Well I came across  a bunch of radio tubes tonite,probly over 500 of them all different brands,shapes and sizes some new in box but most are loose and probly used.my questions are do people still use these or are they just art pieces now and how do you check if they are still good?some of the brands are General Electric,RCA,zenith,philco,CBS,Westinghouse,united,eimac,Raytheon,tung-sol and probly a bunch more but I haven't gone thru the boxes yet.any info would be great thanks.edit to add I hope this is the right section to post this in

So no?

Let me also add that any that say 572b are completely worthless and should be sent to me carefully packaged for disposal.

Tubes are still used and some are widely sought after. Unfortunately I don't know more than that. But I see them all the time at ham shows. Tables full of them

3cpx800a7 Eimac tubes cause cancer. I'll pay you a dollar a piece plus shipping. Need them for mental health research.

I need a 3-500Z and can always use 12AX7s or 12AU6s

Depending on what tubes you have, they might be of value to audiophiles (your best bet). Especially rectifier tubes, they eat that shit up

3-500Z  

Let me know the brands so I can check and see that would be much easier than looking at a serial numbers,after I get the brand I will check the number

I don't care about the brand, but it looks like this:


Look for "3-500ZG"

Ok I will look

The simple answer is yes... but, only for well known/popular tubes and if they are known to be working/new.  Tube testers are even rarer than the tubes, especially for the unusual tubes.
Start with the large tubes that appear to be new.  Also google or search QRZ.com for popular amateur tubes.

Tubes are still used by amateurs, audiophiles, musicians and vintage collectors/restorers.   Few are made anymore, most are NOS (New Old Stock).

Some tubes go by more than one name, which makes it confusing.

eta... look here;  http://www.rfparts.com/

Inventory them...yes, it will be worth it.

If you need them tested on a tester...I can help...for a marginal tube fee.

It does make it pretty confusing.some of the biggest tubes are Raytheon 813 general electric gl-211 General Electric vt-4-c this ones pretty funky it's united electronics company jan cue-4c22/HFCs-100 this one looks new in box it's a Raytheon 6f8g.got a bunch it's going to take a little bit to go thru

Got one that kind of looks like that but it says 4-65a  so no good but still looking

These sound like they're a little bit old.  Can you post some pics?  We love this stuff!  

Been trying to figure out how to post pics but don't know how I will get the wife on it tomorrow.what would a 6416 be used in that number keeps popping up

That's a 65 watt tetrode. Good little tube but doesn't have the power dissipation I need

6146 is a great little transmitter tube. Used in the TS-520s and a bunch of other hybrid transceivers. Worth maybe $20 for a good unused example.

Good brands, Westinghouse, GE, RCA, Cetron, Jan, Sylvania, Raytheon, there are others.

Tubes popular today for amps, 811A (not 811), 572B, 3-500Z, 3CX1200Z7, 3CX1200A7, 3CX800A7.

Found a couple 811a what's the deal with the 811 because I found one of them to

Looks like you have a mix of really old and more modern tubes.  After doing a few casual searches on the ones you posted, some of them may be worth a lot or next to nothing.  Take pictures and describe them correctly, and it will be worth your time to do so.

The VT-4-C seems to be a pricey item on the used market...  

The 811A is the tube used in the two most widely sold amps today, the Ameritron AL-811 and AL-811H.  The
AL-811 uses three of the 811A tubes and produces 600 watts.  The AL-811H uses four of the 811A tubes and
produces 800 watts.  

The 811 tube is not a viable replacement for the 811A.

The 572B is often used as a direct drop in replacement for the 811A tube.   It is a much higher rated tube, but
some will tell you that it is not run hot enough in an 811A amp to keep the vacuum down, in layman's terms.
(Yeah, yeah, getter and all that).  The AL-811 and AL-811H are pretty much bulletproof with 572B tubes.  In
fact, Ameritron makes a variant of the AL-811H, called the AL-811HD with four 572B tubes.

