[Boatanchors] "Replacements" for VT-25 (10) and VT-52 (45)

[David Stinson]

>Subject: [BoatAnchors] "Replacements" for VT-25 (10) and VT-52 
>(45)
> If I were looking for a more modern tube to use instead of a 10 
> or a 45 in my OT transmitter,

Seen this a few times over the years and need
to gently remind:
A VT-52 is NOT a 45, 245, 345 etc.
It is a "45 Special," meaning a 45 with a 7.5 Volt filament.
 45 has a 2.5 Volt filament.
Plugged into a VT-52 socket, a 45 will  die a sudden
and tragic death, leading to bitter tears and swearing.

The cost of a non-WE VT-25 with shipping from Ebay-
the cheapest ones I've found- averages about $40.
Two will go you $80.  The VT-52s are more.  A lot more.
The cheaper pairs will go you around $110 with shipping if
you catch them "right."
801s are weaker tubes with less output for the same money.

That's going on $200 to re-tube what is a QRP transmitter.
And that's why most of them have sat on the shelf or
in boxes in the attic or garage for 50 years.

The whole point of my experiments with them is to
get them "tubed" cheaply and remove the excuses for
leaving what is really an excellent, fun radio in a dusty box
until one's heirs toss it in the recyle bin.  Most of them may
already have gone for beer cans.
So the original tubes or any others equally scarce
or expensive are "outside the line of inquiry."

73 OM DE Dave AB5S