Caveat Lector wrote in message
news:ZzG1e.1302$k57.230@fed1read07...

RadioGuy wrote:
Well, you raise the question that's been on my mind for quite
awhile---just
what was the production on the 6146? I don't have the slightest idea
how
to
find that tidbit. They were well in production before TV became
commonplace---maybe 10 years or so.

Well here is how you find stuff

Go to this URL:
http://www.google.com/

Type in 6146 vacuum tube (Web Search)
Get several responses -- weed thru them
In the second down is Issue 6 Articles
which sez
the type 6146, was new in 1952.

Wanna see a photo of a 6146
Use google and search images for 6146
Wanna see a pinout
use google and search images for 6146 vacuum tube


Please make a note of it. Google that is -- can find damn near anything.
Including you -- see search groups

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

Dear CL

Thank you sincerely for confirming my search procedure on the 6146
thermionic valve.

True to your word, I have already found the data that you mentioned in your
reply. I also managed to download the relevant pages from the RCA tube
handbook (1964) concerning the 6JB6, 6JB6A and 6146 for later study at my
leisure.

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 agree most heartily, I have made a note of the Google search engine---as a
matter of fact, I have made it my home page for nearly ten years!

Fraternally yours,
RG

"RadioGuy" wrote in message
...

Caveat Lector wrote in message
news:ZzG1e.1302$k57.230@fed1read07...

RadioGuy wrote:
Well, you raise the question that's been on my mind for quite
awhile---just
what was the production on the 6146? I don't have the slightest idea
how
to
find that tidbit. They were well in production before TV became
commonplace---maybe 10 years or so.

Well here is how you find stuff

Go to this URL:
http://www.google.com/

Type in 6146 vacuum tube (Web Search)
Get several responses -- weed thru them
In the second down is Issue 6 Articles
which sez
the type 6146, was new in 1952.

Wanna see a photo of a 6146
Use google and search images for 6146
Wanna see a pinout
use google and search images for 6146 vacuum tube


Please make a note of it. Google that is -- can find damn near anything.
Including you -- see search groups

--
CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be !

Dear CL

Thank you sincerely for confirming my search procedure on the 6146
thermionic valve.

True to your word, I have already found the data that you mentioned in
your
reply. I also managed to download the relevant pages from the RCA tube
handbook (1964) concerning the 6JB6, 6JB6A and 6146 for later study at my
leisure.

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 agree most heartily, I have made a note of the Google search engine---as
a
matter of fact, I have made it my home page for nearly ten years!

Fraternally yours,
RG


Oopps a case of confusion on my part

When you sed "I don't have the slightest idea how to find that tidbit."

I thought you were talking about the first production date.

So apolgies from here.

Interesting you had google for 10 years as goggle sez:

Two Stanford Ph.D. students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founded Google in
1998.

As I sed Caveat Lector

In article 0dJ1e.1323$k57.178@fed1read07,
"Caveat Lector" wrote:

Interesting you had google for 10 years as goggle sez:

Two Stanford Ph.D. students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founded Google in
1998.

There were other search engines before Google, some of them are still going.

HTH, HAND, etc.

Chris.
(The new "Google Groups Beta", on the other tentacle, needs to be
mercilessly stamped upon - I've *never* seen a worse redesign of
a search engine than that pile of rubbish.)

--
"With its diet of keycaps, mouse-balls and Ethernet terminators, the
Aardvax can be a potentially serious pest in computer installations"
-- Tanuki in a.s.r

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.

It might be tough to find the data on the total number of 6146's
produced since RCA was not the only manufacturer of the tubes. RCA,
Sylvania, GE, at least one Japanese firm and possibly others produced
the tubes. Likewise, a number of manufacturers produced 6JB6's.

Dave K8MN

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 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.

I've never heard that before. Where can I read more about this?

73,
Mike, KK6GM

In article .com,
Mike Silva wrote:
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.

I've never heard that before. Where can I read more about this?

73,
Mike, KK6GM

Mike,
I read it in a QST from sometime in the late 60's -- it wasn't a feature
article but a "Stray", I think, about the millionth 6146 (or some
other notable number, I think it was a million) produced by RCA. I
just did a quick search of the QST article database on the ARRL website
with no luck, but if I find the article, I'll post something.

I don't know if there are any other cases of a tube being introduced
especially because of an amateur need (although RCA certainly marketed
the 6146 to land-mobile and other markets right away). It was envisioned
as a sort of "modern 807" in function, although it's obvious that it's
a scaled-up 2E26 if you look at the tubes.

73,
Ted, W1XO

Ted Zateslo wrote in message
...
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

Thank you Ted for your valuable input regarding the 6JB6. I think I am
begining to see a picture develop... Somewhere I learned that Drake was
buying those Sylvania 6JB6's for 50 cents apiece. That was fine for
Sylvania with a bunch of tubes and no market in TV receivers and made for a
better profit margin for Drake. When it came to a choice for a final tube
Drake said to heck with the 6146's. I note that inside the rig there was a
note that the tubes were to be replaced with Sylvania tubes only. Some
speculate that this might have been due to some special deal or
understanding between Drake and Sylvania or perhaps it was simply due to
lack of interchangability. But then, I think some mentioned that the RCA
tubes worked just as well and the Sylvania claim had no merit. Yet, some
have stated that the use of RCA tubes introduced electrical instablity at
the higher frequency ranges; ten meters for example (neutralization didn't
help). Nevertheless, I feel satisfied that Drake's choice for final tubes
was primarilly based upon a profit motive---the 6146 would have been a
better/proper choice but Drake wanted more more for less so they used those
tubes that they salvaged at low cost from a failed niche in the TV receiver
market.

Yea... gosh... I hate to admit it... I got on 2-metes with one of those
Motorola 'Cement Mixer' radios---the one with the sloping front---D43 I
think---it was later turned into a repeater. Gee... lot's of us had those
things in the trunk of our cars with that hidious speaker on the dash board
and the hand mike---that could be used as a weapon in the last resort. Not
to forget the based loaded CB whip modified into a 5/8 vertical for
2-meters. It was years before before Drake came out with the TR-22 (made by
Trio/Kenwood), along side with Genave, Kyokuto, Regency...

RG

RadioGuy wrote:

Thank you Ted for your valuable input regarding the 6JB6. I think I am
begining to see a picture develop... Somewhere I learned that Drake was
buying those Sylvania 6JB6's for 50 cents apiece. That was fine for
Sylvania with a bunch of tubes and no market in TV receivers and made for a
better profit margin for Drake. When it came to a choice for a final tube
Drake said to heck with the 6146's. I note that inside the rig there was a
note that the tubes were to be replaced with Sylvania tubes only. Some
speculate that this might have been due to some special deal or
understanding between Drake and Sylvania or perhaps it was simply due to
lack of interchangability.

Different brands of tubes had slight variations in internal
capacitance and could upset the neutralization. By sticking with one
brand you had a better chance of changing the tube and being able to go
right back on the air.


--
Former professional electron wrangler.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

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