Wow I guess they are a little pricey I think I found two or three of them so far.are they the same as the gl-211 because they look the same found one  or two of those

I also came across a couple of glass fuse looking tubes they have a serial number of vc-50 and vc-12 and they say test voltage 20k peak amps they don't look like the other tubes can't find anything on them. I know I  need to get some pics of this stuff.i also have a five gallon bucket full of these little tubes ranging from an inch to two inches long would those be for radio to

Also, there are a lot of tubes that audiophiles/audio amplifier/guitar amplifier builders like.

6GL6s, 12AX7/12AY7/12AU7, 6DN7, 300B, 2A3 just to name a few off the top of my head...

I have a pair of 3-500z tubes. And a half a dozen 572b/811a tubes.

No you can't have them. :P


Aside from the massive RF power output, they're great heaters in the winter.

This place is right up the road from me...



http://www.antiquewireless.org/



...and has brazilians of toobz!

Any 12AX7, 12AU7, 12AT7, GZ-34, 5AR4, 6V6, 6L6, EL-34, EL-84, KT-66, KT-77, KT-88, or 6550 tubes?

Tubes are still in demand today. Except for a few that are used in either RF amplification or high end audio equipment none are being made anymore.

There are a few of us that still play around with tube circuits. Some are into homebrewing transmitters and receivers. Some are into the repair and restoration of older consumer radios and TVs. Some are into bringing back to life amateur radio equipment that was considered top shelf stuff back in its day.

So yes, they are still used and are still wanted.

Best thing is to inventory everything noting the tube designation. 0A3, 6T9, 6AU6, 12AU7, etc. Brand isn't that important. From there you know what you have and can start sorting out the really esoteric from the ones that are in common use. Then you can sell the common use units on online auction or through the amateur radio channels. The really off the wall stuff can be sold to a couple of dealers who specialize in this sort of thing.

The other option is to just box all of it up and sell as is / where is and let some goofball like me have the fun of sorting and testing.

Ok that makes it a little easier that the brands dont matter.I have been looking thru these boxes and it seems I have some of what you guys are looking for,so what I think I will do is go thru each box one at a time and make a list of whats in there and if you guys want to check the list out I could email it you.
Theres about five boxes full of tubes.Also I have no way of knowing if these work because I do not have a tube tester.

Between stimpsonjcat and myself we can do the testing. However by the time you factor in the shipping costs it probably isn't cost effective.

Tubes are definitely sought after by people restoring old "boat-anchor" equipment and building gear from scratch. Tubes with 4, 5, and 6 pin bases are from the pre-WWII era and worth some money if good.

Some tubes popular with hams: 5Y3, 5U4, 5R4, 6V6, 6L6, 6AG7, 807, 6146, 5881, 6CL6, 5763, 6C4, 6AH6, 6AK6...

You can get a good idea of retail prices here: www.tubesandmore.com. If they don't list a number, it may fall into the unobtanium category and worth big bucks.

Audiophiles Audiophools have driven some prices sky-high.

Don't try to clean them up by wiping with a damp cloth. Some of the numbers will come off.

I'd be glad to take a look at the list and see at least which tubes my tester can test.
If it turns out to be a majority maybe we can work out a way for you to borrow it.

I can test them and dispose of them properly if you just send them to me.  

Mmmm, 813's. IM me if you sell them.

Something to look for among your hoard are globe-shaped tubes, shown in the left-hand image below. If they have a little glass tit on the top, even better. They will usually have a two letter prefix (UX, UY, UZ) before the two or three digit number.



They are very old and sought after by collectors, even though they may not be in top electrical condition. Any tube with a transparent blue envelop is definitely a keeper regardless of electrical condition.
The 4, 5, or 6 pin bases of tubes are used as coil forms and/or power connectors.

Most tubes will have a mirror-like silver spot somewhere in the envelope. If this has turned a powdery white, it means the vacuum has been compromised.

Some of you guys are cracking me up.









 

Thanks frank I haven't come across any of the tubes pictured on the left but I do have some pictured on they right.here's some of the 4 pin 811a,816,cue-4c22,809,806,45,CDz-811.some of the 5 pin are 807,6w4,6cdg,5u4,5u4gb,24a,4-65a,5r4wga,5r4gya.some of the 6 pin are 2a5,5881,gag5,6bq6gtb,gbg6.i also have 7,9 and I think there's some 8 pin if I am not mistaken

I have several things around that take tubes. It's also my auxillary heat source in the winter.



