Interesting phone call

[Mark-VA]

Talked to and elderly gentleman yesterday and it just so happens he used to repair TV's and radios back in the 60's. He sent me a list of what he wants to sell. Wow, what vintage stuff.
Actually thought about purchasing the entire lot and trying to sell, raise money to buy a good modern oscilloscope to play with.
I think I need to go see this stuff.


Knight signal tracer

Echo model 625 tube tester

Knight flyback checker

Supreme instrument model 589 battery and tube tester

B&K model 440 cathode rejuvenator tester

Triplet model 3414 tube tester

Knight 5” wide band oscilloscope

Knight KG-670 R/C tester

Knight volt/ohm meter

Several books of radio and TV schematics

Approximately 50-75 vacuum tubes

[Carl-NC]

You don't want that stuff. Most of it is for tube circuitry and most is probably manufactured with tube circuitry.

[Jim in Idaho]

Carl is right, Mark. You wouldn't want that stuff if it was free. Chances of selling it are nil.
Jim

[Mark-VA]

Thanks guys.

[Skippy]

Nixie tubes have some value today, if there's any unused ones in his spares, they're worth having. Even ones salvaged from instruments can have some worth.
There's tons of books on tube-era equipment, repair, etc on the World Radio History site, if you ever need such information:
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm
Only very specific tubes have much value today. Some years ago, I tried to sell off a load of them at an Amateur radio 'boot sale' . Everyone asked "How much for the pair of KT88's ?" , nothing else got much attention. It turns out KT88's are used in audio amplifer output stages, and valve audio gear fetches money. Here in the UK, the main demand for old tubes is for restoring military radio gear, WW2 or WW1. But they don't want to pay much for it.

[Olly]

Nixie tubes have some value today, if there's any unused ones in his spares, they're worth having. Even ones salvaged from instruments can have some worth.
There's tons of books on tube-era equipment, repair, etc on the World Radio History site, if you ever need such information:
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm
Only very specific tubes have much value today. Some years ago, I tried to sell off a load of them at an Amateur radio 'boot sale' . Everyone asked "How much for the pair of KT88's ?" , nothing else got much attention. It turns out KT88's are used in audio amplifer output stages, and valve audio gear fetches money. Here in the UK, the main demand for old tubes is for restoring military radio gear, WW2 or WW1. But they don't want to pay much for it.

Some of the audio valves can command very good prices today especially originals from the 'Svetlana' factory such as the 6550A or original GEC valves, KT66 or KT88. These are much sought after for modern valve amplifiers so I would check carefully what he is offering and have a look at websites such as 'watfordvalves.com' to see if they have any value.

[ivconic]

There are numerous audiophile forums where tubes are still traded today.
Some preamplifier tubes such as the ECC83 have high prices, depending on condition and manufacturer.
And all the listed equipment is probably from some service from those times.
All of this can be of value to fans of retro technology.
If you have patience, you can resell it all slowly, piece by piece, for a multiple of the amount invested.

[deko350]

I used to work with vacuum tube tester back in 80s. This thing was huge and weigh was around 30 pounds and maybe more. And in addition to that it has another box containing punched cards. Every tube lamp had its own card with different hole pattern. You put this card on the device and start to push pins in its holes. It takes about 5-6 min. Then you place the tube onto corresponding socket and start measuring characteristics by pushing buttons. Generally cathodes were exhausted. You don't need such device nowadays.