Hi there,
El Menco , Zenith , Silvertone
anyone know that tubes? Are they good for audio use?(double-triodes)
Thanks,
El Menco , Zenith , Silvertone
anyone know that tubes? Are they good for audio use?(double-triodes)
Thanks,
El Menco was a rebrander. Those tubes could be nearly anything. Most came from major US manufacturers, but some could have been test rejects. I have also seen Japanese of Korean tubes with the El Menco brand.
Zenith was a major US radio and TV manufacturer. They had tubes made for them by one of the major US manufacturers, usually GE. All are first run tubes, not rejects. Some small signal tubes were sourced from European and Japanese manufacturers late in the tube era. The country of manufacture is usually painted on the tube.
Silvertone is the house brand for the Sears company. They had radios, TV's, guitar amps, and countless other electronics devices made for them under contract. Again the tubes were made for them by one of the major US manufacturers. All are first run tubes, not rejects. Some small signal tubes were sourced from European and Japanese manufacturers late in the tube era. The country of manufacture is usually painted on the tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass surrounded by an octagon the tube is likely an RCA made tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass with the letters U.S.A. (with periods) under the number and a dot pattern under the U.S.A. the tube is a GE made tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass with the letters USA (no periods) under the number, the tube is probably made by Sylvania.
Zenith was a major US radio and TV manufacturer. They had tubes made for them by one of the major US manufacturers, usually GE. All are first run tubes, not rejects. Some small signal tubes were sourced from European and Japanese manufacturers late in the tube era. The country of manufacture is usually painted on the tube.
Silvertone is the house brand for the Sears company. They had radios, TV's, guitar amps, and countless other electronics devices made for them under contract. Again the tubes were made for them by one of the major US manufacturers. All are first run tubes, not rejects. Some small signal tubes were sourced from European and Japanese manufacturers late in the tube era. The country of manufacture is usually painted on the tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass surrounded by an octagon the tube is likely an RCA made tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass with the letters U.S.A. (with periods) under the number and a dot pattern under the U.S.A. the tube is a GE made tube.
If the type number is etched into the glass with the letters USA (no periods) under the number, the tube is probably made by Sylvania.
Ok, thanks for the information.
Are hi-fi purposes better to look for RCA or Raytheon tubes? Is Raytheon the only military contractor with Mil-Spec standard?
Are hi-fi purposes better to look for RCA or Raytheon tubes? Is Raytheon the only military contractor with Mil-Spec standard?
IIRC, all the major U.S. manufacturers, including Amperex at Hicksville, NY, made tubes for the military (JAN).
Post WW2, the Philips giant acquired Amperex, in order to gain access to the large U.S. market for military spares.
RCA made tubes are a very safe bet. While they may not be "best", they are always towards the class' front.
Post WW2, the Philips giant acquired Amperex, in order to gain access to the large U.S. market for military spares.
RCA made tubes are a very safe bet. While they may not be "best", they are always towards the class' front.
As the test department supervisor for Amperex in Hicksville in the mid 80's, I was told that tubes that were marginal needed to be shipped. Those that were marginal and shipped often returned, but it gave Amperex time for new batches....
Ray
Ray
funny story I didn't think there was a great demand for tubes in the 80's...
Three large companies in this area also produced many tubes where I live (Tungsram,Tesla,EI), with very poor QC by the middle of 80s. I think the golden age was 60-70s.
Three large companies in this area also produced many tubes where I live (Tungsram,Tesla,EI), with very poor QC by the middle of 80s. I think the golden age was 60-70s.