Curious old tubes from tandy

[M Gregg]

A long time ago.

Tandy (Radio Shack) sold tubes with a life-time guarantee. (1970's)
When I was 15 I bought one for a radiogram it had gold pins and the heater was covered in a thick white compound.

I am just curious if any one knows what they were? ...it sounded great at the time!

It is only that I am curious ....tried to buy an N78 at the same time could not get one...LOL


Regards
M. Gregg

[SY]

I wonder if they'll still replace them- it WAS a lifetime guarantee...

[M Gregg]

Originally Posted by SY

I wonder if they'll still replace them- it WAS a lifetime guarantee...

Apparently some other info on the web says they will!

Could someone post a picture of one of these lifetime tubes. Would like to see one with the gold pins..nostalgia..LOL

I don't know if they were "Realistic"..not sure..

Who actually made them for Tandy?

Regards
M. Gregg

[SY]

They got them from all sorts of sources. I have some 12AX7 that were apparently RFT (small plate), but some others that looked like Telefunken (not smooth plate, alas).

[M Gregg]

Originally Posted by SY

They got them from all sorts of sources. I have some 12AX7 that were apparently RFT (small plate), but some others that looked like Telefunken (not smooth plate, alas).

Any chance of a picture?

Regards
M. Gregg

[Frank Berry]

Originally Posted by SY

I wonder if they'll still replace them- it WAS a lifetime guarantee...

Probably not. At the time Radio Shack was owned by Tandy.
Tandy no longer exists as the owner.
Lifetime guarantee is good for the lifetime of the company.

[SY]

Originally Posted by M Gregg

Any chance of a picture?

Regards
M. Gregg

I dunno. If I still have any, they're in my "misc" box. I'll take a look and see if any are easily found.

[tubelab.com]

Could someone post a picture of one of these lifetime tubes......I dunno. If I still have any

I have several at home (I am at work now).

Who actually made them for Tandy?

There were multiple vendors even for the same tube and not all had gold pins, though most did. I think I have some "lifetime" sweep tubes without gold pins. I don't think the 6L6GC's had gold pins either. I know I don't have any of them left.

I don't know if they were "Realistic"..not sure..

I think I have seen the realistic name on some tubes. I will need to look later.

I wonder if they'll still replace them- it WAS a lifetime guarantee...

As of about 10 years ago their best offer was to refund my ORIGINAL purchase price IF I could produce a receipt. I did get quite a few free 6L6GC's in my guitar amp building days. None of the Radio Shack stores in the Miami / Fort Lauderdale area sold 6550's or EL34's.

[HollowState]

This is what they looked like. The gold was always a very thin flash plate.

[M Gregg]

Originally Posted by HollowState

This is what they looked like. The gold was always a very thin flash plate.

Great thank's,

How do they sound when compared to modern tubes?

Looks like you have a stash of them?

Regards
M. Gregg