Is this Telefunken fake or OEM?

[Justhandguns]

Dear all,

Well, I am newly registered, but I acutally been following this place for years.

I need the help from you guys here. I have recently aquired some 12AU7 tubes, and one of them is a Telefunken, actually used and when I got it, it's still attached to the socket based of some old junks.



As you can see, there is no diamond stamp at the bottom of the tube. I am starting to wonder if it is a fake one or it's some kind of Telefunken OEM tubes?

JH

[Zen Mod]

I never saw Tfk without karo on bottom

frankly - I didn't care to look on all of them

[boywonder]

FWIW, the printing on genuine Telefunkens seems to flake/rub/crumble off easily.

[Justhandguns]

Originally Posted by boywonder

FWIW, the printing on genuine Telefunkens seems to flake/rub/crumble off easily.

Yes, I read that from other websites about this. They are indeed quite easy to rub off. One fellow DIYer suggested that it maybe a very early Telefunken tube. But of course, it is not expensive at all, just want to make sure.

[jlsem]

Telefunken often sold tubes made by other companies labeled as their own. They were supplied by Siemens, Mullard and even RCA and GE.

John

[Rodeodave]

Hm, I just checked my stash and found one Telefunken EL86 which I believe is genuine and doesn't have the diamond/karo all the others have and are so famous for...

[Justhandguns]

Originally Posted by Rodeodave

Hm, I just checked my stash and found one Telefunken EL86 which I believe is genuine and doesn't have the diamond/karo all the others have and are so famous for...

Wow, that's interesting. I may test it out later on and see. I don't believe anyone would put a fake tube in those old junks?

[DF96]

Difficult to tell from the photo, but the ECC82 appears to have a seam at the top of the glass. If so, it was almost certainly made in a Philips group factory. Does it have an etch code (on the side, near the bottom)?

The mica on the EL86 looks like it could have come from an RFT factory in East Germany. The shiny, pointed pins also suggest Eastern bloc.

Both of these may be genuine, in the sense that it was Telefunken who marked them and sold them. For some strange reason what is outside the glass can have as much or more effect on the price of a valve than what is inside the glass.

[Soonerorlater]

I have what I believe is a Telefunken ECC83, a Telefunken made Fisher ECC83 and a Telefunken EAM 86, all have a diamond (square ?) with a number embossed into the glass base. I can imagine that faking an ECC83 might be worthwhile but not a magic eye but am prepared as always to be proven wrong

[kevinkr]

Originally Posted by Soonerorlater

I have what I believe is a Telefunken ECC83, a Telefunken made Fisher ECC83 and a Telefunken EAM 86, all have a diamond (square ?) with a number embossed into the glass base. I can imagine that faking an ECC83 might be worthwhile but not a magic eye but am prepared as always to be proven wrong

Telefunken was the OEM for Fisher, Scott, and Dynaco supplied 12AX7As so I've no doubt you've got a genuine tele there..