Encountered this transformer at a thrift store .,never heard of the brand but it seems MRC like it quality Any info?
The pics I found look nothing like my MRC, I found this old thread in the forum that seems to date them from the 1950’s
Glad I didn’t buy it !Seems it could be dangerous!
We had a dual one that looks like the pictured one, but was in a grey hammertone case, not the shiny silver.
I would not bother with anything that old, at least for use. They won’t control modern HO locos, or N scale. The motors draw too little current and they will just take off. Condition of old line cords is always iffy, but they can be replaced. The worst part are the selenium rectifiers. If they haven’t died already, they probably soon will, and you do NOT want to breath any of the magic smoke those things release.
Sure, you could put a noew cord on it, and repalce the selenium rectifier with a modern silicon bridge rectifier, and it would be perfectly safe - but you’d still have a rather limited range rheostat control (MRC rheostats turn 320 degrees from stop to full speed - these barely turn 180, if that) which is completely unsuitable for running modern locos. Repaired on the inside, it would probably be just the thing to run a layout full of vintage Mantua, Tyco, and Varney models.
–Randy
Here’s my Scintilla power pack, as mentioned in the older thread…
It was purchased new, in the mid ‘50s, and as mentioned in the older thread, works just fine on my shop’s test track and in the paintbooth, too, for painting steam locos’ running gear. No problem using it with can motors, either.
I have, since the photo was taken, replaced the original power cord. There is some slight leak-by of power with the control set at stop, but that’s not an issue for its current use.
Wayne
Well my trusty MRC Control Master 'll is still going strong despite it being 35 years old battered and paint spattered!
Hey philo426,
That picture must have been taken on my workbench![swg][(-D][(-D]
Dave
Scintilla was a premium brand in the early 1950s. I don’t recall them being mentioned in advertising in Model Railroader after the mid 1950s.
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I would stay away from power packs that old.
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-Kevin
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I had one, a dual pack that powered my first layout. My father bought it about 1957.
Sheldon
Yep !messy!