MOTM

a) there are 3 Spectrol pots used in MOTM

100K conductive plastic linear

Old Spectrol part number: 148-7104 (original black, non-RoHS. Mouser *used* to 
stock it.)
New Spectrol part: 148SXG56S104SP (white body, RoHS, made in France by Sfernice. 
Not a "standard stocking" item.)

100K cermet linear

Old Spectrol part: 149-71104
New: 149SXG56S104SP (Mouser has this)

100K conductive plastic log

Old: 148-9609-104 (this was *always* custom made for me, Mouser non-stock item. 
I paid <$5ea for it and they came directly from Spectrol in California)
New: 148SXG56S104ZP (what I was quoted $12.25 for)

b) Mouser has the cermet 100K linear at the old price. Not a problem for me. 
This is a "standard stocking" item: Also available at Allied, Newark, and 
others.

c) the issue is with the conductive plastic 148 parts:

#1: Mouser only has the 1/8" shaft as a *stocking item*
#2: the 100K log pots was *always* custom for me.

d) Spectrol themselves *never made these parts*. This is referred to as 'build 
to print'. The parts were first made in the UK, then in Mexico and now by a 
Vishay division in France. The are jacking up the price because they consider my 
100K log pot as a "pain in the ass" and therefore "if you *really* want us to, 
we will but bend over and squeal like a pig".

If the MOTM community wants to scour the Earth looking, please do so and let me 
know the results. I will still persue from my side.

Paul S.