[Cavcalade]

  Just run the unit with the stock tubes for a while. Don't get caught up in tube rolling right from the start.

 
Yeah, I will probably do that for the first three months and just enjoy the Lyr with the stock tubes.
 
Which one would you guys describe as warm sounding tubes?

 

[J&J]

My advise for your 1st tube rolling experiment with Lyr is to try some Amperex  orange globes or bugle boys. Tube Hunter aka Merecedes Man on Ebay always has them at fair prices.  If you can't hear any real difference from the stock GEs consider yourself lucky you will be saving a fortune in tube rolling .

 

[ThurstonX]

To anyone who knows Amperex date codes... does the following sound right?
 
The date codes (faint gray print) stamped on the Bugle Boy Straight Man D getters:
 
One has...
GA2 (Tube Type + Change code; pretty sure GA = 6DJ8 or ECC88)
48C (Factory Year Month)
 
The other has...
<Don't see the TTC printed; the silkscreening is pretty much gone on this tube>
49G
 
Based on the info here:  www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm
 
it seems they are from March 1958 and July 1959, respectively, and are from the Venolanda S.A., Venezuela factory.  I need to double check the '4' since it can be printed in reverse, which would be a British factory.  Pretty sure both are straight up '4' though.
 
Assuming all that's correct, those tubes have had a fascinating journey:
Venezuela --> ?? --> Australia --> U.S.
 
If only those tubes could talk!  Well, as long as they can sing, I'm happy 

 

[Tuco1965]

I know I saw another listing for codes but you can try to decipher this.  http://www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm

 

[gibosi]

  To anyone who knows Amperex date codes... does the following sound right?
 
The date codes (faint gray print) stamped on the Bugle Boy Straight Man D getters:
 
One has...
GA2 (Tube Type + Change code; pretty sure GA = 6DJ8 or ECC88)
48C (Factory Year Month)
 
The other has...
<Don't see the TTC printed; the silkscreening is pretty much gone on this tube>
49G
 
Based on the info here:  www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm
 
it seems they are from March 1958 and July 1959, respectively, and are from the Venolanda S.A., Venezuela factory.  I need to double check the '4' since it can be printed in reverse, which would be a British factory.  Pretty sure both are straight up '4' though.
 
Assuming all that's correct, those tubes have had a fascinating journey:
Venezuela --> ?? --> Australia --> U.S.
 
If only those tubes could talk!  Well, as long as they can sing, I'm happy 

 
That "4" is likely a Delta, which indicateds Heerlen, Holland. "8" is 1958 and "C" is March. And the other tube was manufactured in July, 1959, same factory.
 
http://tubedata.milbert.com/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeListAB-v10.pdf

 

[ThurstonX]

  I know I saw another listing for codes but you can try to decipher this.  http://www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm

 
Yep, I linked there 

  If you find the other listing, please do post.  I usually start (and end) at Brent's page.

 

[ThurstonX]

  That "4" is likely a Delta, which indicateds Heerlen, Holland. "8" is 1958 and "C" is March. And the other tube was manufactured in July, 1959, same factory.
 
http://tubedata.milbert.com/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeListAB-v10.pdf

 
I'll compare to my other Amperex where the delta is plainly visible, and while I agree that Heerlen seems more likely (and preferable?), these sure looked like '4's.  Maybe my camera on macro can get a good shot of the codes.  I'll give it a try after they've had their DeoxIT soak.
 
Thanks for the link!

 

[Tuco1965]

More info but still not the one I've seen before. http://www.tube-classics.de/TC/Tubes/Valvo/Phlipscode.htm

 

[Tuco1965]

   
That "4" is likely a Delta, which indicateds Heerlen, Holland. "8" is 1958 and "C" is March. And the other tube was manufactured in July, 1959, same factory.
 
http://tubedata.milbert.com/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeListAB-v10.pdf

Good link!  

 

[gibosi]

   
I'll compare to my other Amperex where the delta is plainly visible, and while I agree that Heerlen seems more likely (and preferable?), these sure looked like '4's.  Maybe my camera on macro can get a good shot of the codes.  I'll give it a try after they've had their DeoxIT soak.

 
My money's on Heerlen, Holland.
 
In the early 1950's, "4" was used as a factory symbol for one of the Eindhoven factories, and sometime later, Venolanda S.A, Venezuela. The ECC88 was first put into production by Amperex in 1958, and I do not believe they were ever manufactured in Eindhoven. However, I have some ECC40s (a miniature European version of the 6SN7GT), manufactured in 1955 at the Eindhoven #4 factory.
 
For late 1940's and early 1950's Philips tubes, this factory listing can be helpful:
 
 http://frank.pocnet.net/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeList.pdf

 

[ThurstonX]

 
My money's on Heerlen, Holland.
 
In the early 1950's, "4" was used as a factory symbol for one of the Eindhoven factories, and sometime later, Venolanda S.A, Venezuela. The ECC88 was first put into production by Amperex in 1958, and I do not believe they were ever manufactured in Eindhoven. However, I have some ECC40s (a miniature European version of the 6SN7GT), manufactured in 1955 at the Eindhoven #4 factory.
 
For late 1940's and early 1950's Philips tubes, this factory listing can be helpful:
 
 http://frank.pocnet.net/other/Philips/PhilipsCodeList.pdf

 
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and insights.  So these are early production ECC88s.  And no, I won't take that bet 

  I'm sure you're right, but I'll still post the photos, if they turn out OK.

 

[OldSkool]

I'm also betting that Gibosi is correct...it's a delta, not a 4. My '59s have similar markings.
 
To quote Vicki Vallencourt..."that's what it's gonna be"
 

 

[Tuco1965]

Well my 1965 Bugle Boys arrived.  Time to put some hours on them now.

 

[Oskari]

 
My money's on Heerlen, Holland.

 
I definitely agree that Heerlen is the likely source.
 

The ECC88 was first put into production by Amperex in 1958

 
Philips, if you please. 

 

and I do not believe they were ever manufactured in Eindhoven.

 
I'm not aware of any Eindhoven production either. Philips had their major research labs in Eindhoven, though. It is quite possible, even probable, that the research production lines of those reseach labs made some. Some of the Eindhoven "numbers" point to actual research labs. I'm not sure about number 4, though.

 

[ThurstonX]

After I put a pair of reading glasses (so handy for soldering or sussing out mysterious date codes... I was able to discern the delta symbol I'd mistaken for a 4.  See, that's why I didn't bet 

  And yes, it is the most logical source.  Who knows if they even manufactured those tubes in Venezuela.  All moot.
 
They have a nice, detailed, airy sort of sound after a little warmup.  Not great low end compared to other tubes, though.  Curious if they'll break in more (no idea if they were NOS).