I recently purchased a nice little wood Packard Bell model 35 (early model tubes= 57 58 56 2A5 80)from Mark Stein.. yes that Mark Stein
...for under $100.
I was looking for more info about it at Radiomuseum.org and noticed that they claim it to have a general current market value of $1800.00..




Now I guess that all depends on condition of course... and this wood cabinet is unrestored ( I have redone the chassis)...and it is otherwise in average looking condition for its age.
But do any of you have a better feel about this model actually having such a high value? I was surprised to see that. But if Mark Stein let it go at that price he must not think its worth too much...right ... and he seems to be someone who ought to know right?...lol

Also I just bought two #71 tubes on Ebay. ( 1 new the other used)
I paid $21.50 for both... and I don't even have a current need for them... but I noticed that PTOTP sells them new for $29.00 each... so I guess they are hard to find now.
I'll put them in my stash.. but haven't yet ever come across any radios that use them.
Do you guys know which radios typically needed these?
I stick mostly to 1930-49 so all that 1920s stuff is foreign to me.

That is a neat little radio.

I put #71 tubes in my Majestic once, before I was able to obtain #45 tubes. At the time I was also using a power supply that only put out about 180 volts, which is appropriate for #71 tubes. What I can say is that even with push-pull, power was less than desirable. It was alright. A model 70 Majestic, and many other radios from the late 1920s use #71 tubes. However, if I was you, as far as power is concerned, I'd stick to radios that have #45, 2A3, or #50 tubes. #50 tubes are the most expensive, and are the least productive for the outrageous voltage that they use. However, all three will perform better than the #71. The #71 is better than the 01A. If you do come across a radio that you like that uses #71 tubes, by all means get it. If the radio has a worthwhile speaker, you can change the output tube(s) to the type 45 (if you can change the filament voltage and cathode bias). You will probably get a bit more power. If you wish, also increase the B voltage to the output, which will boost your power. Horn type speakers are fine with the #71 tube, however. It is not worth the effort to change to #45 tubes. A horn speaker will squak and blare your ears out just fine with #71 tubes. If the radio used an enclosed horn speaker, and you wanted to sneak in a moving cone speaker, it might validate changing the output tubes. You might also use a small moving cone speaker with the flexible rubber edge, if the radio uses an enclosed wooden or metal horn where the driver is removable. The modern flexible speaker will afford more bass while still utilizing the horn for amplification. Audio quality will probably be better, though, if you just switch completely to a larger moving cone speaker (if you don't want originality). I have yet to try a small moving cone speaker on an enclosed horn, so I don't know what the results would be. I don't even own a radio with an enclosed horn, so I can't really try it out. I probably would have already, if I had such a radio.

T.

I take that back. #71 tubes will probably be very satisfactory, especailly in a radio that uses push-pull, like the Majestic 70.

I used them in my Majestic 180, and at the time noticed unsatisfactory power. What I forgot, though, is that though I was feeding the tubes their correct voltage (about 180 to 200 volts), the speaker field was designed for much more voltage as wired in the radio (two resistors in series with it when operated at about 425 volts....one is eliminated when operated at about 308 volts, and the other is eliminated when operated at 200 volts, in the case of the model 70....in my receiver, however, both resistors were present). Since my speaker field wasn't receiving enough power, this would explain why I didn't notice adequate output power. I have a battery operated farm radio that has a single-ended output (3Q5) capable of only .25 watts, and it has more than adequate power with a moving cone speaker. The #71 is capable of up to .7 watts, so I do believe that it would be quite satisfactory for output either as a single tube or in push-pull.

T.

Peter

Although you may get a 71A to work in a radio requiring a 45 it has a 5 volt filament. A 45 has 2.5 volt filament.

The 71A can be used in place of 01A as an output tube. It does require higher grid bias voltage.

Nice radio for under $100 but someone is really optimistic pricing it at $1800.

Norm

:I take that back. #71 tubes will probably be very satisfactory, especailly in a radio that uses push-pull, like the Majestic 70.
:
:I used them in my Majestic 180, and at the time noticed unsatisfactory power. What I forgot, though, is that though I was feeding the tubes their correct voltage (about 180 to 200 volts), the speaker field was designed for much more voltage as wired in the radio (two resistors in series with it when operated at about 425 volts....one is eliminated when operated at about 308 volts, and the other is eliminated when operated at 200 volts, in the case of the model 70....in my receiver, however, both resistors were present). Since my speaker field wasn't receiving enough power, this would explain why I didn't notice adequate output power. I have a battery operated farm radio that has a single-ended output (3Q5) capable of only .25 watts, and it has more than adequate power with a moving cone speaker. The #71 is capable of up to .7 watts, so I do believe that it would be quite satisfactory for output either as a single tube or in push-pull.
:
:T.

(and, in case anyone was wondering, when I used the #71 tubes in my Majestic 180, I supplied them 5.0 volts....I didn't supply the field enough voltage, though, which is why it seemed as though the 71s had little power)