[mordy]

Just got a GM labeled tube 6J5G. I asume it was made for car radios. The date code is G 8 - perhaps July 1938 and made in the USA. The top mica is very distinct - cannot figure out who made it:

Any suggestions?
PS: Actually now found out that GM did make regular household radios, but it looks like they stopped around 1931:

Five years after the Dayton Fan and Motor Company began manufacturing radio parts and two years after building their first receivers, Charles Kettering, vice president of General Motors’ research organization, took over as company president, changing its name to the Day-Fan Electric Company. GM purchased Day-Fan in 1929 and created the General Motors Radio Corporation—51 percent of which was owned by GM and the other 49 percent by RCA, GE, and Westinghouse. Radio prices ranged from $130–$270, or $1933–$4014 when adjusted for inflation. But RCA, already battling the Department of Justice over monopolistic practices, raised the DOJ’s suspicions. By May 1930, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against General Motors Radio Corporation. The company was liquidated late the following year

 

[Tom-s]

The tube you have there could Raytheon. It’s from the 1930’s four pillar series. More often are these found in type 76.
This is based on the mica seen. The bottom mica should be round with a metal lip over it on the side of the support pin.
The plate however is not typical four pillar style as these are usually large and round. This is similar to a 6J5 made by Sylvania. As is the round logo on the glass. Search for the metal base round plate 6J5GT Sylvania and it will show up on google.
I don’t have a close up picture of these at hand from my own collection. Here’s a 6 pictured with this mica. As the four pillar Raytheon are harder to find.
Search for date code information on both brands. Maybe this solves the riddle.

 

[mordy]

Scrolled though a bunch of pictures of 6J5G tubes: Raytheon, Sylvania, Zenith on Google Images.
I did find a single tube with the unusual top mica (the bottom mica is a very small rectangle) and this tube had the Zenith name on it.
http://zenithtuberadio.cricket/no_6..._shape_vacuum_tubes_4_valves_tested_6j5gt.php
Bottom picture third from the left:

I do not know if Sylvania and Zenith were separate companies or the same company in 1938.
The main thing is that it sounds good...

 

[bcowen]

Five years after the Dayton Fan and Motor Company began manufacturing radio parts and two years after building their first receivers, Charles Kettering, vice president of General Motors’ research organization, took over as company president, changing its name to the Day-Fan Electric Company. GM purchased Day-Fan in 1929 and created the General Motors Radio Corporation—51 percent of which was owned by GM and the other 49 percent by RCA, GE, and Westinghouse. Radio prices ranged from $130–$270, or $1933–$4014 when adjusted for inflation. But RCA, already battling the Department of Justice over monopolistic practices, raised the DOJ’s suspicions. By May 1930, an antitrust lawsuit was filed against General Motors Radio Corporation. The company was liquidated late the following year

Too bad GE wasn't liquidated instead.

 

[mordy]

Scrolled though a bunch of pictures of 6J5G tubes: Raytheon, Sylvania, Zenith on Google Images.
I did find a single tube with the unusual top mica (the bottom mica is a very small rectangle) and this tube had the Zenith name on it.
http://zenithtuberadio.cricket/no_6..._shape_vacuum_tubes_4_valves_tested_6j5gt.php
Bottom picture third from the left:

I do not know if Sylvania and Zenith were separate companies or the same company in 1938.
The main thing is that it sounds good...

Did some more reading. Zenith was a hitech manufacturer of radios and ham equipment and invented a bunch of stuff, notable the ultimate coach potato gadget - the remote control.
Seems that Zenith did use Sylvania tubes among others. In any case, they did not manufacture their own tubes. Looked through pictures of Raytheon 6J5G but they all seem to have umbrella spoke top micas. Which leads us to another tube with a similar top mica that I have - the Arcturus 6N7G :

Close, but no cigar:

I enjoy the 6J5G and GT tubes - there is more variety in construction than any other tubes I know of.

