Guitar amp enthusiasts are blessed.
They can buy tubes from tube stores everywhere.
Those of us who favour the audio tubes of old, like the 26, 45 and other obsolete goodies are cursed.
Trying to find these types in the regular tube stores has proven difficult, and eBay seems to be the only option.
But who to trust, since anyone can state that what they sell is NOS, unused, tested and found in excellent working condition.
Despite all promises, what you get in the mailbox may be tubes at the very end of life, gassy and generally unusable.
I hope that someone here have some experience with thrustworthy eBay sellers and would be willing to share info on this.
-Thank you in advance . . .
They can buy tubes from tube stores everywhere.
Those of us who favour the audio tubes of old, like the 26, 45 and other obsolete goodies are cursed.
Trying to find these types in the regular tube stores has proven difficult, and eBay seems to be the only option.
But who to trust, since anyone can state that what they sell is NOS, unused, tested and found in excellent working condition.
Despite all promises, what you get in the mailbox may be tubes at the very end of life, gassy and generally unusable.
I hope that someone here have some experience with thrustworthy eBay sellers and would be willing to share info on this.
-Thank you in advance . . .
Try these guys - Billingtons
Download the catalogue for wholesale prices, but you need an order of around £300 for those prices I think.
They have used, tested, guaranteed 26 @ £7.00, 45's are a bit more pricey.
Download the catalogue for wholesale prices, but you need an order of around £300 for those prices I think.
They have used, tested, guaranteed 26 @ £7.00, 45's are a bit more pricey.
🙂
I have used them before, but that was before the Brexit-pain-in-the-backside, so not sure how they get treated now for customs and so on. I have a NOS 45 (not from them) with a broken filament, so I suppose they need to be well protected. The tubes I had sent were in a large box with lots of packing - they are dealing with a lot of customers placing orders for lots of tubes.
They are just down the road from Gatwick airport, and I bought my last purchase back in my hand baggage, causing the security belt operator to have a bit of excitement.
I have used them before, but that was before the Brexit-pain-in-the-backside, so not sure how they get treated now for customs and so on. I have a NOS 45 (not from them) with a broken filament, so I suppose they need to be well protected. The tubes I had sent were in a large box with lots of packing - they are dealing with a lot of customers placing orders for lots of tubes.
They are just down the road from Gatwick airport, and I bought my last purchase back in my hand baggage, causing the security belt operator to have a bit of excitement.
Members here can be pretty reliable. But do not underestimate the (unrealistic) high demands by some buyers. Some almost wish proof of originality which is hard when it is about 70 year old NOS/NIB parts.
The younger ones are almost 70 years old now! something from 1960 is a spring chicken compared to a type 26.
It amazes me that certain types are not extinct. Some people must have a lot of interesting stuff hidden down the back of their sofas. Thank goodness for the days before stock systems and just-in-time ordering!
It amazes me that certain types are not extinct. Some people must have a lot of interesting stuff hidden down the back of their sofas. Thank goodness for the days before stock systems and just-in-time ordering!
When I was travelling for work I bought every lot of tubes I could get my hands on. Only NOS/NIB.
I buy tested tubes which have a minimum of 80% emission, and priced accordingly. That or strong/as new.
I've always found that European dealers are more reliable and much more likely to show the test results on the actual tester they are using. Dutch and German dealers in particular. They used to be better at this than they have been recently. No doubt many tube dealers are getting old and retiring.
I've always found that European dealers are more reliable and much more likely to show the test results on the actual tester they are using. Dutch and German dealers in particular. They used to be better at this than they have been recently. No doubt many tube dealers are getting old and retiring.
Hamfests have been a great source for me. I bought many balloon 26s for roughly $5 each just a few years ago. Also picked up a nice function generator and oscilloscope for peanuts.
I remember the 80's and 90's.
I used to read Wireless World where i found the adresses for UK tube suppliers, wrote them letters and got tube catalogues in return.
Had a bunch of those, and the tubes we pay an arm and a leg for today didn't cost much.
New Old Stock prices weren't invented yet.
I used to read Wireless World where i found the adresses for UK tube suppliers, wrote them letters and got tube catalogues in return.
Had a bunch of those, and the tubes we pay an arm and a leg for today didn't cost much.
New Old Stock prices weren't invented yet.
Heh. Yeah. I have some Western Electric 205D that are coming up on 100 years old. They came from a movie projector.
Tom
Had very good experience with Jan Wuesten :
http://www.askjanfirst.com/eindex.htm
Mind this is not classic internet shop - You should ask first by mail and then proceed. The process is relatively fast.
