On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 10:08:05 -0500, "jakdedert"
wrote:

Chuck wrote:
snip
You remember the business of the Russian's military using valve/tube
stuff well into solid state era belatedly realised to be because it
is EMP resistant.
Anyone know how ordinary domestic radios in the valve era fared with
lightning strikes ?

Very well, except for an occasional power transformer, or if a long
wire antenna was used, the rf coils would sometimes open. Chuck

I vividly remember a direct strike on our TV antenna when I was a toddler in
the 50's. I drew representations of it on my blackboard for years; a
cascade of dashes representing the sparks I saw falling past our front door.
I don't know how serious the damage; but I do remember Dad replacing the
antenna itself...and using that TV right up through most of the 60's until
it was scrapped for a color set.

jak


This wasn't lightning, but I had an experience once where I
encountered what I believe was one phase of a 3-phase system which was
wired to a regular 110-120 receptacle. Our entire band was plugged in,
and all gear was solid-state except for my old 50's Fender Super. It
was my practice to turn it on and let the tubes warm up before
throwing the Standby switch, and when I powered on (first, thankfully)
it emitted load groaning noises. I immediately switched it off, and
cautioned the other guys to not turn their gear on. I don't know for
sure what would've happened, but I'm pretty sure any SS gear under
that circumstance without an SMPS would've immediately been toast.
That amp also worked for many years afterwards.

Tom