[JohnR]

Got this today:

 

Close-up:

 

(Click for larger: https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=181840&size=huge)

OK so the tube could be 90 years old, but look at the amount of dirt (mud?) on it where the glass meets the base. (The "N" in NOS stands for NEW BTW... if it's been used, it's not new.)
 
 

[AB]

Could be a pull. Does it test well? I suppose that's not the point. It was sold as NOS, right? I've seen pulls sold as NOS.
Honestly though, I'd almost prefer the pull if it tests well. It's been used and came out testing well. The true NOS might test well and then die in short order. It tests well but it's not been "tested".

[JohnR]

Yes, sold as NOS. I haven't tested them yet... but as you say, not really the point

[Steve]

Yes, sold as NOS. I haven't tested them yet... but as you say, not really the point

John, from what I can see, looks like the pins have no marks/streaks. Since your view is superior, can you
verify? Of course, the tube could still have been checked on a tube tester if marks are present.
I would not be worried by the sloppy glue.

cheers

steve

[JohnR]

Hi Steve, closeup of some pins -


 


 


Seems like it's had a fair bit of testing.

[Tom Bombadil]

That is the gnarliest "NOS" tube I've ever seen.

[Steve]

Hi Steve, closeup of some pins -


 


 


Seems like it's had a fair bit of testing.

Thanks for the close up John. Yes, I agree with your assessment. 

cheers

steve

[FullRangeMan]

How is the getter or any getter marks on the glass?  The getter will show some clues about a possible use.
Pins looks good in these images.

[mick wolfe]

That is the gnarliest "NOS" tube I've ever seen.

I'll second that.

[FullRangeMan]

Imprecision in gluing the base sometimes happens even in military tubes:

[dB Cooper]

Definitely not 'new'.

FRM, the tube pictured above must look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa when it's in a socket

[JohnR]

Does it test well?

OK so I tested one of them, on my TV-7 it reads 20, maybe 21. Minimum is supposed to be 23 (it's a Type 37 triode).


My TV-7 is not calibrated so I also tested a 37 I have that actually is NOS. It reads 31.


 

[FullRangeMan]

Too bad, any possibility of return or refund?

[JohnR]

Yes, they are on the way back. I will be out a whack of shipping though 

At the moment I'm thinking it's actually best to buy tubes of this vintage on ebay. That way you see photographs and any decent seller will also have test results. This is more what I'd have expected an NOS tube would look like  (same type as the one above):

[Steve]

Yes, they are on the way back. I will be out a whack of shipping though 

At the moment I'm thinking it's actually best to buy tubes of this vintage on ebay. That way you see photographs and any decent seller will also have test results. This is more what I'd have expected an NOS tube would look like  (same type as the one above):

That is what I used to see when I belonged to MARS. Get some really neat stuff by belonging.

Glad to see things worked out, able return and refund John. Too bad you had to deal with a questionable though, and resulting return shipping costs.

cheers

steve

[FullRangeMan]

Just remembered I had bad luck also from a tube vendor for not one but various small tubes and three 6C33:
Broken:

Yellow dot:

Broken pin(rejected tube by factory QC):



Low getter(used tube or gas):

[JohnR]

Must have been pretty poor packing to break one like that - ?

I'm having some success on eBay getting vintage tubes now. The NOS ones actually look new (if old), and the used ones look and test much better than the ones I returned and are much cheaper. As low as a dollar  Will post some pics on the weekend.

[FullRangeMan]

The package was robust double box, 3 boxes in to one big box.
I suspect this broken tube was packaged already broken, the glass is very thick more than 1mm.
I will never buy again from individual