Vacuum tubes

• May 7, 2006

• #1

anon`

One Too Many

Messages

1,216

Location

The old Chapman place beyond Meadow Hill

First thread of me own!

Anyways, my folks have got this old radio that dates back at least to 1951, and of course is built using vacuum tubes. It also seems to have been designed around 6V power =\

At any rate, I'd like to get this thing working again. To that end, I don't suppose any of you folks might know where I could scare up some appropriate tubes? It's currently got four Tung-Sol 6BA6 and one 6AU6 that I think was a replacement, as well as two more Tung-Sols (5Y3 GT and 6V6 GT) and one Sylvania 6S8 GT.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

• May 7, 2006

• #2

Sefton

Call Me a Cab

Messages

2,132

Location

Somewhere among the owls in Maryland

You've probably already tried that online auction site. There are always listings for tubes for sale. One of the FL's own, Wildroot, has a collection of vintage radios and may be able to steer you towards a good source for the same. He's a real nice fellow and I'm sure if you PM'd him he could be of help in your search. Welcome to the Lounge! Cheers!

 

• May 7, 2006

• #3

Absinthe_1900

One Too Many

Messages

1,628

Location

The Heights in Houston TX

Try this: http://www.tubesandmore.com/

 

• May 7, 2006

• #4

anon`

One Too Many

Messages

1,216

Location

The old Chapman place beyond Meadow Hill

Thank you both!

@Sefton~ I actually haven't. I'm leery enough of managing bid on eBay (or perhaps lazy is a better term?), and tubes are one of those things that I really wouldn't feel comfortable buying there, though I imagine one can land some jealously impressive finds on there.

And thanks for the welcome

 

• May 7, 2006

• #5

Pilgrim

One Too Many

Messages

1,719

Location

Fort Collins, CO

Hey anon, there are tons of good deals on tubes on Ebay. The trick is whether they are still good or not. Believe it or not, if they're unused, most will be good.

There are also many, many tube sites online. As a last resort you can order pretty much anything through Radio Shaft, but you will pay at least 2x the price at other sites. Do some online research and I think you'll be find.

Get this - I'm probably the only one on the Lounge that owns TWO tube testers! One is a semi-portable that weighs about 25 pounds, the other is the size of an attache case and is completely portable.

 

• May 7, 2006

• #6

Z

Zepp

New in Town

Messages

28

Location

Littleton, Colorado

A couple more links:

Radio Daze is a great compliment to Antique Electronics Supply. If AES doesn't have it, Radio Daze often will and vice-versa. http://www.radiodaze.com/

One of my favorite antique radio discussion sites are the Antique Radio Forums at http://antiqueradios.com/forums/

The breadth and depth of knowledge there is astounding. Ask a question, regardless of how obscure, and someone always seems to have the answer.

Good luck with your restoration. Real radios glow in the dark!

-Zepp (K?òVJ)

 

• May 7, 2006

• #7

Dalexs

Practically Family

Messages

569

Location

Just 'nath of Baston

You are very lucky. Portland has a huge antique radio following.
Take a look at http://www.nwvrs.org/ to start with.

There are a numbe rof groups in the area that can help you out.
My neighbor, when I lived over in NorthEast was a buyer/rebuilder.
I used to see him moving some very cool radios around all the time.
There's a place over on MLK, a electronics store/repair shop, that may be able to help you. I just can't remember the name of the place just yet.
They're just north of Burnside.

Good luck.

Dalexs
(Formerly of NE Portland!)

 

• May 8, 2006

• #8

binkmeisterRick

A-List Customer

Messages

477

Location

The Island of Misfit Hats

www.thetubestore.com is another good place to find new and NOS tubes. I've had great experience with these guys in the past.

 

• May 8, 2006

• #9

binkmeisterRick

A-List Customer

Messages

477

Location

The Island of Misfit Hats

Pilgrim said:

Get this - I'm probably the only one on the Lounge that owns TWO tube testers! One is a semi-portable that weighs about 25 pounds, the other is the size of an attache case and is completely portable.

Click to expand...

Nope! I've got a Hancock tube test and a smaller, more portable unit, too!

 

• May 8, 2006

• #10

Pilgrim

One Too Many

Messages

1,719

Location

Fort Collins, CO

Rick, YOU da (tube) MAN!

My larger unit is a Heathkit that was bought as a kit and assembled at a university where I used to work. The smaller one I got from a friend some years ago when he was cleaning out grandad's repair stuff.

 

• May 9, 2006

• #11

binkmeisterRick

A-List Customer

Messages

477

Location

The Island of Misfit Hats

I don't remember what the smaller tester is off hand. I'll have to look at it again. I've always preferred playing through tube amps and vintage gear as a guitarist. I have an old Gretsch amp which takes tubes they don't make anymore (unless they've reissued the 6973 recently) so I like to make sure my tubes are in good shape. To say my late father-in-law was an avid HAM radio operator and collector of old radios is the understatement of the century. He was always fiddling around with brken radios and had an unbelievable ammount of old tubes. The two testers I have were his, the smaller one he gave me while still alive and the Hancock I inherited after he died.