FWIW, I don't care one whit about originality for originality's sake. My goal is the sound. I have heard early McIntosh tube stuff, and the sound is jaw-dropping. That is my goal. The jaw drop.
I'll use the car analogy presented by 20to20, but with a different make and model. I own a 1978 Porsche 911SC coupe. It is a lovely car in a very dark, dark, dark opaque (non-metallic) chocolate brown. It has lovely curves, not unlike a woman. But you know.....I don't care what it looks like. I kinda wish it looked like a Yugo. I don't revel in the stares I get while driving it. This is not a piece of jewelry. It is a CAR. My sole interest in this car is performance-related. It is like a go-cart coupe with license plates. I have it down to just under 2400 lbs now, with solid suspension bushings, blah blah blah. In a word, this car is the most "obedient" I have ever driven. Stops on a dime, corners like it's on rails, etc. She's a dancer.
This is what I am going toward in this, my latest obsession. Tube sound. I am in the construction industry, and if I can draw a chassis, I can get it fabbed from stainless for almost nothing. Chassis is not a problem. So......if I had one of these specially-wound Philtron (or NOS McIntosh) transformers (or two or three or whatever.....), could I work with an electronics shop to assemble what is essentially a McIntosh MC-240? Is there a special magic potion or incantation, or perhaps some antimatter or fairy dust that is necessary to the process?