Where to buy tubes?

[Nightshade]

I've go an older robyn green base station that I might need tubes for when I get it out of storage this spring. Where in the world can a fella buy tubes today for this old radios?

[Foxhunter]

Welcome to the CBRT Forum Nightshade, glad to see 'ya. Gotta love some of those older tube rigs. Out of curiosity, what model Robyn ? I know I get a semi-annual magazine called "Tube World" that is a treasure trove of tube suppliers and sources (great catalog!) but can't find 'em right now, I have them stored somewhere. Many guys go to "RF Parts" and "Tube World" among a number of other places, for replacement tubes----if available.

Remember, certain tubes are no longer in production---period. And in that case, you'd have to rely on a company (or individual) that has them NOS, still stockpiled in inventory, or perhaps find them on Ebay etc as either a good deal or last resort. It all depends on the particular tubes needed, open the radio sometime and blow out the dust etc---and do a careful inventory of all the tubes in the rig. Write each name and number on a complete list, so you can compare the tubes against the supplier's tubes available.

One small note, be very careful to try and record the tube numbers before cleaning the tubes. While it's always a good policy to nicely clean the glass of the tubes for good visibility and heat dissipation, sometimes you'll find that Windex or even mild soap and water will immediately remove the tube names and numbers from the glass! If you hadn't recorded the numbers, you won't know what the information was that just wiped off and it can cause more undue grief. Record the information, then clean them.

Remember too, if the radio hasn't been fired up for a while----I'd turn the rig on and leave it sit---unoperated---for a long period. Just periodically keep an eye on the unit as it warms up and comes back to life, but you need to have older tubes come up slowly. If you were to just turn it on and start trying to talk on it after a few minutes, you could increase the chances of blowing one or more of the tubes without (sort of) "breaking them back in" first. That's a whole subject of it's own. Anyway I've always plugged in older tube CB's and let the radio sit idle, powered on either all day (preferably, so you can keep an eye on it better) or overnight. Just a good policy, maybe not necessary in all cases and different people have different recommendations.


Here's a few radio vacuum tube supply companies to get you started. There are a number of other CBRT Members who also have (or are familiar with) older tube radios and I'm sure would also have some good sources or information to recommend. Saw this post go unanswered and wanted to get you started with some ideas. Hope you've found it a little helpful!

RF Parts Tubes
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Tube World
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Radio Electric Supply
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Foxhunter 351 Nj

[Nightshade]

OUTSTANDING!!

Thanks ever so much!

I will print off the post in this thread to use when I need the info this spring when I'll get out the old radios to try after 20+ years in storage.

[Hummer]

Alright guys I have a Pal 500M using 8950 tubes I think.... I was wondering is there a tube conversion that i can get done to this unit... I have looked for the tubes and they are rather pricey.
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[Night Crawler]

Alright guys I have a Pal 500M using 8950 tubes I think.... I was wondering is there a tube conversion that i can get done to this unit.

Use 6KD6's or 6LF6's and wire the filaments in series the tube is the same as the 8950 except it uses a 6 volt heater.

[linx]

Those 8950's and 6LQ6's are pricey. I think Night Crawlers route is much cheaper!

[Nagant]

After doing the filament mod Night Crawler mentioned you can likely use the 6LB6 in it as well. They tend to be much cheaper and easier to find than the 6LF6 and 6KD6. I see new old stock 6LB6's on eBay for $15 or less each fairly frequently.

[721HACKSAW]

The NOS tubes can be a crap shoot also. These tubes were made decades ago, so be sure and let them heat for a while, like a month or so! LOL I just recently bought some NOS Russian Svetlana tubes, the julian dates say they were made in the early 80's. I needed 4 so I bought 10, 3 of the 10 flashed over even after heating for 3 weeks. Good luck.

[Hummer]

Thanks guys i will keep my eyes out for the those tubes that was mentioned, I got the linear from my father in law and he had it all boxed up for so many years along side a Johnson Viking Messenger 2. Cleaned up the Johnson and turned it on and she still works.

[Nagant]

The NOS tubes can be a crap shoot also. These tubes were made decades ago, so be sure and let them heat for a while, like a month or so! LOL I just recently bought some NOS Russian Svetlana tubes, the julian dates say they were made in the early 80's. I needed 4 so I bought 10, 3 of the 10 flashed over even after heating for 3 weeks. Good luck.

Yes tubes are and were a crap shoot. I've had numerous older operators tell me there was a fair failure rate on new tubes even back when they were still being manufactured. How true that is I don't know but I have little reason to doubt them.

I've been messing with tubes for a little under 20 years now and personally I haven't experienced anything like the failure you did. Having messed with a large variety of Russian stuff besides their electronics makes me think you got a batch from a poor quality period. The quality of Russian stuff varies a lot from year to year, batch to batch, and so forth. Just a guess on the tubes but I've found the quality issue to be very true on their old surplussed military rifle ammunition. Some of it is great and within good tolerances and some batches are well not so great LOL.

I've used a fair number of the 1970's Russian tubes from various manufacturers with no issues so far. I don't think I have any from the 1980's. I have numerous Russian 811A's marked with National and Ameritron brands. They were made during communist times as they are marked made in the USSR. Some are Svetlana and some are made by the other common Russian 811 valve manufacturer who name escapes me at the moment. They've worked flawlessly for me so far. They are far superior to the Chinese 811A's IMHO.

I don't burn any of mine in either. I've followed both sides of the debate on that subject and find it interesting but plug and play has been working for me for almost 20 years now. Not saying one way is any better than the other. I just use what works for me.