[TRADED/FOUND] Old vacuum tube valves - working or not

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi folks,

I have a wee project in mind, and I would like to use some old vacuum tube valves with it.

Would you have any lying around not being used? DO NOT need to be working, but need to have clean glass (I can clean the outside of dust, but not the inside if the electronics have blown out). Bakelite stem or not, makes no difference. If you have a socket to suit, great too!

Thanks for looking,

Mental.

[jeff65 (Jeff)]

Hi Alex,

I have some valves that likely will fit the bill.

Are you wanting a specific type or a particular look?

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Well, Jeff, if I was to cherry pick, valves that have minimal silvering/masking of the glass so that as much of the internal structures are showing - Top end of glass being silvered is good though for my needs.

I guess between 1" & 2" tall glass is good. But larger is not so hot.

Say something like these below, with or without the bakelite stem, nippled or not, and to the height range I mentioned. Can all be the same internal structure or not.

Only other preference is no central big lug as I intend to cut into the base of these tubes.

[bojan]

From what you wrote I am guessing you are not building electronics with them..
So - Just don't let the air inside..
The metal plating inside (it is not silver) has a specific purpose: once the air is pumped out and the valve is closed, this metallic layer is deposited on the top of the valve.. and it additionally removes the remnants of the air (oxigen) and thus lowers the pressure a bit more.

When you let the air in, this layer becomes white.. it is turned into oxyde.

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Faux electronics I'm building...

The metal deposit you mention, Bojan, that's the silvered tops in those tube?

I guess I can use the tubes the way I want without needing to cut/drill into them. If this preserves the quality of the internal structures, then I need to work with this. I'll be illuminating the tube valves with an LED from below. I am guessing now that a stemmed tube (a tube with a bakelite base) might be a better option.

While I'm here, that big central lug that I see in some of these tubes, is it a metal lug? If it is bakelite I can drill into it (with care).

[bojan]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Faux electronics I'm building...
The metal deposit you mention, Bojan, that's the silvered tops in those tube?

Yes..

Be very careful with drill, because under the Bakelite lug sometimes there is the glass tube (used for air extraction and closed by melting).

I am sorry, I don't have any left any more..

[DavidU (Dave)]

Ah, 12AX7 12AT7 ECC83 ECC81 etc, I can post you a few. My job is building valve amplifiers etc.

[jeff65 (Jeff)]

Hi Alex,

The ones I have are too large for your purpose.

Hopefully Dave can set you up. Sounds like he may have a ready supply.

Best of luck!

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Not a problem, Jeff. Thank you for your offer all the same

I've started looking at tube valves a little more closely in the last couple of days. I have so say, some of these are seriously gorgeous pieces. So intricate, delicate, Metropolis-like. My dad shared a shop as a plumber with a locksmith and a TV repairer, and I remember seeing rows of circuit boards loaded with the tubes, hanging out of TV cabinets. Sometimes softly glowing too. The aesthetics even then of these gizmos captured my imagination. It has been a long time since I felt the same wonder over these.

[RB (Andrew)]

I've deleted some off topic posts, just a reminder that this is Icetrades not General Chat guys.

RB