Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!

Not sure what your question is, Bob.

:Not sure what your question is, Bob.
:CV: Guess what my question was, With readings of 3.5 & 2.8 NF I thought the polyester round caps (yellow) should be used instead of electrolytics, from what norm said it does not matter, but I have another question if old regular caps had neg ends to chassis if I used electrolytics will neg end be to chassis also, if not is there a way to tell??

::Not sure what your question is, Bob.
::CV: Guess what my question was, With readings of 3.5 & 2.8 NF I thought the polyester round caps (yellow) should be used instead of electrolytics, from what norm said it does not matter, but I have another question if old regular caps had neg ends to chassis if I used electrolytics will neg end be to chassis also, if not is there a way to tell??
:

Some old paper-foil (non-electrolytic) caps had a "negative" marking (generally a black band on one end) because that denoted the side that connected to the last foil layer on the outside, so if it were grounded it would serve as an electrostatic shield.
Most new caps aren't so marked and it really doesn't much matter except (arguably) in some audio circuits where it is desirable to suppress hum pickup.

Do you really mean 3.5 (or 2.8) NF? These would be quite small capacitors and that designation is rarely used in American radios, particularly those from the 1930s. If you mean mF (microfarad), actually 3.5 mF is a fairly large capacitance value and would have been a physically large cap if it were non-electrolytic (maybe around the size of a pack of cigarettes). While present-day non-electrolytics in this value are much smaller, they are still good sized. A 3.5 mF electrolytic could be very small, depending on the voltage rating needed.

Electrolytics have to be installed observing the polarity of the DC bias to which they will be subjected. If they are reversed and therefore reverse-biased, they will decompose internally and may even explode.

Bob

Caps with those readings would be paper rather than electrolytic. You could replace them with electrolytic or polypropylene. 4 MF would be acceptable. If electrolytic 4.7 or 10 mf @ 450 volts.

Norm

:Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!
:

:Bob
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: Caps with those readings would be paper rather than electrolytic. You could replace them with electrolytic or polypropylene. 4 MF would be acceptable. If electrolytic 4.7 or 10 mf @ 450 volts.
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:Norm
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::Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!
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Norm: Regular old caps had neg to chassis, if I use electrolytics will neg go to chassis??

:::Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!
:::
Can you supply more info on the radio?
Also, do you actually mean nf or mf for the cap values?
Carl T
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:Norm: Regular old caps had neg to chassis, if I use electrolytics will neg go to chassis??
:

Most of the time negative connects to chassis. Almost sure your caps are that way but should have a schematic to be sure.

Since the radio is operating measure present voltage across the caps. This will show proper polarity.

Someone else pointed out, caps are mf not nf. Nf is sometimes used, mostly European, but not for these filter caps.

Norm

::Bob
::
:: Caps with those readings would be paper rather than electrolytic. You could replace them with electrolytic or polypropylene. 4 MF would be acceptable. If electrolytic 4.7 or 10 mf @ 450 volts.
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::Norm
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:::Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!
:::
::
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:Norm: Regular old caps had neg to chassis, if I use electrolytics will neg go to chassis??
:

:Most of the time negative connects to chassis. Almost sure your caps are that way but should have a schematic to be sure.
:
:Since the radio is operating measure present voltage across the caps. This will show proper polarity.
:
:Someone else pointed out, caps are mf not nf. Nf is sometimes used, mostly European, but not for these filter caps.
:
:Norm
:
:::Bob
:::
::: Caps with those readings would be paper rather than electrolytic. You could replace them with electrolytic or polypropylene. 4 MF would be acceptable. If electrolytic 4.7 or 10 mf @ 450 volts.
:::
:::Norm
:::
::::Looks from around 1934 tombstone style all original,most caps I replaced had values of .1,.15,.25 nf. Turned on played good with no hum.Measured for what I assumed the wax box under chassis had 2 electrolytics in but readings of 3.5 & 2.8 nf. Not sure on this but I'm NOT looking for electrolytics rather capacitors with values around 4 microfarads?? correct!
::::
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::Norm: Regular old caps had neg to chassis, if I use electrolytics will neg go to chassis??
::Norm; volts read Black to chassis +167 wire to pin#1 on 80, other RED to chassis +71 volts wire went to transformer.Radio plays good with out this being replaced,wish I could find a schematic.Norm I have your E-mail address I'll send you some pictures & we can continue this on NA after you have a look. Thanks
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