Michael Black wrote:
But if you're just looking for projects, any of the magazines would
have had plenty, and it's just a matter of picking them from the
right years so they not only use tubes, but of the right vintage
tubes.

That's the real trick, isn't it? ;-)


And if you can't find old magazines, you can get QST on CDROM, so
a volume of that from the right time period would supply plenty of
projects. Of course, most of the projects in the Handbook came
from QST to begin with, so it's not like you miss much in the project
department.

Cool, I'll have to look into it.


Of course, a lot of TV sets were AC/DC, so the filament voltages are
all over the map since you'd put them in series to run directly off
the AC line. Unless they start with "6" or "12" the tubes
may not be so useful.

You're right, the voltages range anywhere from 3 to 33 volts. Two of
them are 6V6 tubes, so I have some hope there. Most of them are
miniatures, and some of them have the numbers missing, which makes
things really interesting.

Ralph

6V6 was the quintessential beam power audio output tube of the 1940s through
the 1960s. You can generally "read" the missing numbers if there is
anything left of the imprint by gently rubbing the tube on your hair. THe
oil from your hair will stick to what is left of the printing and make it
readable for a short time. You might take a permanent marker if and when
you finally read the number and mark the tube.


As has been alluded to in several posts, you are not limited to the exact
tube that the original project had in it. For example, the 6U8 was the
VHF/UHF RF oscillator/mixer of choice in thousands of designs. However, a
6J6 oscillator with a 6BE6 mixer will work every bit as good if you aren't
fussy about VHF reception. There are dozens of tricks you can play with mix
& match tube lineups, some better than others.

Jim


You're right, the voltages range anywhere from 3 to 33 volts. Two of
them are 6V6 tubes, so I have some hope there. Most of them are
miniatures, and some of them have the numbers missing, which makes
things really interesting.

RST Engineering wrote:
6V6 was the quintessential beam power audio output tube of the 1940s through
the 1960s. You can generally "read" the missing numbers if there is
anything left of the imprint by gently rubbing the tube on your hair. THe
oil from your hair will stick to what is left of the printing and make it
readable for a short time. You might take a permanent marker if and when
you finally read the number and mark the tube.

Another thing that has worked for me is to put the tube in the freezer
for a few hours. Frost forms in a different pattern around where the
number was than on the rest of the envelope. Sometimes.

--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

Another thing that has worked for me is to put the tube in the freezer
for a few hours. Frost forms in a different pattern around where the
number was than on the rest of the envelope. Sometimes.

And after you take it out of the cooler, "huff" on it once or twice
(just as people "huff" on their eyeglasses before wiping them with
a cloth) and the moisture from your breath may outline the tube
identification.

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

RST Engineering wrote:
6V6 was the quintessential beam power audio output tube of the 1940s through
the 1960s. You can generally "read" the missing numbers if there is
anything left of the imprint by gently rubbing the tube on your hair. THe
oil from your hair will stick to what is left of the printing and make it
readable for a short time. You might take a permanent marker if and when
you finally read the number and mark the tube.

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

As has been alluded to in several posts, you are not limited to the exact
tube that the original project had in it. For example, the 6U8 was the
VHF/UHF RF oscillator/mixer of choice in thousands of designs. However, a
6J6 oscillator with a 6BE6 mixer will work every bit as good if you aren't
fussy about VHF reception. There are dozens of tricks you can play with mix
& match tube lineups, some better than others.

TJ Linday says as much in the Impoverished Radio Experimenter. Thing
is, he was scant on details. I wrote them about my project, and I'm
hoping they'll have some ideas.


Ralph