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> On many schematics I've seen the letter 'Y' used to designate a
> crystal.  The guts of a crystal is really a tuning fork - which
> resembles a 'Y'.  Don't know if this is the reason, but it seems
> logical.
>
> --Matt
>

Matt,

I glad you can spell schematics, I sure couldn't.  And no one
has said for sure if a box with a X in it is used as the symbol
for a crystal in a schematic.  As you say, not only does the
insides of a crystal look like a Y with the two little wires
goint to the crystal, but it operates like a tuning fork.
So you may be on to sommething here.

I like the cross=criss concept.  And the X is a criss cross.
I wonder if this is only a Christan and/or English connection?
How many written languages even have a symbol that resembles
a X?

Another example of the use for X to represent 'trans' (and I
had to wait until the right time to say this) comes to mind
when I was an apprentice at Mare Island Ship Yard.  There was
a huge six story building with no windows (refered to by the
building number which I can't remember at this time, but I
do remember my employe number).

The building held the machinest (shop 31), electricans (shop 51),
fire control (shop 36) and electronics (shop 67).  There was a
crystal lab on one of the floors where a lady by the name of Mary
worked.  Mary was one of four women that worked in this huge
building.  Mary had the personialty, looks and voice that would
attract attention by themselves, but put together, Mary was one
in a million.  And while I had heard that she had a son my age,
I found it hard to believe.  And every six months or so, if
I was lucky, I would find myself in the elevator with her.
I would say "Hi" to her and she would say "Hi" in reply.
It would brighten up my whole week.

Like I said, Mary worked in the crystal lab and I am not sure
if they made crystals for radios and/or sonar transducers.
Here comes the connection, this reminds me that transducer
is also written as 'Xducer'.

As this is a PIClist, I won't go into the time I got stuck
half in/half out of the sonar hatch on the bow of a nuclear
sub and almost became the sub's 'figure head'.

Bill C.   bill@cornutt.com