Anyone have experience with NOS radio and TV tubes?

[clovis97]

I bought a box of radio and TV tubes at an estate sale last week for $20.

Back in the day, about 8 years ago, scoring new original stock tubes was like finding gold. I see that the ebay market has changed drastically since then.

Does anyone know what the collectors and vintage repair guys are looking for?

My guess is that I don't have any really valuable tubes in this lot, but I can't seem to make heads or tails of the tubes.

One part of me wants to lot them together with a 99 cent start, and see where the auction goes, and the other part of me says to list them individually with a 5.99 starting bid.

Thoughts?

 

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[billn1956]

seperate them and then sell them if every one of them is diff, then do it each at .99 an see what you have.

 

[diggummup]

seperate them and then sell them if every one of them is diff, then do it each at .99 an see what you have.

I agree. With something like that, I think the market will decide the value. A .99 cent auction might not be a bad idea. If there are any valuable ones, you'll know soon enough. Are any of them in their boxes and have they been tested to see if they work?

 

[NJ Marty]

The only ones I would sell separate are the very desirable ones like 12ax7 these sell real well. If the others are the real common ones you will have to include the good ones in the lot to sell them. The common ones will never sell individually at a starting price of $5.99 even at $1 most will never sell. List as a lot with any good ones and they will sell. Then stay away from tubes unless you see ones that people want. 12ax7 etc. I bought a huge lot a few months back, the time it took to go thru each one made me dizzy. Then I finally got rid of them for a 50% loss.

 

[clovis97]

I agree. With something like that, I think the market will decide the value. A .99 cent auction might not be a bad idea. If there are any valuable ones, you'll know soon enough. Are any of them in their boxes and have they been tested to see if they work?

The box was filled with both lose used tubes and new tubes in original boxes. I'd say the lot is about 1/2 used and 1/2 new.

I knew that when I bought them, the whole lot was a chance, and that the used, lose, unboxed tubes wouldn't have much value. My gamble was on the NOS stuff.

None of the NOS stuff has been tested, and even if I had a working tester, I'd have to get my dad involved. He once owned a tester, and knew how to use it!

FWIW, I remember the very day he sat that tube tester out for the trash, probably sometime in the late '80's. I'd say that model would be worth $300+ on ebay. It was a nice tester!

 

[NJ Marty]

If you have any of these you can start dancing.
2 Vintage Western Electric 300B 300 B O Getter Matched Amplifier Tube Pair | eBay

 

[clovis97]

Thank you so much for the help, everyone!!

I saw those WE tubes! I wish I had a box of those!

Okay...what is a 12ax7 tube and why does everyone want them?

What is a getter tube, and why are they so desirable?

 

[NJ Marty]

Thank you so much for the help, everyone!! I saw those WE tubes! I wish I had a box of those! Okay...what is a 12ax7 tube and why does everyone want them? What is a getter tube, and why are they so desirable?

They are for amplifiers and pre amps and I think can be used on some microphones. The tube amp people eat them up.

 

[clovis97]

Dumbest question ever asked on this forum:

I would assume that some tubes can be used for radio, TV and amp, and are interchangeable?