[Drake] EXT :Re: Tube tester wanted

[Glen Zook]

I have a total of 4-tube testers.  Of those, 3 were made in the 1930s and the 4th is a Hickok 6000 for which I do have both socket assemblies that allow testing of tubes from the old 4-pin types to Compactrons.  So far, I have restored 3 of those testers.

http://k9sth.com/uploads/Even_more_recent_restoration_projects.pdf


Fortunately, I have no money invested in any of those testers and rarely even use the Hickok 6000 because the best tube tester in the world is the unit itself.  Over the years I have found many tubes that test "good" that absolutely will not work in the unit and many tubes that test "bad" that work fine in the unit.  

Back in the 1950s, General Electric built a tube tester that could actually check tubes under operating conditions.  From what I have read, that tube tester cost in the neighborhood of $3,000,000 at the time.  That is, $3,000,000 in 1950s dollars.
 
Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


________________________________
 From: Richard Radke <rar100 at excite.com>
To: "Stevens, Bill (ES)" <william.stevens at ngc.com> 
Cc: "drake at mailman.qth.net >> Drake" <Drake at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Monday, April 8, 2013 9:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Drake] EXT :Re:  Tube tester wanted
 
I agree also. Any tube tester worth having is going cost way more than a set of replacement tubes, and it will tell you less.