HISTORY:
Like nice shiny "Gold like" components? I used to keep just about any component that looked "different" and this pot fits the bill.
It isn't the value or taper that is special, but the construction is to a very high standard and it's a great museum example of IRC product from USA, around the 1970's or so - I saw this series in one of their catalogues dating back that far.
IRC (USA) - Rotary Potentiometer
Country of origin: USA
CTS45 Series
Part # G7 50K/A CTS45
50K Ohm
A Taper (Log)
300 degree rotation
Non-sealed
Standard D shaft
Solder terminals
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Shaft, nut thread, nut are all solid Brass (Oh you shiny thing you!)
Two of the solder tags look to be Nickel plated but the centre tag appears to be Gold plated. It looks similar to the Brass but more Yellow and I scraped a little off the surface and am greeted by a Silver colour i.e the terminal tag has been plated with what appears to be Gold.
Rivets used for the tag terminals are solid Copper
All identification is stamped around the side of the pot body AND in addition to this, neatly hidden (slightly) is the IRC logo stamped onto the topside of the body (one of the securing tabs), it is slightly obscured when the nut is fitted.
The Brass shaft is LONG at 45mm length, of course it is uncut at the moment.
I hear you ... that's all very well but does it work?
Although "grandaddy's" of the pot world, these were looked after and kept in sealed packets waiting for that special day when they could be put to use - that day never came!
DC track resistance measured at 48.78K Ohm
Lowest possible resistance wiper to either end of the track is 6 Ohm
Moving the wiper slowly across the entire length of the track did not indicate any "dead spots" or unexpected resistance changes.
It appears that the potentiometer is in A1 operational condition after all these years
Now that I have finished examining this pot it has been resealed into a clear plastic packet, waiting for a new workshop to live in
