NOS Tubes

shaunf

So, I think I may have hit a bit of a luck.

Took a bit of a gamble on "a few old boxes of radio tubes" ad I recently spotted. Stuff arrived yesterday. 3 Boxes approximately 70cm x 50cm x 35cm, packed to the brim with mostly NOS tubes. 4th box contained a Stark 9-56 deluxe tube tester, complete with operator manual.

It took me about 5 hours to sift through the first box last night, and so far I've unearthed a bunch of tubes that I know have uses in guitar amps, as well as a boatload of others I need to do some further research on.

Off the top of my head, the ones I recognised were:

+- 15 GZ34's
4 or 5 5Y3's
a couple of EZ81's
10 6L6's and derivatives
a couple of KT66's
a couple of 6V6's
12 EL34's
about 8 or so EL37's
a bunch of EL84's
about 20 12AX7, AT7, AY7 type tubes
quite a few 6146's

Here's a pic of the first box as I opened it:

Shew whee! I think I have my work cut out for me sorting this lot out.

IceCreamMan

the motherlode by the looks of it ,,nice one

Norman86

Jackpot... ?
If you dont have a use for the KT66 or 6L6's... let me know!? ?

shaunf

Norman86 wrote: Jackpot... ?
If you dont have a use for the KT66 or 6L6's... let me know!? ?

Norm, I highly doubt that I'm going to keep all these tubes. What I would like to do though is to use this opportunity to research all the different kinds of tubes, and their applications, and in doing so, increase my knowledge. I will then offer some up for others to get hold of at reasonable prices. I'm also hoping to check out the tester I got, giving it a once over and learning how to use it to test tubes, so at least I have some idea of the state of the tubes.

Warren

Very cool. There's just something about tubes, maybe the elegant little glass bottle designs or all the cool old packaging etc. that makes me envious of this big box of stuff even though I'd never use 90% of it. ?

shaunf

ShreddySmurf wrote: Very cool. There's just something about tubes, maybe the elegant little glass bottle designs or all the cool old packaging etc. that makes me envious of this big box of stuff even though I'd never use 90% of it. ?

I know exactly what you mean. Many of the ones I looked at last night have never been opened, and I was fascinated at how nicely they are packaged.

What really fascinated me were the EL37's which were only made between 1948 and discontinued around 1952, as well as a couple of JAN 6L6's that were US Military consignment, with all the order details, including the order date of 1944, printed on the box. 70 years old! 8)

Big-G

Wow! What a find! Awesome stuff!

If you do part with any, I'd prob be interested in some EL84's and EZ81's. 12A(X,T and/or U)7's always come in useful too! ?

Enjoy your testing!
Regards
G!

Josh-Hayes

ShreddySmurf wrote: Very cool. There's just something about tubes, maybe the elegant little glass bottle designs or all the cool old packaging etc. that makes me envious of this big box of stuff even though I'd never use 90% of it. ?

I can't agree more!!! ? Nice find man. +1000MojoPoints

Explorerlover

with all the order details, including the order date of 1944, printed on the box. 70 years old! 8)
[/quote]

Damn, that's cool...I got an old valve radio I am fixing up. Also a "weird" bunch of valves.. especially the EM80 with that eerie green light...

Norman86

shaunf wrote:
Norman86 wrote: Jackpot... ?
If you dont have a use for the KT66 or 6L6's... let me know!? ?
Norm, I highly doubt that I'm going to keep all these tubes. What I would like to do though is to use this opportunity to research all the different kinds of tubes, and their applications, and in doing so, increase my knowledge. I will then offer some up for others to get hold of at reasonable prices. I'm also hoping to check out the tester I got, giving it a once over and learning how to use it to test tubes, so at least I have some idea of the state of the tubes.

No worries.. I understand completely ?

Airguitar

Mother Lode indeed!
RCA 12AX7's are the holy grail!!

Psean

Bloody hell...
Nice find ?

Greg

If you have any RCA, Sylvannia and Mullard 12ax7's I'd like to buy some!

Rudi1441

Do you still have any of those 12ax7's available?

shaunf

Guy's, beyond testing a couple of the 6L6's, I haven't really done anything else with these tubes. I'll try and spend a bit of time sorting them properly this weekend, and then if anyone is interested in buying some, untested, but at an appropriate price for untested tubes, then I'm happy to assist where possible.

Big-G

If you come across any 6922's I'd be interested, especially if you have any groups of 4 from the same manufacturer? If you do come across any, drop me a message here, and I'll see where I'm at in my quest?!

Regards
G!