# Does Anyone Want Old Radio/TV Tubes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218 "2020-01-10T13:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/1 "2020-01-10T13:46:35Z")
Cleaning out an attic, and found a ragged box filled with old radio and TV tubes - there are both small and large ones (I guess the large tubes are for TVs?) Some are loose, others in boxes, most in good shape. Can anyone use these? I could try to box it up safely and send it wherever. Here’s a pic I took with more than half of the tubes out of the box (so there’s at least twice as much more) [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/tTZM9pp.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/xGkpQJE) Hate to just throw them out if they have any use. Wallet ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/2 "2020-01-10T14:16:08Z")
At the least the ones still in their packaging are probably NOS (“new old stock”) and can be sold if testing verifies they are good. I assume you don’t have a tester? (I, and several other dopers, do. :D) So the value drops. List them on Craig’s List. Guess about $2 per packaged tube to get a total to ask for. Maybe start higher and if you get no takers, lower the price. [FWIW: What I am interested in are “all American six” tubes: 12SA7, 12SQ7, 12SK7, 35L6, 35Z5.] ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/3 "2020-01-10T14:19:43Z")
Might want to check if [these folks](http://www.tubecollectors.org/) are still active. (I’m sure that there are other potential customers, they were just the first I saw.) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/4 "2020-01-10T14:35:39Z")
Check the [arrl.org](http://arrl.org) website to find a ham radio club nearby, they might like to have them. There are also radio swap meets listed where they might sell. Lot’s of hams still use tubes. This [page](http://www.arrl.org/get-involved) contains links to clubs and swap meets. ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/5 "2020-01-10T14:42:47Z")
Thanks for the suggestions, but really was just wondering if a doper would like them for free. Oh, and I’ll look through the dust for the the model numbers you listed. eta: nope, don’t have a tester for the tubes ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/6 "2020-01-10T14:47:07Z")
you may be able to eBay them if they’re unused, and depending on what specific tube types they are. still plenty of tube equipment out there in the audio and music world. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/7 "2020-01-10T15:00:40Z")
[This company](https://vacuumtubesinc.com/) appears to still be in business. There’s a detailed list on the site of everything they’ll buy and what they’ll potentially pay. Could get a few bucks out of them, or significantly more depending on what exactly you have. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/8 "2020-01-10T17:36:12Z")
If you put them on Craigslist or such, mention “steampunk” and “craft supplies” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/9 "2020-01-10T17:38:13Z")
My boyfriend might be interested. Let me ask him. Feel free to send to another Doper if someone gets back to you before I can. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/10 "2020-01-10T17:59:56Z")
Ok, we’re out. He’s not interested in the tubes. Cool collection, though! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/11 "2020-01-10T18:07:02Z")
> [@Jumpbass](#): > > If you put them on Craigslist or such, mention “steampunk” and “craft supplies” Aw, I have a few tubes/valves lying around, and while I might even give some away for free to an electronics hacker, I would not want to sell a perfectly good tube as “craft supplies”. That’s for broken tubes. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/12 "2020-01-10T18:21:59Z")
A lot of people prefer guitar amps with tubes so there is a market for any tubes that can be used in an amp. the most common amp tubes are EL84 and 6L6 and similar types. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/13 "2020-01-10T18:26:18Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > A lot of people prefer guitar amps with tubes so there is a market for any tubes that can be used in an amp. the most common amp tubes are EL84 and 6L6 and similar types. yep. to this day you can [buy brand new tubes for audio applications.](https://www.parts-express.com/cat/vacuum-tubes/1600) Most of them come out of Russia and Eastern Europe, and are fairly well regarded, but there are collectors and enthusiasts out there still looking for original NOS ones from e.g. Raytheon, Sylvania, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/14 "2020-01-10T18:50:04Z")
[It’s not only for guitars](https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/nagra-vpa/); some people just like the sound (not that a $30000 transistor amp sounds bad) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/15 "2020-01-10T19:09:47Z")
5Y3, 5U4, 12AX7, 6V6, 6L6 tubes are widely used in Fender Amps. NOS Tubes made by RCA, GE, Sylvania or Mullard are highly desirable. Vintage Mullard tubes are considered the best ever manufactured. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/16 "2020-01-11T14:47:58Z")
I tried to see if there were any tube numbers I could make out on the boxes. I noticed the handwritten list of tube numbers. One just **jumped** out at me: 6CB6! It was the first tube number I memorized. That’s the one to replace on those old RCA Victor TVs from the late 50s when the sound goes out. I swapped those out several times as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/17 "2020-01-11T23:43:57Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I tried to see if there were any tube numbers I could make out on the boxes. I noticed the handwritten list of tube numbers. One just **jumped** out at me: 6CB6! It was the first tube number I memorized. > > That’s the one to replace on those old RCA Victor TVs from the late 50s when the sound goes out. I swapped those out several times as a kid. I thought it was cool to see so many boxes of tubes (radio or TV, not sure) marked Raytheon - it’s now a major defense contractor, making guidance systems for some very scary weapons! For the poster asking about specific numbers, I did a quick look and didn’t see them on any tubes/boxes, sorry. And, the poster who mentioned having someone use them for steampunk projects - that’s a great idea! Is anyone here in touch with **Rocketeer**? Perhaps he could use these for some of the fantastic models he makes. Again, thanks for all of the ideas, Wallet ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/18 "2020-01-12T04:11:32Z")
Heck, If no one else wants them, I will take them. I will send a PM. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/19 "2020-01-12T14:22:06Z")
What, if any value vintage tubes has varies widely. Those that have some value include really old radio types (generally a two digit number) and those that were used in everything, including audio applications. 6L6, 7591, 5881, 7199, 12AX7, 12AU7, 7247, KT88, 6550 There’s also series string radio tubes: 12BE6, 12BA6, 12AV6, 50C5, 35W4 When people say they found a box of old tube in the basement, a lot of what they have are old series type TV tubes. These were developed specifically for TV sets and don’t have any other applications. Usually it will be some number other than 12, then two letters and a number. These are essentially worthless since few people collect 1960s TV sets. ---
**Author:** ![Wallet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e99b99/32.png) [@Wallet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallet)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218/20 "2020-01-12T17:09:35Z")
> [@48Willys](#): > > Heck, If no one else wants them, I will take them. > > I will send a PM. Thanks! I sent you a PM yesterday. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-want-old-radio-tv-tubes/846218.md?page=2)