Quality Antique Electronic Restorations
P. O. Box 285 Liverpool, NY 13088 dave2@tubesandtransistorsandmore.com
All American Tubes
All American tubes were used in Radios Made between the late 1930s and early 1960s. There were 3 different styles of tubes used. Octal, Lok-tal and Miniature.
7 Pin Miniature tubes are used in these radios.
As mentioned on my Qualify page. The most often seen miniature tube line-up is:
12BA6, 12BE6, 12AV6 (or 12AT6*), 50C5 (or 50EH5*) and 35W4. *Actually the same tube.
However in some radios a 50B5 is used instead of the 50C5. It is the same inside but the pins connect differently. A 50B5 cannot be substituted with a 50C5.
Here’s what they look like.
Octal are larger and have 8 pins surrounding a keyed guide pin, Some octal tubes have another pin on top. They can be metal or glass.
The most common Octal tube line up is:
12SA7, 12SK7, 12SQ7, 50L6 and 35W4
Some sets use a 12SH7 or 12SG7 instead of the 12SA7. This is how they look:
Lok-tal tubes are similar in size to Octal tubes, but have a metal base with smaller diameter pins which surround a guide pin that locks into place with a “click”. A Lok-tal line up can be: 14A7, 14Q7, 14B6, 50A5 and 35Y4.
Here’s what these tubes look like:
Back to the Qualify page.
If your radio has older type tubes from earlier the 1930s the radio doesn’t qualify for these specials. But it does qualify for a lower priced flat rate electronic restoration.
