How much is an old tube tester worth?

Almost any Hickok mutual conductance tube tester built after 1958 in any condition will sell for at least $250 -$350, and some models like the Hickok model 539C in good working and cosmetic condition consistently sell in the $700-$1,200 range.

How do you match tubes without tube tester?

Oh, you could use a preamp or power amplifier to match tubes, taking measurement of plate current, bias current but you really have to know what you are doing as you are working with 100 to 500 volts and enough current to kill, but this is a very accurate way to check tubes as they are “in” the circuit intended for …

How do you test a radio vacuum tube?

Put the tube into your guitar amplifier, tester, or other tube-using machine. Turn on the machine to activate the tubes, and look for an orange, red, or purple glow….Plug the tube into an electrical device to check its glow.

The filament may be hard to see.
If the tube doesn’t seem to glow at all, try touching it.

How do vacuum tube testers work?

The mutual conductance tester tests the tube dynamically by applying bias and an AC voltage to the control grid, and measuring the current obtained on the plate, while maintaining the correct DC voltages on the plate and screen grid. This setup measures the transconductance of the tube, indicated in micromhos.

Is there a market for old TV tubes?

There is a large market today for newer tubes used in vintage music amplifiers and vintage tube stereo equipment. Common tubes manufactured in the late 1950s or 1960s used primarily in televisions currently have little or no value.

What is a good vacuum tube tester?

The Hickok models. Hickok low-cost types like the 533, 533A, 534, 534A, are good testers for most service type work and for testing tubes with Gm values below 15,000 micromho’s (Mutual Conductance Values). These models are good all-around testers and lower in price.

Can you test tubes with a multimeter?

Open or shorted filaments can be detected using a multimeter, and should be done before plugging the tubes in. Set the multimeter to measure resistance and connect the meter’s test leads to the filament pins. (You can consult on-line tube manuals for the pin configuration.

Can tubes be tested with a multimeter?

How can you tell if a vacuum tube is bad?

Crackling, squeals and feedback, excessive noise and muddiness or low output are all evidence of tube problems. Power tubes. The two main symptoms of a power tube problem are a blown fuse or a tube that begins to glow cherry red. Either are typically indicative of a power tube failure.

What vacuum tubes are worth money?

Here is a shortlist of valuable vacuum tubes for collectors:

The 2A3 (from $50), 45 (from $25), 50 (from $200) are enjoyed explicitly by the audiophile crowd.
The 12AX7 preamp tube (from $10)
The American 6L6 tube (from $15)

Do vacuum tubes have any value?

Any early vacuum tube with a “tip” (the little glass nub on the top) and a brass base has some value to collectors even if it’s just usable for display. Common tubes manufactured in the late 1950s or 1960s used primarily in televisions currently have little or no value.