My Tube Collection, Welcome to share yours

[oldvinyl]

The 5U4GB still a great tube but straight bottle instead of ST globe or bottle.

 

[adrian cheng]

This is the first time I've seen this Eindhoven ECC81, interesting to compare to my Eindhoven version

 

[oldvinyl]

This is the first time I've seen this Eindhoven ECC81, interesting to compare to my Eindhoven versionView attachment 155655View attachment 155656View attachment 155657View attachment 155658View attachment 155659View attachment 155660View attachment 155661

That’s an amazing label - experimental!

 

[oldvinyl]

The GEC U52's get cleaned up.
Original boxes -

Packaged to protect the tubes.


Cleaned the glass and pins.

 

[oldvinyl]

Time for some tubes to enjoy a Spa Day!
Before ...

Soak the pins in a nice warm bath of Flitz

Getting relaxed and a pin massage ..

Now for a "pinacure" (tubes don't get pedicures!). Get rid of all the tarnish and oxidation.

All nice and spiffed up.

Even the back side.

Come and getter ...

 

[jadedavid]

Time for some tubes to enjoy a Spa Day!
Before ...
View attachment 155699
Soak the pins in a nice warm bath of Flitz
View attachment 155700
Getting relaxed and a pin massage ..
View attachment 155701
Now for a "pinacure" (tubes don't get pedicures!). Get rid of all the tarnish and oxidation.
View attachment 155702
All nice and spiffed up.
View attachment 155703
Even the back side.
View attachment 155704
Come and getter ...
View attachment 155705

Nice tubes
What is your choice of cleaning solutions and methods for pin cleaning?

 

[oldvinyl]

Nice tubes
What is your choice of cleaning solutions and methods for pin cleaning?

First level of cleaning is with 99% isopropyl alcohol.
For oxidation removal Flitz or DeOxit. DeOxit works well, but it takes a following wipe down and then wiping with the alcohol to remove any residue. Likewise with Flitz, t takes a following wipe down and then wiping with the alcohol to remove any residue. With Flitz, every application will remove more tarnish/oxidation - even when the pins look clean.
Once they are clean, I periodically clean the pins and sockets with KonTak. I use an interdental brush for the sockets and QTips for the tube pins.
By the way - Flitz also works wonders on AC plugs and IEC socket pins, especially copper AC plugs.

You can see the results here: pin, socket and connector cleaning

 

[oldvinyl]

Bad boys. bad boys, whatcha gonna do?
These came from an eBay seller from Australia (decades ago) that had access to military/gov't surplus.

Flashing on the lower part of the tube, three holed plates that are mounted up towards the top. Mostly 1952 production from Sylvania.

 

[oldvinyl]

Here are some special quality and selected 12AX7s.
Telefunkens

That are Mullard Blackburn 1967.

All factory red tip graded.

 

[oldvinyl]

These are special quality Philips 12AX7 for medical electronics.

Labeled Made in Holland, tube codes are Philips Heerlen.

 

[Blue58]

Retired EML Globe 45v4 next to standard 45v4


EML Globe 45 resting while Standard 45 plays with power and grace


And for old times sake here’s a lonely original EML 45 with taller bottle from 2005!

 

[oldvinyl]

Russian 6H23p-EB which is a 6922 equivalent.

Includes data sheet.

 

[adrian cheng]

Not an easy choice

 

[oldvinyl]

Not an easy choiceView attachment 155825

Decisions, decisions!

 

[oldvinyl]

Variations on a Theme by RCA. Some of the 12AX7 variants I like for audio gear.

12AX7A - Low-microphonic version of 12AX7.

6681 - Special version of 12AX7 intended for use in mobile equipment powered by storage batteries.


7025 - Low-hum, noise and microphonics version of 12AX7.


7058 - High-mu twin triode for use as audio amplifier in mobile equipment. Has a 13.5 volt filament.

 

[oldvinyl]

These Siemens E83CC turned out to be some of the quietest 12AX7/ECC83 I have tried.

 

[oldvinyl]

Nice tubes
What is your choice of cleaning solutions and methods for pin cleaning?

I came across my Dremel tool and gave it another try. It works wonders using a buffing tool.

Tube pins before any cleaning:

Pins after cleaning with DeOxit:


Pins after duffing with Dremel tool (just cleaned one pin to highlight the contrast to other pins):


All pins buffed out:



Buffing bits example: silicone buffing bit

 

[adrian cheng]

I don't think this is a date code for Telefunken ECC801S

 

[CDawg]

These Siemens E83CC turned out to be some of the quietest 12AX7/ECC83 I have tried.
View attachment 155889

View attachment 155890

View attachment 155891

These Siemens E83CC turned out to be some of the quietest 12AX7/ECC83 I have tried.
View attachment 155889

View attachment 155890

View attachment 155891

My favourite! I have a few spares kicking around just in case.

Siemens E83CC is the best testing tube for noise I've seen on a Maxipreamp II. Seen a few guys including myself measure -89.5 dBv on a triode and the tester says -92 is the limit of a tube. Most other 12AX7 are about -82, some of the better ones around -85 and even on a good day at the factory there really isn't many examples beyond -88.

 

[CDawg]

My ECC83 from France.

Lots of different French manufacturers so I thought I'd show a few nice ones you don't see a lot of. If you're looking at those "Mazda triple mica silver plates" I'd pay special attention to the construction and the factory codes.