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KT66: Tungsram = GEC version?

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highstream

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#1
Came across a KT66 pair with a KB / T marking advertised as a GEC. T was for Tungsram, the Hungarian company's British factory that was open until 1952. From the date codes, they were 1950/1951. What I'm wondering is what if anything was the relationship between the GEC stable (GEC/Osram/MOV/Marconi) and the Tungsram in terms of manufacture, design and audio characteristics? Thanks,
 
#2
I'm not sure if Tungsram ever made any KT66. The British factory had a loose connection with the Hungarian business for a while, but then was bought by Mullard/Philips so later British 'Tungsram' valves were actually Philips designs and many were actually made in a Philips factory.

It is possible that Tungsram bought some valves from GEC/MOV and then labelled them as their own before selling them to MoD. Or it might be that during the war the Tungsram factory made some valves to the GEC design. Less likely by 1950.
 
#4
From about the 1980's on, GEC went through buyouts and renames too and no longer exists as such, AFAIK.

I'm told by a UK dealer that the Tungsrams I saw were rebadged 6L6G's, and in any case Tungsrams were renown for inferior quality.

Thanks for the replies.
 
#7
highstream said:
Those are Tung-Sol. Different company. Tungsram is part of GE Hungary, which makes lights, and they seem to operate as the Tungsram Group.
Click to expand...

There was British Tungsram , based in Tottenham which was a British manufacturer . KB/T labelled valves would have come from that factory . I have some smoked glass Tungsram CV1075 , different bottle shape to GEC/MOV KT66

316a
 
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