[ARC5] Old Navy Tube Numbers

Mon Nov 12 17:28:41 EST 2012

Its copyrighted 1996, I dont believe you are suggesting doing something 
illegal?

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quikus.com>
To: "jmfranke" <jmfranke at cox.net>
Cc: "ARC-5 List" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>; "Roy Morgan" <k1lky at earthlink.net>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Old Navy Tube Numbers

> Is Tube Lore available anywhere as a .pdf (preferably free)? The HC seems
> pretty expensive.
>
> -John
>
> ============
>
>
>
>> 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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>>
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>
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