 

[CAJames]

Scrolled though a bunch of pictures of 6J5G tubes: Raytheon, Sylvania, Zenith on Google Images.
I did find a single tube with the unusual top mica (the bottom mica is a very small rectangle) and this tube had the Zenith name on it.
http://zenithtuberadio.cricket/no_6..._shape_vacuum_tubes_4_valves_tested_6j5gt.php
Bottom picture third from the left:

I do not know if Sylvania and Zenith were separate companies or the same company in 1938.
The main thing is that it sounds good...

Pretty sure Zenith and Sylvania were separate companies. Zenith made radios but I think they rebranded tubes. I have Zenith tubes that look like Sylvania and RCA, I wouldn't be surprised if they rebranded Raytheon as well.

 

[Velozity]

Did some more reading. Zenith was a hitech manufacturer of radios and ham equipment and invented a bunch of stuff, notable the ultimate coach potato gadget - the remote control.
Seems that Zenith did use Sylvania tubes among others. In any case, they did not manufacture their own tubes. Looked through pictures of Raytheon 6J5G but they all seem to have umbrella spoke top micas. Which leads us to another tube with a similar top mica that I have - the Arcturus 6N7G :

Close, but no cigar:

I enjoy the 6J5G and GT tubes - there is more variety in construction than any other tubes I know of.

As Tim-S said I believe these are made by Raytheon. And I'll just go ahead and let the cat out of the bag too, they are my favorite 6J5G/6C5G tube right now. Yes even besting the GEC L63 and Brimar 6C5G. I've been secretly hoarding collecting them for a little while now, trying to match pairs. Particularly I go for the oldest ones, with engraved bases. These are from the mid-1930s. Far as I can tell there are 3 or 4 styles. All have the "X" shaped top mica, but some have either a round bottom mica or another "X" shaped bottom mica. The plates are either flat ribbed-ladder round ribbed-ladder. All of mine have round bottom micas, but I have both plate styles. The bases are engraved Raytheon, Zenith, Philco, or GM. I've also seen them labeled as Super Silvertone. All are made by Raytheon to my knowledge. Excellent tube and a sleeper for sure. They have the bass of a Ken-Rad, the midrange of a GEC, and the treble of a Brimar. Really well-balanced tube that I highly recommend.

 

[leftside]

Not a bad price for 6. Anyone from here grab them?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/6x-6C5G-Philips-NOS-tube-Valve-/384328421799

 

[mordy]

Not a bad price for 6. Anyone from here grab them?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/6x-6C5G-Philips-NOS-tube-Valve-/384328421799

You must have been referring to the beginning auction price - they sold for $41 each.

 

[leftside]

You must have been referring to the beginning auction price - they sold for $41 each.

Beginning auction price was $1. I thought $41 each isn’t a bad price for these tubes? I’m not sure if they are available cheaper elsewhere? My apologies if someone out there is selling for cheaper.

 

[mordy]

Beginning auction price was $1. I thought $41 each isn’t a bad price for these tubes? I’m not sure if they are available cheaper elsewhere? My apologies if someone out there is selling for cheaper.

You may very well be right - just shows my own personal bias of not wanting to spend too much on tubes.
Just checked current prices - it is indeed a good deal compared to the jawdropping prices being asked!

 

[leftside]

You may very well be right - just shows my own personal bias of not wanting to spend too much on tubes.
Just checked current prices - it is indeed a good deal compared to the jawdropping prices being asked!

All good. I was hoping you'd found a secret stash somewhere that we could have taken advantage of

 

[Monsterzero]

Not a bad price for 6. Anyone from here grab them?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/6x-6C5G-Philips-NOS-tube-Valve-/384328421799

Have you tried these in the TRP yet?

 

[therremans]

yeah Raytheon, here’s a pair that I own.

 

[leftside]

Have you tried these in the TRP yet?

They won't work there. Just never ending different power tube variations...