I have 4 or 5 GZ34 type rectifier tubes. And I can't ID who manufactured this one or if it is "Japanese Mullard". It is labeled as Zaerix, who I understand was a Brit vendor who sourced tubes from other companies -- including Mullard. Can you tell me who manufactured this and if it is any good? Thanks!
In the first pic you can see they are clearly labeled GZ34/5AR4 and just beneath that "Made In Japan". There are no other marks or letters on the tube. The plate edges are smooth and not notched and they have 3 rectangular holes. There are two micas. The bottom mica is very shiny and does not touch the glass. The top mica is dull metal and is centered against the glass with five bent 'fingers' on two sides. There is a single halo getter at the top of the tube. In one pic you can see the seams on the top of the envelope, but 2 seams not a single one like I remember Mullards having. Here are the pics:
In the first pic you can see they are clearly labeled GZ34/5AR4 and just beneath that "Made In Japan". There are no other marks or letters on the tube. The plate edges are smooth and not notched and they have 3 rectangular holes. There are two micas. The bottom mica is very shiny and does not touch the glass. The top mica is dull metal and is centered against the glass with five bent 'fingers' on two sides. There is a single halo getter at the top of the tube. In one pic you can see the seams on the top of the envelope, but 2 seams not a single one like I remember Mullards having. Here are the pics:
Hitachi (Japan) made GZ34 rectifiers.
Compare the photos in this link:
HITACHI GZ34 5AR4 - MINT NOS - Japan
Compare the photos in this link:
HITACHI GZ34 5AR4 - MINT NOS - Japan
TubeDatabase also says Hitachi:
Zaerix by Hitachi GZ34 Tube
Or Matsushita:
Zaerix by Matsushita GZ34 Tube
Zaerix by Hitachi GZ34 Tube
Or Matsushita:
Zaerix by Matsushita GZ34 Tube
Matsushita, considered nice valves.
Have a look here: Matsushita 5AR4 Rectifier Tube Photo #1407408 - UK Audio Mart
Have a look here: Matsushita 5AR4 Rectifier Tube Photo #1407408 - UK Audio Mart
I have one exactly like that, printed with "Realistic Lifetime" on the glass instead of Zaerix.
It's a Matsushita.
My understanding is that the crossed seams on top are the bit that identifies them as such.
It's a Matsushita.
My understanding is that the crossed seams on top are the bit that identifies them as such.
Thanks guys. And wasn't it Matsushita that inherited all the Mullard tooling after WWII?
So maybe this is a "Japanese Mullard". But if so, it is a copy of the earlier Mullard style GZ34 without the notches?
So maybe this is a "Japanese Mullard". But if so, it is a copy of the earlier Mullard style GZ34 without the notches?
I just spent the last 15 minutes looking at the pics of the Hitachi vs Matsushita. Tough call! The plates on my tube look more like the Matsu. Hard to see the getter on the Matsu but my getter looks a lot like the Hitachi. The tube database Hitachi definitely has one seam on the top and mine definitely has two seams. And strangely, the tube database seems to have used exactly the same pictures but labeled one set "Hitachi" and the other "Matsushita"!!?? What's that about?
Whatever mine are, they do seem to be pretty nice valves. I bought these some time ago as NOS and they might not be run-in yet. But comparing them to my Mullard I'm not hearing a huge amount of difference.
Whatever mine are, they do seem to be pretty nice valves. I bought these some time ago as NOS and they might not be run-in yet. But comparing them to my Mullard I'm not hearing a huge amount of difference.
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