[time-nuts] optically excite a quartz crystal?

[Chuck Harris]

Who said they were plated?

-Chuck Harris

J. Forster wrote:
> No. There is just a little rectangular quartz wafer. No plating.
>
> In fact, post WWII, when many ham transmitters were 'rock bound' (ie:
> crystal conteolled) it was common pratice to regrind mil surplus rystals
> to move them into the ham banda.
>
> Apparently, some were also etched using a cleanser called Whink, which
> contains a flourine compound.
>
> Also, some advocated applying graphite from a pencil lead was used to
> decrease the frequency.
>
> If the crystal ativity was low, they were taken appart and cleaned.
>
>
>
> -John
>
> ==============
>
>
>
>
>> I'm puzzling over this statement.  The FT-243's I have seen have a spring
>> that squishes the quartz blank between the electrodes.  They aren't plated
>> onto the quartz, but they are still in intimate mechanical and electrical
>> contact.
>>
>> -Chuck Harris