can be used anywhere you want a high quality non polarized precision cap.

They are often used as tone caps, and used in high quality guitars such as Gibson and Les Pauls, etc. They produce a much finer tone than cheaper caps, The name chosen by Sprague for them is Bumblebee, reminiscent of the sound they produced.

They were popular in the late 50s.

Dave
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TelePlay

You got it right Dave.

They looked like resistors to me but listed as BubbleBee caps. That's why I put this up, to see if the lister got it right. Didn't look like telephone parts to me.

Only 4 days left on the auction with one bid that starting at $49 plus $3 shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/7xjo7d8

DavePEI

#5
Quote from: TelePlay on June 17, 2012, 03:00:10 PM
You got it right Dave.

They looked like resistors to me but listed as BubbleBee caps. That's why I put this up, to see if the lister got it right.

Only 4 days left on the auction with one bid that starting at $49 plus $3 shipping.

http://tinyurl.com/7xjo7d8

I guess the reason they command so much money now is that they are prized by Gibson and Les Paul collectors as replacements in their guitars.

Had I realized they brought so much money now, I would have cleaned out the ones in my workshop years ago!

As far as using them for telephone use, it would be really wasteful, as telephones couldn't produce the sound quality of a guitar :)

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

twocvbloke

Quote from: DavePEI on June 17, 2012, 02:44:35 PMNope - they are Sprague Bumblebee Precision .022 uf capacitors.

Ah, something in the back of my mind was saying capacitors, but the resistor idea resisted it...  :D

Bill

My suggesation is not to buy them. Bumblebee caps are notorious for failing with age, and they are now pretty aged.

Bill