Author	[Modern View]
John D Smith 11-13-2012 18:39:03 69.179.157.21 Report to Moderator	I scrounged up 18 or 20 old vacuum tubes last week and realized that I don"t know a thing about price and market for them. Has anyone out there know anything about these things?? I would like to make a buck or two off them as my drill press needs a chuck. John [Reply]   [No Email]
John D Smith 11-25-2012 20:12:55 69.179.137.114 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I googled vacuum tubes and got in touch with some people on E-bay. One guy said to ship him all the tubes, I have 39, he would test them and send me a offer. I am just a little leary of this, as he can lowball me and I go to pay more shipping costs to get them home if I don"t like his offer. And who knows what he might subsitute for my tubes. I wish I could purchase or trade for a decent tube tester as I am interested in old tube electrical equiptment. As for prices, I couldn"t find used prices, but I did do some comparision shopping and generally found that good tubes will range from about $10 to $35. These are basically common types with specalties running into the hundreds of dollars. Since I am going to sell off my HO gauge trains, I will collect something I am trained to repair, having been a electronic tech for 35 years. I just want to thank everyone for chiming in on this topic. John [Reply]  [No Email]
Don Hauff 11-26-2012 07:46:40 70.99.112.202 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-25-2012 20:12:55   John, First, are they new in the box tubes? If so, just a pic or two of the tube boxes, showing the tube numbers would be adequate for me to provide you a quote. Second, if they are used tubes without the original box, consider them like used tires. They were removed for a reason - either faulty, defective, nearly worn out, or possibly like new (but unlikely). This is where a tube tester is useful. However, understand that about 80-90% of "old tubes" are obsolete and have no value. The supply greatly exceeds demand and that is why the "retail price" is about $1.00. Thanks.. [Reply]  [No Email]
PJH 11-15-2012 15:55:39 50.40.244.47 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Here's a tube an old Ham friend gave to me. It's an RCA Radiotron UX 852. Only one I've ever seen like it. I should have laid a ruler beside it for comparison - it's probably 6 or 7 inches tall. Paul [Reply]  [No Email]
oldfarmtractor 11-15-2012 14:33:43 71.155.238.6 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I have and will do so in the near future, put the entire list of the tubes on ebay but the winner gets to choose only 5-6 tubes. Then I ship those, pull them off the list and redo it all. Works great [Reply]  [No Email]
Centex Farmall 11-14-2012 20:48:29 32.176.20.113 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Dad has a decent collection of old radios, shortwave and broadcast. I recently bought a Magnavox console stereo that was made in the early 60's, beautiful condition and sounds fabulous. I was able to hook up the CD player, MP3 and tape deck without modifying it. It replaced a fairly new Sony receiver/amp that to me sounded harsh. [Reply]  [No Email]
Bama Dee 11-14-2012 16:01:48 70.161.95.150 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   If you find out how much they are worth, let me know-I have and Channel Master tube caddy, full of NOS tubes,socket adapters,tube charts and replacement guide. Bama. [Reply]  [No Email]
Hogleg 11-14-2012 08:10:16 38.104.162.74 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I have a high school buddy that runs a internet vacuum tube business. He buys and sells tubes, and collects old tube radios. http://www.audiotubes.com/bjtubes.htm John [Reply]  [No Email]
