Homebrew PCBs

In a message dated 6/16/2004 5:58:28 AM Central Standard Time, 
ballendo@... writes:

Nope, Similar, but not flea clips.  Flea clips were also formed and sold in 
strips, but were "U"-shaped--think miniature garden trowel--with two 
"ears--squarish at the top, and a hole to insert an off-board wire.<<
Ah, yes!  I remember, now!  Yeah, they were thinner (phosphor bronze spring 
stock) material with real silver plating!  Some of the "project kits" around 
which articles in the "popular" magazines were written had those.  Yeah, haven't 
actually seen those in years!
What I'm talking about is a "socket", rolled from the parent strip into a 
tubular form, that will accept the lead of a dip or... Tinned phosphor bronze, 
same as many other connectors.<<
Yes, the 0.1" pitch strips of spring-brass with TIN plating.  used for 
DIY-IC-sockets.  I wonder how many "kids" carefully broke 'em all off the strips 
before realizing that was SUPPOSED to remain in place until soldering had been 
done???  

Yeah, if one soldered those also to the top of the board (with 2-sided 
traces), he'd have to be VERY careful not to globber solder up in the "loop" of the 
contact, or it's spring-contact value would be totally lost!   You may 
remember SouthWest Technical Products in San Antonio, TX.  They manufactured Don 
Lancaster's kits for years, and included MILES of those pin-socket-strips in same, 
even for use on single-sided boards, as a "plugged-in" IC can be re-oriented 
or used in another job, etc.!  Dunno if Dan Meyer is still with us and just 
retired, or what, but SWTP just went away, one year.  

Thanks for reminding me!  More and more frequently, anymore, I realize again, 
we ALL get old, as the picoseconds waft away!        Jan Rowland


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