Tube Websites and Tube Radio Reference Books

[Gerry O’Hara]

Here are some tube-biased web sites (pardon the pun), along with a list of some good reference texts taken from my own ‘radio library’. Many of the latter can be found on the internet or bought in paper or in some cases CD/DVD form on Ebay or other web sites – also check out second-hand book stores on the internet or locally – its amazing what turns up. Come on folks – I am sure you know some better ones that we all should know about and have access to? (please post them – thanks):

o https://www.valve-museum.org
o https://www.tubesandmore.com/
o https://users.iglide.net/hworth/radio/precision.html
o https://www.xs4all.nl/~tgale/antradio/valves.html
o https://www.tubecollector.org/
o https://www.pamandandy.demon.co.uk/valves/
o https://www.vacuumtube.com/
o https://www.tubewizard.com/
o https://www.geocities.com/rxtxtubes/pa01000.htm
o https://www.audiotubes.com/speaking.htm
o https://www.radiotubesupply.com/
o https://store.tubedepot.com/
o https://www.vacuumtubes.net/
o https://www.tubeworld.com/index_high.htm
o https://thetubestore.com/index.html
o https://www.users.qwest.net/~tubes/
o https://members.aol.com/etetubes/
o https://www.cjseymour.plus.com/elec/valves/valves.htm
o https://www.tubedata.org/
o https://tubes_tubes_tubes.tripod.com/tubestubestubes/
o https://www.nostalgiaair.org/Tubes/
o https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_searchtubes.cfm
o https://www.tone-lizard.com/Tube_Testers.htm/
o https://www.flashbacksales.co.uk/wilsonv … vindex.htm

Some Useful References (selection from my own library):

• Wireless Valves Simply Explained, John Scott-Taggart, 1st Ed. 1922 (one of the oldest books in my collection, well written and in very good condition too)
• Radio Servicing Equipment, E. Lewis, 1950 (a UK book that includes good information on valve testers)
• Getting the Most Out Of Vacuum Tubes, R. Tomer, 1960 (I have an author-signed copy I picked up at a local fleamarket, but a reprint is available from Antique Radio Supplies, https://www.tubesandmore.com)
• The (UK) National Valve Museum (DVD ROM), 2006 (also see their website listed above)
• Radio Receiver Service and Maintenance, E. Lewis, 1941 (1st Ed., Ch. 2)
• Radio Communications Handbook, RSGB (eg. 4th Ed, Ch. 2) – now in its 9th edition ( and there are still tubes in there!, ok, maybe not as many…)
• Radio Amateurs Handbook, ARRL (eg. 31st Ed. Chapter 3)
• Elements of Radio Servicing, W Markus and A Levy, 1955 – I find the Markus and Levy books on radio servicing very understandable and practical, as are those by Ghirardi and Johnson – see references below: well worth keeping an eye out for on EBay or the many second-hand bookstores on the web). It can be downloaded in pdf form from the internet at https://www.archive.org/details/Elements … _Servicing (though it is an older edition)
• Modern Radio Servicing, A. Ghirardi, 1st Ed. 1935 (quite a remarkable tome for its day and it gives a great ‘snapshot’ on the radio ‘state-of-the-art’ in the early 1930’s, albeit in the USA)
• Radio Engineering, F. Terman, 1947, (3rd Ed.) – a classic text, if a bit academic and ‘stuffy’ – but hey this guy taught Hewlett and Packard all they knew…
• Radio Servicing: Theory and Practice, A. Markus, 1948 (esp. Ch. 3, which provides a very comprehensive expose of valve designations)
• Radio and Television Receiver Troubleshooting and Repair, Ghirardi & Johnson, 1952, (Esp. Ch. 1)
• Radio and Television Receiver Circuitry and Operation, Ghirardi & Johnson, 1951
• RCA Receiving Tube Manual (mine is a 1950 copy found in a fleamarket for $3, but a reprint of both the 1959 and 1973 editions can be bought from Antique Radio Supply (https://www.tubesandmore.com), as can be many other interesting valve-related and ‘antique radio’ books)
• Radiotron Designers Handbook, F. Langford-Smith, 4th Ed. 1953 (considered by many as the ‘Bible’ of valve circuitry design, these tend to fetch a premium price on EBay as they are much sought-after by hi-hi and guitar amplifier folks these days. I bought a searchable CD ROM version for 1 cent on EBay, plus $5 postage!) – I finally gave up and forked out ‘big(ish) bucks’ for a decent quality paper copy. I also own a 3rd Ed. (1941) that is much thinner and somewhat less useful (though tends to be much cheaper). I understand that a reprint of the 4th ed. is available from some sources
• Super Radiotron Valve Manual, 3rd Ed. 1962 (Aussie-produced equivalent book)
• A Comprehensive Radio Valve Guide, W. May (Bernards Radio Manuals, UK), 2nd Ed. 1953
• Handbook of Radio, TV and Industrial Tube and Valve Equivalents, B. Babani, 1971
• Mullard Data Book, 1973/4 (I used to own a stack of these but regrettably chucked the earlier ones out in a clear-out several years ago)
• Radio Valve and Semiconductor Data, A. Ball, 10th Ed., 1975
• Radio Tubes Characteristics, Sylvania, 1950 (was ‘bundled’ with my Precision Valve Tester, ex. ‘Waitcus Supply Company’, Bellingham, Washington State)
• Electronics One-Seven, H Mileaf, 1967. Good descriptions of radio/electronic circuit elements and tube operations (ok, there are some three-legged fuses in there also…)

[Robin in Kansas]

Here’s one if you need to buy tubes…

https://fourwater.com/

Their name is MDB Ventures and are reasonably priced. The one thing I like about them is the fact that they show the test results of all their tubes.

[Robin in Kansas]

Has anyone heard of a periodical called, "Radio Trade Builder," that was published in the 1920’s and 1930’s? I stumbled on it while looking for something that I’ve forgotten completely about. I’ve found references to it (aka "Canadian Radio Trade Builder) and lists of articles in it but that’s about it.

Has anyone seen one? Is it a book, magazine, newspaper? Who published it? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Anonymous]

I recommend the geocities.com instead, I got my copy of their books but I was the one reprinted it for my personal use. I got it done at https://www.digitekprinting.com/digital-copy-center.

[Author]

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