I think the designers were using the best materials & technology available
at the time. And they never imagined that people might be using or restoring
these devices several decades beyond their expected service life. Most
radios were considered appliances. Contemporary electronics, even cars for
that matter, are not designed to remain in use forever. I remember when my
Dad bought a Mercury in 1965, his one and only new car. What would the
salesman have said if Dad had asked how that car might be running some
40-odd years later? Dad is still alive, bless his heart, but the car
perished decades ago.

:-)

Phil Nelson

"Richard Knoppow" wrote in message
...
That may be, they certainly develop very large cracks sometimes. I've
disected a few BBs. The capacitor itself was distorted, oddly flattened
rather than being tubular. Perhaps they were wound this way or perhaps
some sort of differential shrinkage of the encapsulation pushed them out
of shape. They were _supposed_ to be very long life, low leakage, deluxe
capacitors and are generally found in high quality equipment.