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In Reply to: What's the deal with Svetlana? posted by Paulie on September 02, 2003 at 02:19:12:
OK, I went through this a while back and think I have it figured out. There are some counterfeit tubes out there that were made in China. The Svetlana KT88 tubes have been labeled in varous ways over the years. The ones that you want are on ones made in St. Petersburg Russia and are labled with the "flying C" logo. The current production KT88 tubes are labeled with the "flying C" logo. Some of the early genuine St. Petersburg KT88 tubes were not labled with the "flying C" logo. These are good tubes, just hard to identify. That is what makes things complicated. But, from what I gathered in my research, the thing to look for is the "flying C" logo because it seems that none of the counterfeit tubes have the "flying C" logo on them. At least not yet.
The current KT88 tubes made by SED SPb (SPb stands for St. Petersburg in Russia)and can be seen on www.sed-usa.com. Hope this helps.
Follow Ups:
"There are some counterfeit tubes out there that were made in China."Where did you hear that? I'm not aware of any Chinese tubes being relabeled Svetlana. What evidence is there to support that claim?
Here, from Uncle Ned's site (Triode):
"Note about "SED" Tubes: These used to be called Svetlana before a legal dispute forced the factory to quit marketing under the Svetlana name in the USA. SED's are the same tube, same box, same "C" logo, made in the same factory in St Petersburg, Russia as before. Note that there are tubes not made in the St Petersburg factory that are sold, legally, in the USA as Svetlana tubes."
Thanks Ned.
New Sensor, the "Sovtek" and "EH" people, own the Svetlana trademark in the USA. The tubes they make are not counterfeit, as they have every right to call them Svetlana, just as Richardson can apply the Bugle Boy name to any tube they want. In the old days, tube relabeling was quite common (GE made "RCAs" etc.), and it appears to have resurfaced. New Sensor currently imports tubes NOT made in St. Petersburg, but labels them Svetlana.
New Sensor cannot legally use the "flying C" logo, so that's a good indicator - if the tube is current production.
What is the best place to buy genuine made in St. Petersburg Svetlana KT88 tubes?
Hey man, thanks a bunch. That helps quite a bit! The issue of blue or red box's, or square vs. round holes, is not a concern?
A picture of the "flying C" logo can be seen at www.sed-usa.com
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