old radio tubes

caterpillar guy

Well-known Member
Is there a market for some old radio and T.V. tubes Dad has a bunch of them from the old tube days. He would like to sell them or give them away to anybody that would like them.
He has just in the last year junked a few old tube televisions.
 
I think there are guys who would love to have them as they still repair/restore old items. My Dad took some to a local guy who used to do repairs. You might try a craigslist ad ? IIRC I thought I saw someone in my area (ohio) looking for such items ?
 
NO NO. .. don't junk. There are several guys on ebay that sell them. Just look arou d on there and contact them. Actually I need afew. Will look up what I need and try to get back.
 
Jeffcat and Mike call me 989 413 5684. these tubes are still here yet.
Not sure why dad has had such a push on junking things the last couple of years. This stuff has been setting around since the end those commonly used days. Not sure just what is there but he has tubes 1-4 deep in 3 shelves about 6-8 feet long. Can probably have them for the hauling them out. He used to do T.V. repair back in the day as well as radio so has lots of them from then. Some will be used.
These are located in central Michigan.
 
Not for much money unless you have a big tube someone might want as an ornament. I have hundreds of old tubes. I tried selling them a few years ago and got offered about 10 cents each for a box of 200. I kept them instead. I still have many old radios and also still have two tube testers. So who knows. Maybe I will use one, once, somewhere.
 
Ebay, flea market, or one of the antique radio/TV forums. Check vacuum tube sales on the internet to get an idea for price. OEM tubes usually bring a good price, especially guitar amp tubes (6L6, 12AT7,etc.)
 
According to Rick from American Restoration the Russians still make them and he quoted the guy that the tube were 300 bucks each [which sounds like bs ]
 
sovtek tubes are made in russia. used in many guitar amps because of the warm sound they produce. depending on the tube anywhare from 30 to 50 dollars. mesa boogie is a tube type amp.
 
Ive got several antique tube radios and a big box of old tubes, but the tubes aren't worth much. Some of the bigger or older rare tubes are worth money if you get them to a Ham fest or where old hams or old radio lovers assemble.

John T
 

OP, try doing a web search for some of the numbers you've got and see what pops up. If everybody wants $30 for it, that might give you a 'clew' as to value.

Those tube fanatics are really into that stuff....a little 70 watt Dynaco tube amp that cost $150 new 50 years ago is $700+ and you buy it 'as is'.
 
OT sorta.....stirring memories here. I remember the 6AK5 dual triode,or triode, as I recall in the AN/ARN 70 Loran system (LOng RAnge Navigation). I think there were 100 of those suckers and if you knew your business, you could look at the display and get within 5 tubes. We seemed to have a reliability problem with tubes at the time and you used to get a case of tubes and keep plugging new ones in till you got one that worked.

Remember the 6BK4 I think it was, the X ray generating shunt regulator in RCA TVs? Would get so hot it's melt the cap and the solder holding the wire on the cap clip.

I too think old hammers would be the market for such or maybe an old test equipment collector. Remember the Eico I think it was, kit VTVM?
 
A high school buddy runs audiotubes.com. Been in the business for 20 years. Go to that web site or send him an email - [email protected]

You can see what prices he is selling them for on his web site. He is on facebook also.

John
 
Remember back in the day when you would take all the tv tubes out, and take them to the local drug store, to test them in their tester. Then buy the tubes from them. That worked fairly well at the time. Stan
 

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