John T 11-14-2012 06:43:00 216.249.82.117 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I collect old tube radios (Crosley Super 11, Zenith 11 tube console, Grunow, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund etc etc etc) and have a couple big boxes out in the shop of tubes, but last time I checked they werent worth much at all. Of course, there are a few that are worth a few bucks but despite all I have none seem to be those in demand grrrrrrrrrrrr I still have an old tube tester, I ought to get it out and exercise it now n then. I used to have some old Hi Fi amps (McIntosh, Dyna Kit) and the son has had some guitar amps that used like KT 66 or KT 88 or EL34MP power output tubes, they are like overgrown 6L6's on Steroids lol John who lives north of Ft Wayne Indiana (Leo) has done some work for me, Id recommend him.....He has a 25 tube Zenith Stratosphere BEAUTIFUL it and the Scott 30 tube ruled the day but had low sales due to their high prices, mostly found in big hotel lobbys etc. They have dual push pull output power amps but no real rare tubes as I recall. I sold my Grigsby Grunow Majestic TRF, they have the rare big light bulb looking 4 pin tubes as I recall, those old TRF radio tubes are rare and worth something, but not all that practical, when the Superhets came on the market their greatly improved performance blew the old TRF sets out of the water http://johnjeanantiqueradio.com/ ANYBODY HAVE A ZENITH "WALTONS" TOMBSTONE FOR SALE, ID LOVEEEEEEEEEE ONE 7S or 9S I think, they even made an 11S maybe?? but not sure??? As noted, check Flea bay John T in Indiana This guy restored my Grunow [Reply]  [No Email]
JRSutton 11-15-2012 12:26:20 75.130.109.233 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John T, 11-14-2012 06:43:00   JohnT stole my words. For obsolete parts, it sure is amazing how many are still floating around out there. I've got hundreds of them myself. I used to restore old radios before getting into old tractors. They're most likely not worth a whole lot unless by some chance you've got something super rare that somebody needs - but in most cases anything in demand is still being made in russia or some other remote corner of the world. Best to do a search by part number - tons of info out there. then just ebay them idividually and wait forever for buyers - or as one lot and move them more quickly (but most likely for less money) [Reply]  [No Email]
LJD 11-14-2012 08:04:58 75.194.101.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John T, 11-14-2012 06:43:00   I've got around 50 old floor-model wood radios. Very difficult to store the safely. Unheated storage makes a mess of the old capacitors in them. Uneven heat and humidy raises heck with the woodwork. I've got a dozen Zeniths with their famous "Wave Magnet." My favorite is my Crosley. Short wave just sounds better when it comes out of it. These are the ones I've got in my heated shop right now that I'm jerking around on. Ansley-Dynaphone - table-top, radio and record-player, 13.5” deep X 17” wide X 15.5” tall, short-wave 6-18 megacycles (49M-16M), BC (broadcast band) 500-1700 kilocycles, 33-45 RPM record player, some knobs missing, poor finish on wood. Atwater-Kent - floor model, 550-1500 megacycles. 25” wide X 15” deep X 38” high, rear nice physical condition Atwater Kent Model # 37 radio, ca. 1927 metal table-top radio with two knobs on front, remote speaker model E. Radio is 10” deep by 17” long by 7” tall. Speaker is 16” high, 16” diameter round, and 5” thick and stands upright on its own. Nice condition. Probably simple broadcast band - there wasn’t much on the air in 1927. AC power but has some strange stuff inside of it. Beautiful gold ship insignia on top. General-Electric - GE-221, tabletop 540-1600 kilocycles, 6-10 megacycles shortwave, 14” wide X 8” deep X 9” high - poor finish. General-Electric -HE-100L, large table-top model, has longwave, shortwave, standardwave, 140-400 kilocycles, 540-1600 kilocycles, 5700-18000 kilocycles, Super-Heterodyne system. Poor finish, one knob missing, veneer peeling off in places. Was a real neat radio at one time. General-Electric -M-67, floor model, 24” wide X 12” deep X 41” high, bands A-B-C-D, but I can’t find the mystery “D.” A - 550-1700 standard band and police band, B - 1.8 - 55 megacycles amateur and aircraft,police, C - 5.5 - 18.5 (16-49MM) aircraft and standard broadcast, D - who the hell knows, 5 knobs, Super-Heterodyne system, 540-18,000 kilocycles, 105-125 volts AC, 50-60 cycles, 85 watts. Wood intact but finish poor. Majestic - Model 15, tabletop “Tombstone” type. 9” deep X 13” wide X 15” high. 550 - 1500 kilocycles broadcast band. Wood intact but finish poor. Super Heterodyne Screen Grid system. Majestic - Model 71 radio with model 70 chasis and optional AC powerpack. Grisby and Grunow Co. I think this was originally a battery radio that came with the optional AC powersupply. The powersupply is big and heavy, but fits out-of-sight inside the back of the radio. Nice wood but faded finish. 