[ARC5] Old Navy Tube Numbers

[jmfranke]

Yes, see pages 129 and 130 of "Tube Lore" by Ludwell Sibley.  For many 
tubes, like the type 80,  381 or 382 was added to the two digit designation:

80 = 38180
19 = 38019
39 = 38039

For Some other tubes such as 6C6, 6D6, and 6F7, 38 was added and the letter 
was replaced with the alphabetical number for the letter, for example:

6C6 = 38636 - C is the third letter in the alphabet
6D6 = 38646 - D is the fourth letter in the alphabet
6F7 = 38667 - F is the sixth letter in the alphabet
2A3 = 38213 - A is the first letter in the alphabet

For some three digit tubes we see:

803 = 38803
807 = 38807
837 = 38837
955 = 38955

And there are other schemes as well.

John  WA4WDL





--------------------------------------------------
From: "Roy Morgan" <k1lky at earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2012 9:55 PM
To: "ARC-5 List" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [ARC5] Old Navy Tube Numbers

> Arc-5 folks,
>
> A fellow in Canada has just got two RBC's and an RAB power supply.
> The schematic I find for the power supply
> (at: http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/commrx/RCA/RAB/RAB_schematic.gif )
> has the old navy numbers for tubes - I am guessing that 38180 means
> type 80 rectifier.
>
> Is there a cross reference list of these old 1930's tube types?  My
> tube notes includes only this message on the topic (I just added the
> 38180 entry):
>
> Roy
>
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 13:01:04 -0400
> To: glowbugs <glowbugs at piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu>
> From: "John M. Franke" <j.m.franke at larc.nasa.gov>
> Subject: GB> 38XXX series tube numbers
> Sender: owner-glowbugs at piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu
>
> Those 38XXX series tube numbers.
>
> While trying to get a US Navy military surplus RU-17 receiver working,
> I ran across some strange tube designations.  The final audio output
> tube is a 38233, which I had never heard of.  Searches for information
> seemed fruitless.  Then, scanning the manual for another US Navy
> military surplus receiver, a DZ-2, I saw a pattern.  The 1939 manual
> implied that the 38XXX system was a "Former Navy Type" designation.  I
> observed that the first two digits, 38, was used to designate the item
> as being a vacuum tube (see: 
> http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/electronics.html#_EarlyNavy
>  orhttp://www.maritime.org/wish-mote.htm).  The last three digits are
> either the commercial tube designation or a coded version of the
> commercial designation.  If the first of the three digits is a "0",
> the following two digits are the commercial designation.  For example,
> a 38041 is the same as a type 41 vacuum tube and a 38076 is a type
> 76.  For other tubes, like a 38636, the two sixes are retained and the
> second digit is replaced with the corresponding letter.  In this case,
> the third letter in the alphabet is a "C", so a type 38636 tube is
> actually a 6C6.  A 38646 is a 6D6 and so on.  A short list of tube
> numbers I have translated is presented below.  Of course, the system
> did not work for the specific tube I was seeking, but it does seem to
> work for others.  Is the alignment I discovered real or happenstance?
> Does anyone else have a clue or reference for the 38XXX numbering
> system?
>
> 38041 41
> 38076 76
> 38111A         CW211C
> 38142 2C45, 45 Special
> 38145 845
> 38166 866
> 38180           80 rectifier most likely
> 38233 2C21/1642
> 38636 6C6
> 38646 6D6
> 38808 808
>
> Sincerely,  John  WA4WDL
>
>
> Roy Morgan
> k1lky at earthlink.net
> K1LKY Since 1958 - Keep 'em Glowing!
>
>
>
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