Ted Zateslo wrote:
RadioGuy wrote:


I still have yet to find the production data of the 6146 (how many
manufactured)---my two hour long Google search still has come to naught.
Similarly, production data for the 6JB6 (how many manufactured) has escaped
me as well and would be of additional interest in this running thread.


I don't know how one could track down the numbers, but I've been thinking about
the relative abundance of these tubes.

The 6JB6 was a Novar version of the 6GW6 octal sweep tube. In the early 60's
RCA was introducing Novar sweep tubes, some of which were electrically the same
as earlier types, and some of which were new. GE was doing the same thing with
12-pin Compactron sweep tubes. The 6JB6 was meant for black-and-white TVs, but
by the mid 60's, comparatively few B/W sets used transformer power supplies --
most were "portable" sets with series-string heaters, and would have used, for
example, a 17JB6 in the horizontal output. So the 6JB6 was probably not a
huge seller, compared to the 17JB6, or to the 6-volt color tubes like the
6JE6 which were used a lot.

The 6146 was originally designed by RCA in response to George Grammer, W1DF,
QST technical editor, so it came about because of amateur radio, but it
was used in large numbers in GE and Motorola VHF 2-way radios.

There were a lot more TV sets than 2-way radios made, but it could be
that the relatively small number of transformer-powered black-and-white
TVs in the 60s meant that 6JB6 production was fairly low. I wouldn't
be suprised if there were more 6146's (of all variations) made than
6JB6's.

Ted Zateslo, W1XO

The 6JB6 was used in about 50% of RCA's B&W TV line from 1964 till at
least 1967. They had power transformers in most 23 inch TVs and high end
19 Inch sets. Zenith also used this tube is some chassis in the 1964 line.

Bill Cohn - N9MHT
Former Zenith B&W TV design engineer