[dr.delco]

Well, I have discovered that the choke is probably the issue after all. Why, because what I thought was a new Stancor C-1709 does not measure, resistance or inductance, as is should. So some other type of new choke was in the box. I probably should have verified its inductance before I used it, so lesson learned here. And, as Morzh pointed out, even if it was the correct choke in the box, the C-1709 is too small. So, I'm going to search for a choke with specs as close to the Philco part as possible, and add a resistor in series if needed.

[Too poor to retire]

If you find a Thordarson Meissner cross referenced part number, be sure and let us know - I have a slew of their parts.
Dan

[morzh]

The choke has 10mA rating, so doesn't have to be large to have 50H. But even if it 30H is ok.