K & D Electrolytic Capacitors

[Enzo]

Hard to say. The KDs might look just like F&T because that is who made them, OR the Chinese guys made them to look just like F&Ts.

[Helmholtz]

Hard to say. The KDs might look just like F&T because that is who made them, OR the Chinese guys made them to look just like F&Ts.

Another indicator would be sales price: If made by F&T they can't be much cheaper than originals.

[Chuck H]

Hard to say. The KDs might look just like F&T because that is who made them, OR the Chinese guys made them to look just like F&Ts.

Or... Both manufacturers are simply using the same parts (can, end plug, etc.). I know there's only a couple of factories that make parts (other than the resistance element) for 16mm pots. Yet there are MANY pot manufacturers. ALL but two use the same shafts, bushings, cases, and covers. Most use the same wiper too. It could be that best/most economic parts for both capacitor brands were simply sourced from the same factories. Perhaps intentionally, perhaps not.

[tedmich]

I don't think that's the point here. F&T makes these caps because there's a market demand.

The question was about K&D caps.

Well my point is that the K&D caps performance might be pretty close to that of F&T caps whether they're OEM'd by F&T or not; F&T caps are nothing special in spite their Teutonic origins. Heck maybe K&D is OEMing caps for F&T, plenty of stuff out of China says "Made in (not China)"

[g1]

I think the general consensus is that any thing made to old form factors (multi-cans, screw terminals) or otherwise resulting in lower production numbers, will not be able to match better spec'd modern type caps being made in much higher production numbers. (usually radial).