Radio Xtals - how it's made - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ITAM805 · 15th Sep 2016, 9:04 pm

An interesting WW2 colour film showing the fantastically labour intensive process involved in making crystals for the war effort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy23Us3nrX8

russell_w_b · 15th Sep 2016, 9:10 pm

Very good, that... Crystals were made during WWII at a specially-built factory at Workington, Cumberland, by the Thermal Syndicate Company. The process was moved down to Henlow as the war came to a close and several staff were transferred down for the duration to train the Henlow lot.

ms660 · 15th Sep 2016, 10:14 pm

Thanks for the link, I enjoyed that.

We came across a lot of quartz crystal when I was mining, sometimes after blasting a stope bench or a tunnel round a vug would be exposed and once washed down with water it was truly a sight to behold and quite magical, often filled with other crystals such as Cassiterite (tin) Bismuthinite (bismuth), Galena (lead), Iron Pyrites etc, the latter two were used a lot as early crystal detectors.

Lawrence.

G4YVM David · 16th Sep 2016, 2:06 pm

Very interesting. I am intrigued by the idea of "pie-eezo electricity". Can this still be obtained

David

G4XWDJim · 16th Sep 2016, 4:18 pm

Excellent film, thanks for finding it but I was shocked at how hazardous the process was for the ladies working there. Only one person wore gloves and all were dipping their hands in water that was washing off etching fluids.

Some were hand grinding crystal blanks with an exposed wheel. I suppose those of us of a certain age have done similar things many times but in these days of H & S it felt shocking to see.

I didn't see a date but 10X crystals were wartime. I just wonder in my large stock of crystals do I have any from that company, Reeves? I would have liked to have seen the frequency that the finished crystals arrived at.

Jim

PSValves · 17th Sep 2016, 5:06 pm

Fascinating. Thanks for posting

15th Sep 2016, 9:04 pm	#1
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Radio Xtals - how it's made An interesting WW2 colour film showing the fantastically labour intensive process involved in making crystals for the war effort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy23Us3nrX8

15th Sep 2016, 9:10 pm	#2
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Radio Xtals - how it's made Very good, that... Crystals were made during WWII at a specially-built factory at Workington, Cumberland, by the Thermal Syndicate Company. The process was moved down to Henlow as the war came to a close and several staff were transferred down for the duration to train the Henlow lot. __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

15th Sep 2016, 10:14 pm	#3
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Radio Xtals - how it's made Thanks for the link, I enjoyed that. We came across a lot of quartz crystal when I was mining, sometimes after blasting a stope bench or a tunnel round a vug would be exposed and once washed down with water it was truly a sight to behold and quite magical, often filled with other crystals such as Cassiterite (tin) Bismuthinite (bismuth), Galena (lead), Iron Pyrites etc, the latter two were used a lot as early crystal detectors. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 15th Sep 2016 at 10:14 pm. Reason: spellin

16th Sep 2016, 2:06 pm	#4
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: Radio Xtals - how it's made Very interesting. I am intrigued by the idea of "pie-eezo electricity". Can this still be obtained David

16th Sep 2016, 4:18 pm	#5
G4XWDJim Octode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: Radio Xtals - how it's made Excellent film, thanks for finding it but I was shocked at how hazardous the process was for the ladies working there. Only one person wore gloves and all were dipping their hands in water that was washing off etching fluids. Some were hand grinding crystal blanks with an exposed wheel. I suppose those of us of a certain age have done similar things many times but in these days of H & S it felt shocking to see. I didn't see a date but 10X crystals were wartime. I just wonder in my large stock of crystals do I have any from that company, Reeves? I would have liked to have seen the frequency that the finished crystals arrived at. Jim

17th Sep 2016, 5:06 pm	#6
PSValves Pentode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Nottingham, UK. Posts: 151	Re: Radio Xtals - how it's made Fascinating. Thanks for posting