When was the last time you saw a vacuum tube tester in a store ?

[eppur_se_muova]

They used to be common -- not just in electronics stores, but even in places like G.C. Murphy's. Now, they're evidently collectors items. Got any ideas how to find a working one in the area of Huntsville, AL ? We don't even have a Radio Shack anymore, and I have a few tubes I'd like to sell on eBay. It would be nice to test something more than filament continuity.

[doc03]

1. Probably 30 or more years ago. nt

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. People's Pharmacy

late 70s. When I was a little kid, it was the USS Enterprise helm to me.

[Archae]

19. 37 years ago for me.

There was one in a local drugstore that's now long gone.

(My Dad had a tube tester, since he used to repair radios and TV's in the 60's and early 70's.)

[yesphan]

3. Is there a guitar center

there? Since they sell tube amps, they may have a tester.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Ha ! Should have thought of that, thanks.

That's exactly why I ask folks at DU about stuff like this.

[iscooterliberally]

5. I would check with your local music stores.

Maybe pawn shops or any guitar amplifier repair place that might be in your area. If you don't find any of those, see if there are any recording studios. Vacuum tubes are still widely used in guitar amplifiers. I'm not from your area, but here are some store names in Huntsville:

AB Stephens Music
Gadsden Music Co Inc
Guitar Center Huntsville
Hallman's Music
Millennium Music
Morgan Guitars
T Shepards Discount Music
The Fret Shop

Good luck!

[SeattleVet]

6. See if there is a local shop that repairs/sells vintage audio equipment...

or high-end gear.

They should have a way to test tubes, and may run yours through for a small fee.

[safeinOhio]

7. I have two of them.

Picked up at yard sales for ten bucks.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. I find it astonishing that there are apparently still vacuum tubes in use out there.

I thought they had all disappeared by 1980 or so.

[Major Nikon]

14. The military still had a lot of vacuum tube stuff in the 80's

I never found those tube testers all that useful. They worked well for some types, not so well on most of the ones we used.

[PJMcK]

9. It must be like 30 years ago

The last vacuum tubes I bought were replacements for a Fender guitar amplifier I used with a Rhodes piano. There is definitely a different sound with tubes than with transistors or digital.

Sorry, eppur, our technologies have moved on!

By the way, I used to loved hanging out at Radio Shack. I'd buy electronic parts to build various gadgets. That's gone, too.

[Hoyt]

10. Used to have one in this little grocery/produce store I worked in during 1960s.

People would come in with the weirdest tubes out of WWII radios, old Sears consoles, etc.

But, identifying the bad ones and replacing them solved a lot of problems, so folks were happy. We were usually busy on the days the Redskins (yeah, I despise the name too) played. Back then, about the only NFL football team readily available on TV was the Redskins.

Today, there are companies that buy old tubes that have some resale value.

For example, I searched under "Where to sell vacuum tubes." Here's first one https://vacuumtubesinc.com/tubeswearebuying

There are a bunch listed in search results, including many towns.

[lastlib]

11. I'm pretty sure it was just before I bought my slide rule.....

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. Do you have any places nearby that sell nice hifi equipment?

Last edited Wed Sep 4, 2019, 09:34 PM - Edit history (1)

There are still lots of tube amps and preamps on the market. They aren't cheap. The dealer might have a tube tester around.

{edit} I see SeattleVet already covered this, in https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181257990#post6

There are tube testers, and there are tube testers. You want one that can check for mutual trasconductance. If it doesn't do that, you're wasting your time.

I wish I had one.

I have several receiving tube manuals on hand -- Sylvania, from the mid-70s, RCA, and so forth. If you need help looking up a basing diagram, drop me a line.

[Harker]

13. Quite recently.

A friend of mine bought a property that had been a small television repair shop.

There were all manner of oddities in there collecting dust.

You might try contacting a local ham radio club.

[Dave Starsky]

15. 1970-something.

At an Osco drug store in Boise, ID.

[hunter]

16. You could always build your own.

A LOW COST, EASY TO BUILD DIY VALVE/TUBE TESTER

https://www.valveheaven.com/2015/03/an-inexpensive-easy-to-build-diy-valvetube-tester/

[eppur_se_muova]

17. Interesting, but "low cost" is a relative term !

I'm just wanting to test some for sale. The amps they came from are long gone.

[Iggo]

18. I think it was down to the Rexall. (n/t)