Introduce myself and vintage vacuum tube collection
- Thread starter mark-tube
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AD100 Telefunken power triode for last stage audio (indirect heater triode) employed also as a driver tube for RV218 ; RV239 ; RV258 Telefunken in the last stage. AD100 Telefunken belongs to the category of postal tube for long life , rare tube , hard to find , enjoy 
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E83F Valvo NOS postal tubes selected G.Abl , mesh shield & gold pins , yellow label pint on glass , never been used , pentode type , mint conditions , from the same new old stock, in my collection enjoy
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5V4G GZ32 Brimar British tubes , full wave rectifier , holed plates , nos nib mint conditions , a good stock , enjoy
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6X5 Fivre Italy , full wave rectifier , black plate , metal base , hard to find in this version , tested strong & balanced systems
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Tube type 80 full wave rectifier, Marconi made in Italy , mesh plate, silver foil getter , hanging Filament, black base , very rare version , hard to find, tested with good emission , of course used tubes , enjoy
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This is an exceptional tube. Comes very close to the RGN2004 in my system. Great pics btw, and welcome to the forum, buddy.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Many thanks , really appreciated your kind feedback, I’m really proud to be here and to be your friend, thanks
Many thanks Steve, I really appreciate your feedback and message. I started about ~ 15 years ago with only vintage vacuum tubes, my collection was primarily focused on early postal tubes 1920’s, then Fivre tubes made in Italy , Marconi Italy , Telefunken Milan (made in Italy too ) Zenith Monza / Philips , all those firms which I considered among the best tubes.
Estimate the whole number of tubes it’s quite difficult for some reason: collection is growing on weekly / monthly basis , most of the tubes are inside of boxes stored into warehouse in different periods . With just a lump sum average 10.000 pieces, of course not only audio tubes related. I’ve added some entire collections and , you know there mixes tubes for different use , radio and ham included (of course no TV tubes)
One of the reason for posting is also to make a little bit of order in warehouse (I hope but I’m not sure to reach the target this time )
We both like the glowing of RGN2004 Telefunken , I had many pieces at my hand during the years . I will follow your path and will post more mesh / glowing tubes if you like to see also different mesh tubes
I hope to get more of these RGN2004 mesh plate globe in September , when my (lazy) friend will come back from his holiday.
Thanks a million Steve , will post more tubes as soon as possible
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
I cannot fathom 10000 tubes. However I understand the warehouse storage need. Can you tell us a bit about your system. My system has been all tubes for about 25 years but have never had the urge to be a collector. There is one collector here on WBF who told me his annual expenditure on tubes is $250K. You could probably sell off those 10000 tubes and buy yourself a new house. When I reflect on tube collectors and what they have stored most don’t reap the rewards during their lifetime and it becomes part of one’s estate. I source most of my tubes now from collectors who at this time in their life begin selling off bits and pieces to hobbyists
You’re right Steve, probably I started from the opposite side
collecting first instead using first. I started collecting the tubes that fascinating me first , driven by the rarities, the progress they made to the society (eg. postal tubes for long distance telephony service) at that time , their wonderful inner structure and the key part of them into develop of tele communications first. You can see at the tubes from many perspective. Only recently I started to use some of them . My current system is an humble upgraded stereo amplifier based on SUN Audio with 2x 2A3 Fivre / 2x 6SN7 Marconi black plate / 1X 5R4GY Marconi twin mica on top and double DD getter bottom. I like this system made by an old friend that build it for me (I’m not a technician / engineer) . When you said collector don’t reap the rewards during their lifetime you’re right 100% , personally I swapped many tubes during the years and sold / bought the ones I like the most but …. Reinvested almost everything on “new” old tubes and yes I thought about to sell all of them to buy a new house is an interesting perspective but it’s not easy to sell all that amount of tubes in one time but if I can make happy some people interested I’m willing to part with some of my tubes. I always had a strong focus on tubes. I already know when I sell something where the funds goes I would prefer to describe myself as a keeper instead of old style “collectors” , I’m not jealous of tubes that I own so far , if someone need just ask and try to do my best to find , I already did it with some friends here I’m at your disposal Steve. During the years I had the opportunity to meet many different people, with their plus and minus, sometimes win and sometimes learned but the travel continues and I’m happy you can be part of it, always happy to know , to share , to learn and enjoy together with friends Attachments
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