As you may know, I was on a Fisher kick for several years. I accumulated a number of Fisher receivers and tuners, first solid-state models, then graduating to their older (and arguably better) tube-type equipment later on.

Among the Fisher items I accumulated during this time was a model 100 table model radio with pushbutton tuning. As has been the case with so many of the electronic items I acquired over the years, the radio languished on a shelf for many years after I bought it.

The Fisher model 100 was introduced in 1966, probably as a 1967 model. At least, its service manual has a copyright date of 1966. This is in contrast to many sources giving this pushbutton table model FM radio a date of 1968, 1969, or even 1970 or later. It could very well be that this radio remained in the Fisher lineup for a few years. That would not be surprising, as the model 100 was an excellent radio in its time. This was in keeping with the Fisher tradition of quality which was evident in all their products, having been made when the company’s headquarters were in New York. This was before the company was sold first to Emerson Electric, and then to Sanyo.

Fisher called this particular model a “Microceiver.” It only receives FM, and in mono only. Having no provision for manual tuning, it features the “Tune-O-Matic” pushbutton mechanism, with which the owner could preset up to five favorite FM stations and then simply push a button to bring in a particular FM station. The sixth “button” at far left was actually a rotary switch, which turned the set’s automatic frequency control (AFC) on and off.

The radio uses 13 transistors in a plated steel chassis, with a couple printed circuit boards and a self-contained tuning unit or “front end”. The radio is surprisingly heavy, in spite of having a very thin and cheap MDF cabinet which is covered in vinyl material made to resemble faux wood veneer, similar to “Con-Tact” adhesive covering which is still being made.

Its six inch speaker produces surprisingly good sound. The radio’s separate bass and treble controls also help tailor the sound to your liking. After all, this was a Fisher, and as mentioned earlier, it was built during a time when quality still mattered.

Back in early spring of this year, I finally pulled out that model 100 of mine and tried it out. Much to my surprise, it still worked! I then placed it on my desk in my home office, and used it daily for a month or so.

One morning, I turned the 100 on, and listened to music for a short period of time – until I heard a slight “pop” and then the radio went dead!

I set it aside again until mid-June, at which time I decided that I would try to bring it back to life by way of a total rebuild, to include all new electrolytic capacitors, new rectifier diodes, and new transistors in its audio circuitry.

I even went as far as buying replacement NOS ECG transistors to replace the hard to find (and no longer manufactured) germanium transistors used in this receiver.

One evening, I decided to open it up to confirm whether or not the set used radial electrolytics, axial electrolytics, or a combination of same. Imagine my shock to pull the unit out of its cabinet to find it had white cadmium powder heavily coating all of its plated metal surfaces!

There was literally enough of the stuff coating the metal surfaces that a junkie who needed a fix would probably have immediately licked it all off. Not that I would know about such things (I honestly don’t…I’ve just watched a lot of Miami Vice episodes).

Yes, I know cadmium powder is a health hazard. And yes, I also know that I have little to fear from such hazards, as I already have stage 4 cancer which is incurable. However, I was more concerned about Debbie and the cats becoming exposed to this stuff.

Debbie came down and looked at the chassis. She suggested that I wipe it down with wet paper towels and Q-tips to get into the tight areas. I did so, and the powder readily cleaned off the metal.

The more I thought about it, though, the more I felt that it was better overall if I just let this one go and not take any more risks with it.

I truly regret not wearing a mask before pulling the chassis out of the cabinet, but I had no idea that I would encounter anything like this.

Now, I have cleaned a Fisher tuner in the recent past which had some yellow cadmium powder on it, followed by a waxing with Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish. The tuner never looked better when I was finished. And the amount of yellow powder on the tuner was small, really. It was not heavily coated with powder as was the chassis of this radio.

The health of those in my household, as well as anyone who might have come into the possession of this radio later on, was more important to me than the gratification of getting another electronic device up and running again.

Therefore, although it made me sad to do so, I put the chassis back into the cabinet. The radio was then disposed of.

The ECG replacement transistors? Fortunately, they were cheap, so it was not a great loss. At least I had not invested in new electrolytic capacitors before opening the radio up to find the nasty surprise lurking inside.

So be aware if you acquire one of these Fisher 100 Microceivers. Do open it up – but do so when outdoors, and while wearing a respirator, gloves, and old clothing. If the chassis of your set is clean, count yourself lucky (and keep it away from high humidity). If it is covered in cadmium powder, put it back in the cabinet and just let it go (i.e., dispose of it).

As much as we may want to, we simply cannot rescue them all. Nor should we try, especially when it may jeopardize your health or the health of others.