Tubes Asylum

• Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 - JANDG 16:44:57 04/08/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 posted by Bob Mc on April 8, 2007 at 05:39:45:

  I run that tube in a Scott 299B, it is Matsushita I believe..Nice tube.
  
  

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• Possibly Matsushita? - rtbarr 07:37:10 04/08/07 (0)
  In Reply to: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 posted by Bob Mc on April 8, 2007 at 05:39:45:

  I have several EL34 tubes labeled Westinghouse and GR BRITAIN that are clearly Japanese Matsushita tubes. I believe the laws at the time allowed tubes asssembled in Japan from components made in Britain to be labeled as such.

  I also have several Westinghouse 5AR4/GZ34 tubes that are Matsushita as well. I don't recall if they also have the GR BRITAIN label. Matsushita tubes are usually easy to recognize as they have seams in the glass on the top of the dome. Usually there are two at right angles making a cross. Sometimes only one seam is obvious.

  Both these tubes, EL34 and 5AR4 are very nice in their own right. Matsushita bought the tooling from Mullard and work was supposedly overseen by British technicians for a while. I think these are very nearly as good as true Mullards.

  All of the true Mullards I have seen have etched codes that are resistant to wearing off. A code beginning in B means the Blackburn plant in England. I have no experience with the very early metal based versions of either tube however.

  RT Barr
  
  
  

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• Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 - Chris O 07:07:02 04/08/07 (2)
  In Reply to: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 posted by Bob Mc on April 8, 2007 at 05:39:45:

  Usually Mullard tubes will have a hole in the bottom of the guide pin and small letters/numbers etched in the glass near the base.

  The "[two letters]" are "GR" for Great in Great Britain. Most of the time when the tube is relatively small in size and has the European GZ34 designation and has GR Britain on it it is either a Mullard or a fake. I doubt someone would fake a Westinghouse Brand.
  _______________________________
  Long Live Dr.Gizmo

  
  
  

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  • Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 - Bob Mc 08:44:22 04/08/07 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 posted by Chris O on April 8, 2007 at 07:07:02:

    Thanks for the tips. Mine has a chrome top. No sign of seam(s). Pins 4 & 6 have dimples, pins 2 & 1 are rounded ends, pin 8 looks rounded as well but with a cross hatch (perhaps not there originially?).

    No inscription at bottom of glass by base.

    Thanks,
    bob
    
    

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  • Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 - Jeff A W 07:24:23 04/08/07 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Westinghouse 5AR4 GZ34 posted by Chris O on April 8, 2007 at 07:07:02:

    Note that some (not all) genuine Mullard big black base GZ34 (w/"f31" codes) don't have any hole in the guide key.
    
    

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