[HPAholic]

I found a few more WE 421a all Date Code: 6752 hiding in the stash. Sometimes I forget what's in there, lol

 

[HPAholic]

Well if we're doing Tube Porn, what about these. I only have one pair, kind of hard to source at a good price now-a-days ...

 

[HTSkywalker]

What is it with the tube parade lately

 

[gibosi]

WE 5998 / 421a from 1951 through 1955 ...



First Source: Oct. 03, 1951 on the Electron Tube Registration List and this was the RMA/EIA code for the WE 421A. So the tube with date code 152 might be the 1st ever run for the WE 5998 / 421a.

Yes, but just to be clear, at the request of WE, the RTMA (Radio-Television Manufacturer's Association) registered "5998" as a Special Purpose code designation for the 421A on Oct 3, 1951, and yes, it is likely that the pictured tube with the date code "152" is one of the earliest. But it is important to remember that WE released the 421A on Dec 15, 1948, so you may find 421A, without the "5998" label, manufactured as early as 1948/1949.

And by the way, that's a very nice collection.

 

[tubebuyer2020]

Well if we're doing Tube Porn, what about these. I only have one pair, kind of hard to source at a good price now-a-days ...

That's a good photo with some composition and light etc.

 

[HPAholic]

@gibosi, thanks for the clarification and the info. I have been looking all around the world for WE 421a from pre-1951. What is the last year for the grey plates - 1965?

@tubebuyer2020, thanks. It's done with an iPhone, native Windows 10 photo editor and shot in a room with 4 windows.

 

[JTbbb]

I found a few more WE 421a all Date Code: 6752 hiding in the stash. Sometimes I forget what's in there, lol

My godfathers, this is why you don’t see them for sale very often . Do you want to sell me a pair?

 

[leftside]

Very nice tubes. Thanks for posting.

Here are some later WE421A from 1981, 1985, 1972

 

[Dogmatrix]

Great pics and tubes! Didn't even know about the CV8614, are they direct equivalents of 6080?

Yes , most of the brit tubes have two CV numbers depending on age

 

[bcowen]

Very nice tubes. Thanks for posting.

Here are some later WE421A from 1981, 1985, 1972

Dang hoarders. Between you and @HPAholic it's no wonder there's none left for the rest of us.

 

[leftside]

Dang hoarders. Between you and @HPAholic it's no wonder there's none left for the rest of us.

Hey my amp takes 6 lol.

 

[gibosi]

@gibosi, thanks for the clarification and the info. I have been looking all around the world for WE 421a from pre-1951. What is the last year for the grey plates - 1965?

@tubebuyer2020, thanks. It's done with an iPhone, native Windows 10 photo editor and shot in a room with 4 windows.

My budget won't permit me to chase after 421A and I don't own even one, and I don't have any knowledge regarding construction changes over the years.

I do have access to the correspondence between RTMA and WE regarding the registration of 5998 as a Special Purpose code designation for the 421A. And I have seen a WE datasheet for the 421A dated Dec 15, 1948 which implies that this tube was out there prior to the registration. However given that you have been actively searching for some time, this might suggest that pre-1951 WE 421A are very rare, or WE decided to wait after the registration process was complete before bringing the 421A to market. Another mystery.

 

[tintinsnowydog]

Yes , most of the brit tubes have two CV numbers depending on age

That's right, I have seen them labelled CV2984 (6080) and CV5004 (6080WA) but not the CV8614. A quick search reveals it is the 'quick heat' version that is sensibly equivalent to CV5008, so I guess that makes the CV8614 equivalent to the 6080WB. B is meant to designate quick heat up- but tell that to the Bendix 6080WB!

 

[bcowen]

Hey my amp takes 6 lol.

6? Holy cow. You're forgiven then. But what are you driving? Apogee Scintilla's?

 

[CaptainFantastic]

Is it normal for a tube (6AS7G in this case) to get darker on the inside (smoky dark, like someone lit a match and the glass acquired a darkish, smoky but uniform color) and for the chromium to all of a sudden cover the top whereas before use it was just in the lower part of the tube?

It happened while using for 3-4 hours, did not pay attention during, just saw it after. It works and sounds fine... is this just the inner gas settling or something? It's the first time I use this particular tube.