15” deep X 27” wide X 47” tall, it’s a big old farm radio. Seems to only be broadcast band and has three knobs. Made in 1929. Philco - upright floor model radio. FM Armstrong system and broadcast band, and also a record player. Real nice condition wood. RCA -810K-1, floor model with broadcast band and shortwave. Made 1937. Wood all there but poor finish. Stromberg-Carlson, upright tabletop radio - “Tombstone” type. Standard broadcast band and shortwave, “Triple-Range.” 550-1500 broadcast band, 1.3 - 3.4 police band, 16 - 49 meters, 6-18 shortwave. Wood intact but finish crappy. 10” deep X 15.5” wide X 20” tall. Tabletop - unknown make - I took apart, no ID, no schematic inside that I can find. Real cute little radio, pretty nice wood. 7” deep X 13” wide X 10” high, “Tombstone” type. Standard broadcast 55-155 with police band, shortwave 19-49 meters (5-15). Viking - canadian floor model radio and phonograph. 50 cycle, shorwave and broadcast band. 19-49 meters shortwave, 17-6.0 shortwave??, 55-160 broadcast band, with original manual, real nice wood. 14.5” deep X 25” wide X 31” high. Works for awhile, then smells funny, smoke comes out, I unplug. Zenith - chassis 5678 - floor model, 14” deep X 24” wide X 39” high, 6-18 megacylcles (49-16 meters) short-wave, 1.6 - 5 megacycles short-wave, 550-1500 kilocycles standard broadcast band, wood all there but veneer peeling off, with “Wave-magnet.” Zenith - floor model, 16” deep X 24” wide X 35” tall, FM 100, FM 45, and SB and Phono with “Cobra” arm - takes 10” or 12” records. 42-48 megacycles, 88-108 megacycles, 55-160 kilocycles. Real nice condition wood and finish. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 11-14-2012 07:47:27 209.86.226.40 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John T, 11-14-2012 06:43:00   I have a very old as in was my grand fathers radio that has those odd shaped tubes in it. It worked well till one tube went bad and I sure would sell it if it went to a good home [Reply]  [No Email]
John T 11-14-2012 07:57:38 216.249.82.117 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to old, 11-14-2012 07:47:27   I sold my big old top heavy bulky Grigsby Grunow Majestic TRF Console on Flea Bay, it had the big light bulb lookin 24 or 25 tubes as I recall, didnt bring much. HOWEVER the later 30's to 50' Vintage Consoles, Cathedrals or Tombstones bring maybe $100 to $600 (or MUCH MUCH MORE for some big Zeniths or Scotts or a Waltons or Strat WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO) depending of course on the make and model and most important CONDITION but they are big n heavy n difficult to ship which hurts Flea Bay values. John T [Reply]  [No Email]
old 11-14-2012 08:35:37 209.86.226.40 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John T, 11-14-2012 07:57:38   This one is a table top type radio maybe 18 inches tall give or take a little bit and about a foot wide and a foot deep. Not sure of the brand since I have not looked at it in a years [Reply]  [No Email]
Lamar Fudd 11-14-2012 06:35:28 50.83.85.99 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to 36 coupe, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I have a G.E Portacolor Television that still works (first thing I EVER bought with 'time' payments. Where would I get tubes for this? I do have a Regency Imperial Citizens Band Radio that I've stored away after finding out that it was too powerful to use. It's also full of tubes. Is there anywhere that tubes can be sourced from? [Reply]  [No Email]
Gambles 11-14-2012 14:35:56 24.246.215.127 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to Lamar Fudd, 11-14-2012 06:35:28   There are literally hundreds of sites and I apologize if I take away business from somebody on this site that sells tubes. With that being said, try: http://www.vacuumtubes.net/ Good inventory and probably as cheap as anybody. Once again, some tubes are extremely cheap. Others are extremely expensive. [Reply]  [No Email]
