[Roasty]

Thanks. I actually found it here (www.head-fi.org/threads/price-drop-western-electric-421as-nos-nib.907974/#post-15063367). I read about the 421A and did a search. Luckily the seller still had one of the five available and I grabbed it.

How hard are they to find these days? And is 250 USD/EUR pretty much the expected price for an NOS specimen?

The other 4 tubes are with me

 

[JKDJedi]

Just read through the thread, very interesting. Anyone have an idea on the date of this 5998 ?

What's up @Wid I think I answered that for ya on the Facebook thread, the 3002 is probably an early code used by Tung Sol, it was later changed to 322... https://www.tubemuseum.org/SearchResults.asp?Cat=30

 

[Wid]

What's up @Wid I think I answered that for ya on the Facebook thread, the 3002 is probably an early code used by Tung Sol, it was later changed to 322... https://www.tubemuseum.org/SearchResults.asp?Cat=30

Just double checking lol.

 

[JKDJedi]

Power supply unit for telephone terminal carrier system AN/TCC-7. Signal Corps US Army. Mainly made by Western Electric. (two 5998 in there)

 

[JKDJedi]

Just read through the thread, very interesting. Anyone have an idea on the date of this 5998 ?

Are there any other numbers on the base of the tube? that long string of numbers could be just an inventory code.https://tubedatabase.co/tubes/tung-sol-jan-ctl-5998

 

[Wid]

Are there any other numbers on the base of the tube? that long string of numbers could be just an inventory code.https://tubedatabase.co/tubes/tung-sol-jan-ctl-5998

 

[JKDJedi]

That's crazy... Is that your tube on the link? I'd read that as 1957... 24week maybe someone will chime in and confirm.

 

[Wid]

That's crazy... Is that your tube on the link? I'd read that as 1957... 24week maybe someone will chime in and confirm.

Not that I’m aware of. I just got this tube last week. I noticed it is exactly like the one in the link.

 

[Vitor Valeri]

I am looking for a Western Electric 421A for my Woo Audio WA3. If anyone knows of a good sale offer or wants to sell yours, send me a PM.

 

[Vitor Valeri]

Nobody knows anyone who is selling or wants to sell Western Electric 421A?? I'm still on the hunt!

 

[JTbbb]

All 421A has bottom getters, and clear-top. If you can find some 5998 like those, grab it.

After reading through this thread it really does show you what a black art/impossibility it is to correctly identify some tubes. I wonder what the best guess is that I have here? They are labelled as Chatham 5998 with code 708J and 718J? Both clear tops with bottom double D getters. Now if they were labelled Western Electric 421a, would there be any argument? So my question is, are they 421a’s or are they upgraded 5998’s?

 

[JKDJedi]

After reading through this thread it really does show you what a black art/impossibility it is to correctly identify some tubes. I wonder what the best guess is that I have here? They are labelled as Chatham 5998 with code 708J and 718J? Both clear tops with bottom double D getters. Now if they were labelled Western Electric 421a, would there be any argument? So my question is, are they 421a’s or are they upgraded 5998’s?

those are 5998, Western Electric were built on stricter standards. I have a Chatham 5998 and a Western Electric 421a and a 6520...all sound different. Coming out of the gate NOS, Western Electric still remains supreme. With milage and use... you could find pairing of both that you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference. What you got there is nice pair. In my opinion lower getter 5998 are a step above the rest of the 5998...just not to the 421a output.

 

[HPAholic]

What is the story on the WE 5998/421A Grey-Plate with Date Code: 326 - 1953 of Q2 "April, May, June" ...

 

[JKDJedi]

After reading through this thread it really does show you what a black art/impossibility it is to correctly identify some tubes. I wonder what the best guess is that I have here? They are labelled as Chatham 5998 with code 708J and 718J? Both clear tops with bottom double D getters. Now if they were labelled Western Electric 421a, would there be any argument? So my question is, are they 421a’s or are they upgraded 5998’s?

these are early 5998, nice grab.

 

[JKDJedi]

Nobody knows anyone who is selling or wants to sell Western Electric 421A?? I'm still on the hunt!

selling mine for $200... PM me if interested.