Vintage tube collection

[Kaz]

I have on my hands a really vintage tube collection (passed over to me) that I need to catalog and identify for possible sale/auction.

Is anyone here particularly familiar with older tubes? I've got some Tung-Sols, Sylvania, RCA, Philco and even a Ratheon tube.

I also need to know what I should use to clean/restore them to pristine quality, as they've been in storage and are considerably dusty.

 

[loudguitars]

I would help if I can!! Email me a list of what you got or photos
Greg

 

[dmt]

Do not use any sort of cleaning agent to clean the tubes. You will wipe the lettering off! Gently dust the tubes of with a paper towel or towel and be carful!

 

[Kaz]

Do not use any sort of cleaning agent to clean the tubes. You will wipe the lettering off! Gently dust the tubes of with a paper towel or towel and be carful!

Unfortunately, on a good many of them, the writing/labeling hasn't survived--but, fortunately, I have at least two of each, so, it's easy to tell if they're the same tube.

Some of the preamp tubes are hard to read though, especially the 6SN7s.

 

[123thefirst]

Do not use any sort of cleaning agent to clean the tubes. You will wipe the lettering off! Gently dust the tubes of with a paper towel or towel and be carful!

Or better yet: use a feather duster or air gun.

 

[212Mavguy]

Dust, schmust...clean the pins with yer fingers and some fine steel wool... dust on the bottle has no effect on electrical connections...and don't let the compressed air gun or the air from yer lungs and pursed lips cause the tube you are blowing away steel wool dust to fly out of your hands and hit the floor...I have noticed changes in tone with dirty pins and clean ones with the same tube, clean pins in clean sockets sound better. I like using a proxibrush designed for cleaning old folk's teeth in the gaps between them next to the gum (and how do I know 'bout dat?) ;~) soaked in electrical contact cleaner such as Jiffy Bath or Craig Deoxit to poke in the holes of tube sockets, works fuggin' awesome to clean them, you would not believe how much crap can accumulate in a vintage socket and how much better things sound in old schtuff after cleaning!

Yes, I take the dust off tube bottles too, with a gentle application of the bottom of my cotton t-shirt. Sometimes I lick the dirty spots with my tongue first. UUUUGH! :wink:

 

[Elpelotero]

send the sylvania str415's my way

 

[stokes]

What Mav says,but instead of steel wool,I like to use a piece of Scotchbrite wet with a cleaner that has no lubricant,just poke the pins thru the piece of wet Scotchbrite as though you are pushing it in and out of a tube socket.If you use a dark colored t-shirt insted of a white one to clean the dust,you dont even have to change your shirt to go out for dinner afterwards.But do clean the dust off your tongue first,the waitress will get turned off if you dribble mud.

 

[Kaz]

Haha, Thanks guys for the help. It's very useful information, especially the air gun/canned air solution.

I'll be categorizing, photographing, and tagging the tubes when I get a chance. Going to have a friend test them for me, so hopefully we'll have some working goodies.