Great find. I had one of those a few years back. 1972, would be about right. I think one of the forms you have is for updates to be sent to you as new tubes were developed, although by that point solid state was really taking over. I also still have a matching TV CRT tester/rejuvenator that went with it. The B and K and the Sencores were nice portable units that TV repair guys and consumers could take to the job site. Yours looks like it may have been unused and unsold stock. I use Hickoks now, but they are small suitcase sized and heavy.
I found the same tester in my late granddad's shop and it's the same perfect condition as yours. I don't really do much work with tubes so I want to pay it forward to someone who does. What do you reckon, ebay? Or maybe there are some forums out there where I can find a good home for it so it can spend another 50 years being a beautiful and useful tool?
@@TheElectronMan If you could I'd appreciate it. In your opinion is this tester good enough to test tubes like the Orange VT1000 did or is it necessary to get the tube tester with mutual conductance like the B&K 747? I know the caps will need changing & the whole calibration thing. I'm looking just test my own tubes not for resale but to keep an eye on them when I service my stuff.
My dad would pull a bunch of tubes from the TV, put them in a paper bag, and send us down to the drugstore with their tube tester. Any "bad", we would go to the counter and the pharmacist would pull them from the drawer for us to purchase and take back to dad.
@@SSN515 Yep, done that as well. gave them to the chemist to test a box of valves. Came back in an hour and all the good ones were still in the box, with new ones on top ready to purchase. The chemist also used to charge batteries for old radios, hated taking them down (it was a bus run) as full of acid. Battery would last about a year before it had to be charged again. It was used for the low voltage side of old radios.
@@BoB4jjjjs Yep. Spent summers in my youth on my mom's side relatives farm in Missouri. No electricity or indoor plumbing on their huge isolated farm. They had a "farm radio" that was battery powered. Cast iron woodstove. Icebox and a kerosene powered refrigerator. Well water and pumps outside and in the kitchen. Outhouse. Galvanized bath tub set up on the back porch once a week. Very "rustic".
Great find. I had one of those a few years back. 1972, would be about right. I think one of the forms you have is for updates to be sent to you as new tubes were developed, although by that point solid state was really taking over. I also still have a matching TV CRT tester/rejuvenator that went with it. The B and K and the Sencores were nice portable units that TV repair guys and consumers could take to the job site. Yours looks like it may have been unused and unsold stock. I use Hickoks now, but they are small suitcase sized and heavy.
What's that other tester that you showed?
I found the same tester in my late granddad's shop and it's the same perfect condition as yours. I don't really do much work with tubes so I want to pay it forward to someone who does. What do you reckon, ebay? Or maybe there are some forums out there where I can find a good home for it so it can spend another 50 years being a beautiful and useful tool?
That is awesome In nice condition, it's worth at least 100.00 or more on Ebay which is probably the best way to sell it.
If you still have it, I'd be interested in it. Thanks!
Does the 606 test el34?
I would have to get the chart to double check and make sure but I think it does...
@@TheElectronMan If you could I'd appreciate it. In your opinion is this tester good enough to test tubes like the Orange VT1000 did or is it necessary to get the tube tester with mutual conductance like the B&K 747? I know the caps will need changing & the whole calibration thing. I'm looking just test my own tubes not for resale but to keep an eye on them when I service my stuff.
It's a thing I have never owned, I had neighbour fixed TVs, so I would just pop next door ;-)
My dad would pull a bunch of tubes from the TV, put them in a paper bag, and send us down to the drugstore with their tube tester. Any "bad", we would go to the counter and the pharmacist would pull them from the drawer for us to purchase and take back to dad.
@@SSN515 Yep, done that as well. gave them to the chemist to test a box of valves. Came back in an hour and all the good ones were still in the box, with new ones on top ready to purchase. The chemist also used to charge batteries for old radios, hated taking them down (it was a bus run) as full of acid. Battery would last about a year before it had to be charged again. It was used for the low voltage side of old radios.
@@BoB4jjjjs Yep. Spent summers in my youth on my mom's side relatives farm in Missouri. No electricity or indoor plumbing on their huge isolated farm. They had a "farm radio" that was battery powered. Cast iron woodstove. Icebox and a kerosene powered refrigerator. Well water and pumps outside and in the kitchen. Outhouse. Galvanized bath tub set up on the back porch once a week. Very "rustic".