The DRSNews
December
2009
*
Published by subscription
only, by Dave’s Repair Service
©2009 All Rights Reserved
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In this issue:
1)
Vintage 1933-1988 Christmas 'Wishbook' Catalogs Online
2) A Gas Dryer That Heats - Sometimes
3) An 'Interesting' CHRISTmas Decoration!
1)
I mentioned this last year about this time, but I've gotten so much
enjoyment out of browsing these old catalogs, I though you would, too.
And it's been updated since then. Well worth a look if you're just a bit
'vintage', like me. ;-)
It's a nice collection of old Christmas catalogs, viewable right
on the
website. Recently updated, direct scans from 1933 to 1988, Sears, Spiegel's,
Wards, and other vintage catalogs are posted , with 'thumbnails' of their
pages at the bottom of each. It's a ton of fun paging through these!
The old appliance
and firearms prices especially make me want to laugh
and cry at the same time!
http://www.wishbookweb.com/the-catalogs/
2)
'Had another one today: Newer gas dryer that fires up, warms nicely
for about 2-3 minutes, then the flame goes out and it runs cold.
Let it sit for a half hour
or more, fire it back up, and it does the same thing
all over again.
I'm happy to report, 90% of
the time, this one's really simple! There are 3
little coils that operate the 'M' style gas valve used in nearly all modern
dryers, and they're somewhat famous for acting this way.
One of them will develop a
bad spot in the tiny diameter copper wire that
makes up its coil, and will expand there when it warms up a bit. It electrically
goes 'open', and the valve drops closed, turning off the gas.
This gas control system's a
nice 'failsafe' design, engineered to turn off gas
flow when any type of failure occurs.
Anyway, the fix is simple.
Replace the set of coils. 90% of domestic brands use the popular #SCA700 kit:
Back in the day, we used to
try to figure out which of the 3 coils had the
problem, and it's tough, because you have to 'catch it in the act', and we've
talked about intermittents [shudder] before.
The valve coils have become
so inexpensive these days, though, that you
can just replace the set and be back up and running in about 20 minutes.
And one's a dual-coil, so there are actually only two little coil cylinders to
change.
Two screws and two harness
plugs do it. The plugs won't interchange and
the coils 'key' into their mounting, so you'd really have to work to install
them wrong. I never even turn off the gas supply to the dryer to do this job!
Current listings for them on
Ebay
3) A friend sent this photo
of his CHRISTmas 'decorations' this year. I've included
the text below the photo. It evidently got a LOT of attention!
Here's what he wrote about it:
"Well, there is good news and bad news about my
Christmas decorations.
The good news is that I truly outdid myself this year. The bad news is that
I had to take them down after only two days. I had more people come
screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me
take it down. First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents
as they almost wrecked when they drove by. Second, a 55 year old lady
grabbed the ladder and almost killed herself putting it against my house and
didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy).
She was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't
take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally
drove up my yard. I think I made him too real this time. But it was fun
while it lasted. ;)"
***
Well, that's about it for this month. Back again next year!
* PS - They tell me it's no longer 'politically correct' to
say 'Merry
CHRISTmas',
and
that I should be saying 'Happy Holidays', or something.
My response is
always the same: I certainly don't intend to offend
anyone,
but
I'm
not a politician, I'm a CHRISTian, and every December
I celebrate the Birth that
changed History (His Story!), and my
own life. (I certainly hope
you know Him,
too;
He'll change your life
forever, as He's changed
mine!)
Wishing the very best CHRISTmas ever to you and yours!
Warmly,
Dave Harnish
Dave’s Repair Service
New Albany, PA
drs@sosbbs.com
http://www.DavesRepair.com
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from
extinction. We didn't
pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected,
and
handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years
telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the
United
States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
John 8:36
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