Ham Radio Tubes

Ham radio tubes come in all shapes and sizes.1 Vintage tubes, also known as valves, could be easily removed for testing and replacing.1 Vacuum tubes failed because the filament would burn out.1 In the golden days of radio and early television, customers could use the tube tester at the local drug store, which also replacement tubes.

Tubes were usually mounted in holes on a sheet metal board, and wires or other components were soldered to the underside of the socket.1 In the 1950s circuit boards were designed whose parts were soldered directly to the wiring tracks.1 Finally, boards were designed that eliminated the need for tubes entirely.

Nowadays, tubes of all sorts can be found on eBay.1 Vintage tube enthusiasts will find specifically numbered tubes.1 While some tubes can be substituted for others in actual working radios, others can not.1 Always check the reputation and rating of the tube seller.