I even still use a reel to reel with tubes in it.

The 45 is a very sought after tube, as are the 5881, 24A, & 2A5.

If the 811As are by RCA, they are preferred over the modern imports.

Incidentally the number of pins is defined as the number of spaces on the base available for pins, not how many are actually there. Many of those are what's call "octal base", and will have a plastic protrusion with an index ridge along it located in the center of the base. The protrusion allows pins to be omitted to save cost as the tube can be only inserted in the matching socket one way. The 7 and 9 pin tubes that are about the size of your thumb are referred to as "miniature" tubes and came out in the latter years of WWII. You also may have a few "sub-miniature" tubes that are a little larger than the diameter of a wooden pencil. Very often they have wire leads instead of pins.

Be careful if you wipe them off. You can remove the printing on them. If you can avoid it, do so.

Ask me how I know.

I like for my old radios to look as good on the inside as out. If I am going to wipe down a tube for such display purposes, I'll scratch the number into the base first.

Ok didn't know that.as for the 811a one is a electronic enterprises inc and the other ones which I think one is no good because it a little white inside are ameritron.as for the5881its a tung sol and looks new in box.the 2a5 also looks new in box and the box says standard brand electronic tube and the base of the tube says quality and the 24a is made by sylvania

Commercial broadcast stations still use tubes…the PA tubes can cost an excess of $20,000.

That reminds me, I have a friend building an amp out of 5 3-1000z tubes.

Here's a good reference site. Franks Tube Data
Seriously, figure out/sort what you have and put them in the EE if you want to sell any of them.

The only other country now producing glass tubes is China.  Russia was making the Svetlana brand tubes, which are very good, but the only remaining
Russian tube products now are ceramic tubes.

The Ameritron tubes are Chinese.  The Chinese have had a lot of problems pulling down a good vacuum, the tubes leaking, or other contamination resulting
in about 50% of their tubes failing.  Taylor, Penta, and a number of other brands that have good reputations are Chinese tubes that have survived some
testing.  Otherwise they are the same Chinese tubes you see on eBay, just with a "brand name" stencilled on.  Ditto Ameritron.

Svetlana, these are identified by the very fine quality ceramic bases, not black or brown plastic, of their 572Bs. Also, they don't have the "bottle" shape
of the older 811As and 572Bs.  They have a cylindrical shaped envelope.



There were some Svetlana 572Bs that did not quite reach full 572B ratings for voltage, but are perfectly serviceable as heavy duty 811A replacements.  
There is about 1000 volts difference.  The 811As run about 1750-1800 volts.  The 572Bs are supposed to run about 2800 volts, and some of the latest
(which are about 10 yrs old) Svetlanas didn't quite cut it.  But they are still great drop in replacements for 811As.  

RF Parts renamed their Svetlana 572B tubes as "811H".  Drop some of these babies into your Ameritron AL-811H and they are pretty much bulletproof.

There is a term you need to understand, and what it means.  In order to get the last bit of vacuum, and remove the last bit of oxygen, there is a mix of
metals on the filament called "gettering".  When the tube heats up, and "getters", those metals vaporize, react with the remaining bit of oxygen, and
deposit the chemical as a shiny mirror looking splotch on the glass.  The splotch may be black or may be silver.  As a kid I used to see that and think
those splotches were burn marks, that they were bad tubes.  It was not a problem, they come like that new.  That "gettering" process continues through
the life of the tube.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2aU-aJHHA   Flashing the getter

The tube on the left is bad.  The tube on the right is probably OK.  Normal looking getter.

Same here. I'd sure like to take a look at the list. I won't loan out my tester but I'm sure we can work something out.

My tester is a BK 667. Solid state unit for testing tubes. Bit of a paradox. It can test most everything from post WWII to Compactrons. Testing RF power tubes such as the 811a, 572b, and 3-500 require more sophisticated equipment than what I have.

Heck, you're no fun!!!  What else is there?