Greetings everyone. I just picked up these tubes from an audiofile's estate. 1st are boxed "Mullard" 12AX7WA. The tube is marked 12AX7WA and USA, The box is marked 12AX7WA and M8137 (Photos 1 and 2).
2nd are "Mullard" 12AX7 that are marked Made in England on the tube only (3rd and 4th photos). There is no other makings on either type of tube. Any thoughts on the origin of these? Thank you.
2nd are "Mullard" 12AX7 that are marked Made in England on the tube only (3rd and 4th photos). There is no other makings on either type of tube. Any thoughts on the origin of these? Thank you.
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If they were actually made in Philips/Mullard factory they should have a factory code. This will tell you where and when they were made. They will usually also have seams in the top of the glass.
The 2nd picture valve is suspicious for several reasons.
There is no 'seam' as DF96 says.
You can also normally see some evidence of a type / date code etched near the bottom.
Then it has ''Made in England'' printed on it. Most of the real Mullards have 'Made in Great Britain', 'Made in Gt. Britain' or British Made' on them...
There is no 'seam' as DF96 says.
You can also normally see some evidence of a type / date code etched near the bottom.
Then it has ''Made in England'' printed on it. Most of the real Mullards have 'Made in Great Britain', 'Made in Gt. Britain' or British Made' on them...
Whatever the 'make' if they perform well, they are fine. However, I have never seen a valve bought direct from the Mullard factory with 12AX7WA printed on it. It is always ECC83 Made in Great Britain and every one has a factory code under the pins. 12AX7 is for the USA market.
I have been repairing valve equipment since 1964 and professional since 1976 until semi-retirement 5 years ago. I remember back in 1978 Mazda Valves along with Brimar offered a 10% discount on quantity to cover the likely-hood of any faulty valves, instead of offering a warranty as they used to.
I have been repairing valve equipment since 1964 and professional since 1976 until semi-retirement 5 years ago. I remember back in 1978 Mazda Valves along with Brimar offered a 10% discount on quantity to cover the likely-hood of any faulty valves, instead of offering a warranty as they used to.
Best guess for the first valve is a Sylvania 12AX7WA. Not easy to see in the picture.
Earlier riveted plates type? Made in thousands for the US military.
Earlier riveted plates type? Made in thousands for the US military.
Do you think that audiophile was an NOS forger?
I have to say that my recollections of ECC83 was of a "box" anode on all Mullards.
This is based on experience from 1965 to 1972... Maybe other styles came in after that.
I have to say that my recollections of ECC83 was of a "box" anode on all Mullards.
This is based on experience from 1965 to 1972... Maybe other styles came in after that.
Most of the small time sellers would not go through the trouble of counterfeiting the famous tube brand on a run of the mill tube. So, if you are buying on eboy, check the sellers fb and also the number of transactions. Hyperbole about certain tubes are always suspicious. Of course, nothing beats experience and as the other members have noted there are issues that make the origin of these particular tubes suspect.
Tube number 2 ( edit: tube in second picture ) is a garden variety Sylvania.
I don't keep a lot of these tubes at the office, but found enough examples to take a good guess that:
WA suffix ran through the 60's
WB suffix ran through the 70's
WC suffix ran through the 80's until end of production
At some point, International Components began selling Mullard tubes here in the States. In my opinion, they were the one that remarked that tube. They are notorious for remarking anything as anything, regardless of whether it is a good substitute or not.
National is also famous for this. Sometimes it works the other way - if you see a National box labelled 6V6GTA, 6AX5, etc., might be one of the super duty Bendix variants in the box.
In my experience, here in the States, "Made in England" = made in a communist country and remarked to make it legal to import. Relatively common to see tubes marked this way as domestic production wound down; nothing more disconcerting than to see a communist tube in a JAN box.
I don't keep a lot of these tubes at the office, but found enough examples to take a good guess that:
WA suffix ran through the 60's
WB suffix ran through the 70's
WC suffix ran through the 80's until end of production
At some point, International Components began selling Mullard tubes here in the States. In my opinion, they were the one that remarked that tube. They are notorious for remarking anything as anything, regardless of whether it is a good substitute or not.
National is also famous for this. Sometimes it works the other way - if you see a National box labelled 6V6GTA, 6AX5, etc., might be one of the super duty Bendix variants in the box.
In my experience, here in the States, "Made in England" = made in a communist country and remarked to make it legal to import. Relatively common to see tubes marked this way as domestic production wound down; nothing more disconcerting than to see a communist tube in a JAN box.
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