Benjamin6264
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I have recently taken the risk to purchase NOS vacuum tubes from a well-known auction site. While they appear original and the sellers have extremely good reputation, I cannot find background information on the origin and quality of these tubes.
In my previous research, the only information that I could find was that a very limited number of other people had the same tubes. I'm guessing they're either copies, rebrands from other manufacturers, or rare. I am looking for vacuum tubes experts who could perhaps help me shed light on these unsolved cases and determine which of these 3 hypotheses is the right one.
Eventually I will give the tubes a listen, which could provide a valuable clue, but right now I am waiting for a fuse to convert the concerned amplifier's voltage to 110V.
Case #1 - Amperex Orange Globes from West Germany
I have owned many Amperex Orange Globes of various types in the past, and it was always of my understanding that they came from a factory in Heerlen, Holland. However, this box of 5 tubes is apparently from West Germany, according to the printing. There is also a code in yellow that I haven't seen before on Holland-made Amperexes. I can't recall if they have creases on the top - I will check when I come back home for the weekend. There are no creases on the top.
http://gyazo.com/a356ebc16f3f54b6e23b33f9886c9c44
http://gyazo.com/7a9296144f49ac707df6d8d4fc8cd117
http://gyazo.com/27551dd34ecef61f1f2fb83bf55bdd96
Case #2 - Shield-less Mullards
Apart from some military models, all the non-rebranded Mullard 12AU7's that I have seen in the past had a shield logo or a similar shield-like symbol. These, however, simply have the name "Mullard" printed in big characters. They have two faint creases on the top.
http://gyazo.com/3dee5ae6db22d93efa0f910a780effe4
http://gyazo.com/882e8e085156a1e8c4387abd6e55e15d
http://gyazo.com/ca3234cddaeba9362d41263415ea9c02
http://gyazo.com/1280c4358a084aad48729292778ab16c
Let me know if you'd like any other information, and thank you very much for your help.
In my previous research, the only information that I could find was that a very limited number of other people had the same tubes. I'm guessing they're either copies, rebrands from other manufacturers, or rare. I am looking for vacuum tubes experts who could perhaps help me shed light on these unsolved cases and determine which of these 3 hypotheses is the right one.
Eventually I will give the tubes a listen, which could provide a valuable clue, but right now I am waiting for a fuse to convert the concerned amplifier's voltage to 110V.
Case #1 - Amperex Orange Globes from West Germany
I have owned many Amperex Orange Globes of various types in the past, and it was always of my understanding that they came from a factory in Heerlen, Holland. However, this box of 5 tubes is apparently from West Germany, according to the printing. There is also a code in yellow that I haven't seen before on Holland-made Amperexes.
http://gyazo.com/a356ebc16f3f54b6e23b33f9886c9c44
http://gyazo.com/7a9296144f49ac707df6d8d4fc8cd117
http://gyazo.com/27551dd34ecef61f1f2fb83bf55bdd96
Case #2 - Shield-less Mullards
Apart from some military models, all the non-rebranded Mullard 12AU7's that I have seen in the past had a shield logo or a similar shield-like symbol. These, however, simply have the name "Mullard" printed in big characters. They have two faint creases on the top.
http://gyazo.com/3dee5ae6db22d93efa0f910a780effe4
http://gyazo.com/882e8e085156a1e8c4387abd6e55e15d
http://gyazo.com/ca3234cddaeba9362d41263415ea9c02
http://gyazo.com/1280c4358a084aad48729292778ab16c
Let me know if you'd like any other information, and thank you very much for your help.