There is a list of tubes with current prices.
Good tubes and packing to be envied by some other sellers.
http://www.askjanfirst.com/eindex.htm
Mind this is not classic internet shop - You should ask first by mail and then proceed. The process is relatively fast.
There is a list of tubes with current prices.
Good tubes and packing to be envied by some other sellers.
I've used eBay to find brick-and-mortar outfits that I've then contacted directly (preferred) or dealt with on eBay. That's worked quite well.
Tom
Tom
Discounting the dishonest types who know perfectly well that what they are selling is rubbish, it's still a lottery. Even the young valves are likely to be fifty years old, and more likely seventy-plus. I know the provenance of a lot of my valves, but even so, there are probably some duds in there. I can use an AVO VCM163 valve tester to check for obvious faults, but it's a fairly crude assessment. The only real test is how well a valve works in circuit. And yes, some buyers have ludicrous expectations. Valves were mass-produced to a price and there always was considerable variation. Just like FETs. The prices asked for many valves suggest that there are buyers having more money than sense. Pay what you think is a reasonable price but expect some duds - which means your "reasonable price" should allow for that.
And don't forget actual vendors too. Like:
https://vacuumtubes.net/
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/vacuum_tubes
Etc.
Tom
https://vacuumtubes.net/
https://www.tubesandmore.com/products/vacuum_tubes
Etc.
Tom
The impression I get is that not many 26,45 (audio types) were exported from the USA, so they've always been rare in Europe, and those that popup here tend to be what end users imported themselves from the USA. WW2 saw production increase and alot of transmitter types were sent here where they were needed.
I think Fivre/RCA in Italy may have made some (47's) and there may have been some French Mazda's (46's) made in Europe.
Best chance of sourcing them would be USA dealers, some of whom in addition to their webshops also sell via their Ebay business seller accounts. I sometimes find it better to phone them in USA than email which can get lost in the spam.
I've purchased several times from https://vacuumtubes.net/; they're my first point of call for supplies but there are several other dealers in the USA.
I think Fivre/RCA in Italy may have made some (47's) and there may have been some French Mazda's (46's) made in Europe.
Best chance of sourcing them would be USA dealers, some of whom in addition to their webshops also sell via their Ebay business seller accounts. I sometimes find it better to phone them in USA than email which can get lost in the spam.
I've purchased several times from https://vacuumtubes.net/; they're my first point of call for supplies but there are several other dealers in the USA.
I have had pretty good experience with vendors from Ukraine. There is also a guy, element13 from Bulgaria, that has very precise and ogranised info about paired tubes etc. The rest of the tubes I buy are from so called "job lots", TV tubes etc. It is a hit and miss, but no problems with the sellers so far.
There are, of course, tube-oriented companies in ebay selling pretty good stuff, like Langrex and others. I try always to buy NOS or good condition used stuff, I don't buy modern tubes. Nothing wrong with them, but not my cup of tea.
There are, of course, tube-oriented companies in ebay selling pretty good stuff, like Langrex and others. I try always to buy NOS or good condition used stuff, I don't buy modern tubes. Nothing wrong with them, but not my cup of tea.
Depends on what it is I am hunting. For something esoteric, and limited 'audio usefulness', there is more risk allowed. I sourced a pile of HY51A and B off a seller on craigslist a while back. Along with some 4E27A. Fortunately the HY51's still had their warranty cards in the original packaging. ( LMAO ). Of late I have acquired Russian stuff off ebay from Ukraine. No issues at all there. Is the online equivalent of walking into a Radio Shack and picking what I need off the shelf( I do miss that experience too ). That extends to sockets and capacitors too.
Already mentioned is Radio Electric Supply. When I was first getting into this stuff, I found a big pile of tubes. Most of the retailers either ignored purchase offers, or lowballed the heck out ov me( that stuff is worthless nearly, we offer $5 for the lot ). Roy and Dale at RES dealt with me honestly and a whole lot more profitably. Have bought many a solid tube from them over the years. They were a solid source of HY69's when I first got into DH power tubes.
Douglas
Already mentioned is Radio Electric Supply. When I was first getting into this stuff, I found a big pile of tubes. Most of the retailers either ignored purchase offers, or lowballed the heck out ov me( that stuff is worthless nearly, we offer $5 for the lot ). Roy and Dale at RES dealt with me honestly and a whole lot more profitably. Have bought many a solid tube from them over the years. They were a solid source of HY69's when I first got into DH power tubes.
Douglas