Hello, I have a large box of tubes that I can not identify and was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for reading numbers or identifying tubes with missing numbers. Other than using a magnifying glass is there any easyer way to read the numbers.
Thanks
David

:Hello, I have a large box of tubes that I can not identify and was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for reading numbers or identifying tubes with missing numbers. Other than using a magnifying glass is there any easyer way to read the numbers.
:Thanks
:David

David,

There is a trick(?) I have used sometimes on faded tube numbers and that is to chill the tube slightly and blow my breath on the area of the tube where the faded tube number is located. It sometimes makes it easier to read the number.

Radiodoc

And if you do manage to read the number, scribe it into the base for future or write it on a piece of tape and stick it on the tube.
Greg

::Hello, I have a large box of tubes that I can not identify and was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for reading numbers or identifying tubes with missing numbers. Other than using a magnifying glass is there any easyer way to read the numbers.
::Thanks
::David
:
:David,
:
:There is a trick(?) I have used sometimes on faded tube numbers and that is to chill the tube slightly and blow my breath on the area of the tube where the faded tube number is located. It sometimes makes it easier to read the number.
:
:Radiodoc
:

Beyond Doc's freezer suggestion, I don't know of any other "tricks." Once you identify a tube with faint markings, be sure to mark it with a Marks-a-Lot or a good sticker that won't come off. (The pressure-sensitive stickers are no good for this - you need the kind that you lick.)

Some tubes wind up being trashed because they can't be identified. Some tubes can be recognized just from their appearance. I can distinguish an '80 rectifier by inspection.

I've had this fantasy: hook up a tube tester with a computer. The computer would have all the tube data built into it. By comparing the actual tube's performance and pinout to the tube data, it would spit out the tube type(s) that match. I've been told that besides the practical problems, there would be too much data overlap and uncertainty to make such an idea work.

Use of coherent light at an angle. A very bright white or blue LED, start at 15 ‡ up to 45‡ this with fogging by breathing on the tube will show a lot more that you see under g regularh light

They now make a fine point "Sharpie" brand permanent marker with silver ink that's excellent for renumbering tubes.