LJD 11-14-2012 06:21:45 75.194.101.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Last I checked old vacuum tubes have little value except for specific ones that are sought after. I've got hundreds of them. If valuable, I'd be rich. It's funny how things have changed. Even up to the early 80s our local Jamesway department store had a tube-tester and new tubes for sale. I've still got two tube-testers here at home. Can't seem to part with them. [Reply]  [No Email]
Gambles 11-14-2012 04:46:08 24.246.215.127 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   I collect and repair old tube radios and like previously mentioned, it depends on the tube. Go to a tube seller site (Google to find) and type in the numbers that you have. Some of them are not worth $1 each. Some tube numbers could be worth hundreds of dollars each. Just don't plan on retiring yet. Chances are they are worth very little. [Reply]  [No Email]
John T 11-14-2012 06:46:26 216.249.82.117 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to Gambles, 11-14-2012 04:46:08   Fun to find more collectors and restorers, shoot me an e mail, see my post above, jmn50@msn.com John T [Reply]  [No Email]
Scott-sd 11-13-2012 20:23:30 208.107.186.146 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   If theres anyone around you that rebuilds old radios. they might like them. [Reply]  [No Email]
John D Smith 11-13-2012 19:41:48 69.179.157.21 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   E-Bay! why didn't I think of that?? I quess my brain is having a senior moment, or something! John [Reply]  [No Email]
Glennster 11-13-2012 18:54:20 99.90.9.201 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   The old guitar and bass amps used vaccuum tubes. The only replacement tubes available are sovtek tubes made in russia. The old us made tubes are pretty sought after if they are the right ones. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 11-13-2012 18:48:42 209.86.226.40 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Hard market any more but yes there are a few who still can use them if they are the right ones. I sold off all I had 25 or so years ago and back then I had around 500 of them. [Reply]  [No Email]
JF in CT 11-13-2012 18:46:41 70.194.3.196 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Don't know if it is true or not but I was once told they are popular with the ham radio folks. [Reply]  [No Email]
RayP(MI) 11-13-2012 19:12:23 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to JF in CT, 11-13-2012 18:46:41   Depends what the tubes are. Some are used in older ham (amateur radio) equipment. Like us there are some guys into restoring old models. Workable tubes could be valuable. You might try craigs lists or ebay. (Yeah, I"m one of those ham guys, but not into restoring older models.) [Reply]  [No Email]
GeneMO 11-13-2012 19:21:55 71.1.106.8 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to RayP(MI), 11-13-2012 19:12:23   Is an old 23 channel Tram CB base unit worth anything? Gene [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 11-14-2012 04:04:24 50.104.246.0 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to GeneMO, 11-13-2012 19:21:55   I have a base/mobile CB that uses tubes. It has a tube used as vibrator that works like todays inverter tech. Changes 12v dc to AC then back to about 300v DC. It has crystals and only gets a few channels. Anyone want to make an offer. No idea if it works. Like the old saying about tractors, it worked the last time I used it;) The problem wiht tubes is they leak. George [Reply]  [No Email]
RayP(MI) 11-13-2012 19:27:00 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to GeneMO, 11-13-2012 19:21:55   Probably could be modified for Ham radio on the adjacent ham radio band... If it has sideband, it would be sought after by some hams. Again, try craig's list, ebay. [Reply]  [No Email]
timcasbolt 11-13-2012 18:40:15 72.23.207.250 Report to Moderator	Re: Old radio TV vacuum tubes in reply to John D Smith, 11-13-2012 18:39:03   Have you checked to see what they're selling for on ebay? [Reply]  [No Email]