NST failure. Broiled again!

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Pomnept-at-aol-dot-com>

I recently destroyed an NST, got some good advice, rebuilt, added a
protective circuit consisting of power resistors and capacitors, used a
variac to tune, and had a working TC for one day. Then it blew. Again. :-(
My transformers were purchased new, very cheaply. They are by France, were in
new packaging, but lacked information plates. Has anyone encountered or heard
about faulty or badly manufactured transformers? Any other ideas? Any really
good protection circuit ideas?
Depressedly yours,
Robert Hanford