The magic eye tube was in a "Recordio" -- probably a 6B40B based on the date codes on the tubes - that originally looked much like this one: http://78records.cdbpdx.com/RECORDIO/WGRC/ but had been in a damp basement with a frequently-wet floor for who-knows-how-many years (at least 20 but probably closer to 40). The top half wasn't too bad but the bottom half was all de-laminating. The chassis of the electronics part was pretty rusty. I have a feeling it didn't work when it was moved down there -- the power cord was half-severed and most people would have fixed that if it was otherwise working. Other than a heavy layer of dust, the tubes look in pretty good shape since their pins were protected by their sockets. I haven't cleaned the dust off since I don't want to accidentally remove markings. If I had had time to do a little research on it I might have tried to save more of it. Especially if I had noticed the magic eye before it was too late. The little window for it was so cloudy I had no clue it was anything significant.
My father-in-law had a tube tester but I haven't found a power cord that fits it. I have no idea how to use it but there's a book with it, so maybe I'll be able to at least light it up. On Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 3:57 PM, Charles MacDonald <[email protected]> wrote: > On 15-07-13 08:48 AM, Andy Tefft wrote: > >> This is slightly off-topic but I knew some of you would have knowledge >> and interest :-) >> >> I rescued some tubes from a couple of old (40's and 50's) radios that >> were getting the crowbar treatment (although I started to, that story is >> too sad to recount). One of them surprised me by having a magic eye >> tube, which I've never seen in person, which is what prompted me to pull >> out all the tubes I could. Wish I'd had time to salvage sockets as well. >> >> > The 6E5 is a very popular tube, although as has already been said they > often get dim with age. This data sheet has some information and sample > circuits. Basically the tube acts like a small voltmeter with very low > effect on the voltage it is indicating. Besides radio tuning you will > often find them in Capacitor testers. > > http://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/021/6/6E5.pdf > > and a slightly different sheet > http://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/049/6/6E5.pdf > > and this older one which going into a bit more detail > http://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/6/6E5.pdf > > What I do know is that I'd rather have them get used than end up in a >> dumpster. Is there any value at all in salvaged tubes? I think the magic >> eye is a 6e5 type (I don't have them with me and haven't made a list >> yet). Anyone seen a decent kit I can plug this into that will just do >> "something"? >> > > Hard to tell as the 6E5 was used in a LOT of different radio designs, so > the rest of the tubes can be many different types for a 30 year technology > span. all we can say for sure is you could probably build a radio. (or a > audio amp using the two or three tubes from the speaker driving part.) > > Too bad about the radios. Any that would have a eye tube were probably > higher end units and worth considering restoring, unless waterlogged or > similar. > > -- > Charles MacDonald Stittsville Ontario > [email protected] Just Beyond the Fringe > No Microsoft Products were used in sending this e-mail. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "neonixie-l" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/55A41829.1030009%40zeusprune.ca > . > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAM1F4kReS-oYCF5hbtArJE5ZF_0FTFtrVKs5NsaFCPuG4SERUA%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
