What are these French-made capacitors?

[Matt D]

These are pulls from an old Bogen PA. Any idea what they are?

[Leo_Gnardo]

Any idea what they are?

Sacre' blues. Some sort of film cap. TAG experts I'm sure will provide more detailed info.

Similar caps were included in SouthWest Tech kits, like the Tiger power amps for instance. The ones that liked to blow up all the time. I don't think they have any special mojo unless your preference is failure. Accompanied by sparks & smoke.

Nice sky blue color though. Refreshing to see during this monsoon season in the Northeast.

[Matt D]

Merci Leo! I have a bunch of them. They are pretty gunked up with what is hopefully just solder flux but they all seem to test out to spec with my DMM. I guess they'll look magnifique in some PTP fuzz pedal builds.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I guess they'll look magnifique in some PTP fuzz pedal builds.

Ca plan pour moi, to quote Plastique Bertrand. Where's that dam' sedilla under the C...

You won't be putting any hi voltage on them so if they test OK not likely to break down. Should have some funky late 60's-early 70's mojo then. Bon appetit!

[TUBEDUDE]

It's hard to tell by the photo, but if they are a flattened ovoid shape, they look like the foil caps found in some old Dynaco PAS preamps.

[Phil_S]

Where's that dam' sedilla under the C...

You mean this, "cedilla"? ç
Alt-135, handy reference here: http://www.alt-codes.net/
A number of other Alt codes indicated here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedilla
I could try to write something witty in French, but the sad truth is that I am far to rusty to try. I can still order in a restaurant, find the rest room and ask for directions, but that would be about it.

Will the forum indulge me for a short story? I know this belongs in Garage Talk.

Curiously, I was in Aix in 2006 visiting my daughter who was there for spring semester abroad. She cautioned me not to attempt to speak any French in her presence. (As any parent knows, if your lips are moving, you are probably embarrassing your children.) On the first evening there, she brought us to a very casual restaurant. (We were tired and didn't want to deal with anything too formal.) The waitress comes to the table and asks for the drink order. At this point, the last I spoke with anyone in French was more than 20 years ago. So, I understand the question and a light bulb goes on. I ask in my terrible French what kind of beer they have and sure enough I get a coherent reply. I tell the waitress I don't know what those beers are and I ask her to choose one for me. The waitress asks, "blonde o brune" and I choose a color. The waitress finished the drink orders (wife and other kid) with my more proficient daughter. When the waitress leaves, my daughter leans over and says to me, "You know Daddy, your French really isn't so bad." Ah, the kind of moment a parent lives for! My lips were moving and I didn't embarrass her! And I did it in French! BTW, the French make excellent beer.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Where's that dam' sedilla under the C...

You mean this, "cedilla"? ç
Alt-135, handy reference here: http://www.alt-codes.net/

Waayyyylll mercy buckets 'n silver plate - I knew it was in there somewheres. By accident years ago I found the ½ and ¼ at 171 & 172. Very handy.

Good story! Yes theres' good beers to be had in France, also people who won't slag you for trying to speak Français. (Hey I got it! There's a worm hanging under my c!) Got a mighty good breakfast one day practically in the shadow of L'arc de Triomphe with my fractured French. Even in downtown Paris there's good folks to be found. Not to mention the food. Mmmmm.

OK back to tech stuff...