Hi Guys,
I have trouble understanding the 4 digits date code on Sovtek tube. Some says the first 2 digits represent years and then the other 2 digits represent months, but the others say in reverse.
I am not sure which is which. Take for example a Sovtek date code of 0212. How can I interpret the manufacturing date of this tube? Thank you very much for your advice in advance.
I have trouble understanding the 4 digits date code on Sovtek tube. Some says the first 2 digits represent years and then the other 2 digits represent months, but the others say in reverse.
I am not sure which is which. Take for example a Sovtek date code of 0212. How can I interpret the manufacturing date of this tube? Thank you very much for your advice in advance.
2002 12th week I would think as it is less likely to be 2012 2nd week unless it is purported to be new new as opposed to new older stock.
Thank you very much, JonSnell. Your answer is very helpful, greatly appreciated. Yes, this is an example from Sovtek 2A3, TheGimp.
Your Sovteks 2A3 are from Russia and produced in February 2012. You can be sure.
Russia does not recognize the western date coding system.
Russia does not recognize the western date coding system.
Do you know any reference or website that I can consult? I actually purchased these tubes myself from a tube shop in Singapore before 2008. Then this date code makes me confused. I searched around internet and get no clear answer.
I just called my local tube supplier and he told me that Sovtek has no date code, but only production code. Thank you all for the input.
Actually the date coding is YY MM, so his tubes are 02 year 12 month - December 2002. I can 100% assure you that is correct since I handle 1000s of these tubes.
I just received my first shipment of EL84 Tung-Sols - they are coded 13 01. Obviously the 13 is the year, 01 means January.
Thanks a lot, Jim! Now it clears my doubt.
Unlike Mullard, Telefunken and those old tubes, the recently produced Russian tubes seem hard finding information about their date code online. I hope some one have been written an article about this topic and post it online.
Thank you guys!
Unlike Mullard, Telefunken and those old tubes, the recently produced Russian tubes seem hard finding information about their date code online. I hope some one have been written an article about this topic and post it online.
Thank you guys!
Thanks for the info Jim.
As far as I know only newer Svetlana had a date code YY MM, i.e. "02 10" (with spaces)
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