[Boatanchors] Type 83 tube as a rectifier

[J. Forster]

Because it's a mercury vapor tube, the blue or blue-white glow is normal. The
tube may run quite hot.

-John

jhhaynes at earthlink.net wrote:

> If the thing has been sitting for a long time, it is a good idea to run
> the 83 filaments alone for half an hour or so before the first time you
> use it.  It's a mercury vapor tube (therefore don't break it or put it
> into the trash) and when they sit for a long time they need extra heating
> time to mobilize the mercury.  Or so I've been told.
>