Why Are These So Valuable?

[rp]

[ampgeek]

Audio(tom)phoolery. Hey...if you must accurately amplify frequencies that only your dog can hear....gotta have them!!

Seriously though, they look to be an excellent example of a finely made, robust pre-amp tube. Maybe some collectors value there?

Way to rich for my blood fer sure!
Cheers,
Dave O.

[David Root]

Strictly hi-fi pricing. VT-231 is military grade, these are probably from the '40s, top quality 6SN7s.

If you're doing a pair of no compromise monobloc power amps these make awesome PIs.

[MCK]

Check out http://www.nostubestore.com/ - HiFi tube dealer making a slow transition to online sales. They have similar 6SN7s there at much better rates.

No relationship other than being an extremely happy customer. They have very good NOS items at great prices and offer wonderful service including testing & burning in at high voltage where needed.

Currently they have some mythical products which many have assumed are extinct. Just ordered some Bendix 5992!

Hint. Place a small teaser order and follow with a comment on their web page as you get a 10% discount on any future order.

[FYL]

HiFi tube dealer making a slow transition to online sales.

I'd rather say they are the largest Turkish wholesaler for ex-NATO surplus tubes now branching into retail sales. Impressive selection, decent prices and knowledgeable people.

[MCK]

HiFi tube dealer making a slow transition to online sales.

I'd rather say they are the largest Turkish wholesaler for ex-NATO surplus tubes now branching into retail sales. Impressive selection, decent prices and knowledgeable people.

Yup. I stand corrected. Thanks for that. Mine was a quick reference and was not meant as a negative or belittling comment. Have you bought from them?

[Cliff Schecht]

HiFi tube dealer making a slow transition to online sales.

I'd rather say they are the largest Turkish wholesaler for ex-NATO surplus tubes now branching into retail sales. Impressive selection, decent prices and knowledgeable people.

Yup. I stand corrected. Thanks for that. Mine was a quick reference and was not meant as a negative or belittling comment. Have you bought from them?

Most of their prices are good/great and they have some cool stuff! I may try them out soon, perhaps after I build another Express and need moar 7025's.

Edit: Well, no 7025's as of yet but they have a nice collection of the pre-War Yugo stuff that was made on old Telefunken equipment (I didn't know that!).

[FYL]

but they have a nice collection of the pre-War Yugo stuff that was made on old Telefunken equipment (I didn't know that!).

Elektronski Industija was initially a Telefunken licensee and struggled with crude machines from 1951 to 1959.

They then became a full Philips licensee, with their production made using Philips-sourced or -specified templates, equipment, tools and parts.

They manufactured zillions of tubes resold under Western fancy labels - from Mullard to Siemens, all bearing standard Philips manufacturing codes!

When TFK stopped manufacturing tubes in the mid '70s, Ei bought all their templates, equipment and tools and then produced zillions more tubes.

Quality was excellent initially, but things degraded real fast in the '80s, leading to the microphonic fireworks we all hated in the late'80s/very early '90s. Then civil war kicked in...

Ei is supposed to be alive and kicking, with some new production tubes soon to be available thru PM Components but I haven't seen anything except PR blurbs and nice photos.

[Cliff Schecht]

Thanks for the lowdown. I've never (knowingly) owned any Yugo tubes, most everything I have is US, Holland and Germany. I may try Ei or Tungsram in my next Express build, I'm aiming for that one to be much closer to a real Wreck.

It'd be cool if Ei can get their quality back to the old standards. You would think the manufacturers would quickly realize that they can't put out complete shit and expect us to want it. Not that QC is that easy to implement in China, but when you are making something that is (nowadays) essentially a novelty item for a specific group of people, it helps to make a product that they can use safely and enjoyably.