My Tube Collection, Welcome to share yours
- Thread starter adrian cheng
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I doubt I will ever have the chance to listen to those, but in my view even if the general consensus is that older is better, there are situations were newer tubes sound better than older in specific scenarios. I have here foil and d-getter Siemens E88CC and do not always like them more than the other newer ring getters.
Hopefully this thread is celebrating NOS and older tubes and not promoting "better" than new - at least, that is not my view.
New tubes can be quite good - and they have their challenges. I have had too many experiences with various brands trying to make new 300B and new 845 tubes that failed - often in spectacular ways (not good). I have also had new small signal tubes that lack clarity and bloom or presence of midrange. Some of this is taste and preference.
What I can say is that the supplies, manufacturing, chemistry, metallurgy and workmanship in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s were amazing. Tubes were used in all electronic equipment, and the government was making large quantity purchases. The extra screening and rugged design for military usage paid off for audio purposes. We no longer have that situation. Tubes are manufactured in much smaller quantity, with a specialized audience (audiophiles) and the leverage of the consumer does not amount to much. Companies are sometimes trying to copy what was done before - without knowing all the details of what made it work in the past.
I am always hoping that a company will be able to create new small signal and output power tubes that exceed the sonic characteristics and have better reliability that the NOS. It can be done - just need the will to do it and the investment. The new production Western Electric 300B is a great example (to my ears). They sound great, but it will take decades before I know whether they last as long.
These are sure to disappoint. How's this for minimal markings? 1966 Radiotechnique 7308 with nothing but tube production code. Probably OEM from bulk packaging.
These have VR = E188CC. French made. How are these sounding?
PS. I was not speaking before about new production tubes, I was just saying that for me Siemens E88CC from 60s are sometimes better than from 50s.
I have not used this pair in over 20 years, so I don't recall. I also have another 3 unused NOS pair. I will have to plug them in again and try them.
Sorry for misinterpreting your post.
Isn't that the same stuff they used to wrap a mummy in a sarcophagus?
That's my indication that I have no clue what it is.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the one on the bottom right looks like a filter or some kind of nylon mesh.
I hope not! What's the location of where it's made? If it's Canadian then it probably is asbestos. Could also be cellulose?
Wow! Your skills at photos jumped several levels.
These look a lot like my 1950s RCA black plate 12AX7s. Some really nice sounding 12AX7s!
Thank you very much. I still need to figure out things but trying to improve my photography and take useful pictures.
I know there's license sharing with technology but not sure the exact connection to RCA and Marconi Canada. A lot of the Canadian tubes are really confusing. They'll write almost anything on a label and the label will vanish if you look at it the wrong way.
Another day, another mistery tubes. I restored and cleaned a few I have around and I think are interesting. As usual, I reached some questions.
Do you know what is all about "Daystrom Incorporated" on some 12AU7 "made in Italy"? These look to me like american tubes.
On Ebay I was able to find some like these sold as Marconi. Does anyone know more?
Do you know what is all about "Daystrom Incorporated" on some 12AU7 "made in Italy"? These look to me like american tubes.
On Ebay I was able to find some like these sold as Marconi. Does anyone know more?
Daystrom purchased a lot of tubes from a lot of companies. I just picked up some NEC and they have the Daystrom label too. I think you're right about that being Italian. I think Marconi Italiana has a connection to RCA just like Marconi Canada.
Another interesting one. This one was looking terrible, I had to clean it and remove an "Ultron ECC82" sticker. But under it, it seems it's a Siemens ECC82 from the 50s, D-getter, k61/≠6F.
And since we spoke about french tubes, I have here an RT F-code made in Chartres, this one ECC81 (Tk2/F1C1):
I'll check them on the tester in the next days and if these work, I might try them on the amp during the wekeend.
And since we spoke about french tubes, I have here an RT F-code made in Chartres, this one ECC81 (Tk2/F1C1):
I'll check them on the tester in the next days and if these work, I might try them on the amp during the wekeend.
Study some of Adrian's photos.
The basic rule for photography is upper third is "sky" or background setting, middle third is the subject, bottom third is "ground" or background setting. In other words, leave some space above and below (and yes, I should follow this advice).
I use a small rechargeable book reading light when I need additional illumination on the tubes interior.
What would you guess is in these boxes? RCA 6922?
Maybe ...
Maybe ...
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