I only have opinions. Nothing I state is fact (other than maybe some of the discussion on who made what and what identifies what). I think one of the best value rectifiers out there is the Haltron/Brimar/Mazda/Siefte 5R4G with double mica and ceramic spacers. I have seen it with round pan getters, round halo getters and Norman has a D getter version (never heard that one). I have convinced a few people to use them and they can run $25. My favorite right now is $100 if/when you find it. But it is very specific to the factory, not the brand. Anyway, I digress. I use 5R4/5V4/5Ar4/5U4gs in the amplifier and preamplifier I use at work (well, I did until UPS lost the amp when I was getting work done on it that I was too scared to do. Sigh.)
My stable of rectifiers includes:
We 274B (I have three of these, including a matched pair of NOS in the box (labeled Electronic Enterprises identical to these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAIR-NOS-ELECTRONIC-ENT-WESTERN-ELECTRIC-274B-274A-TUBE-FIT-124-143-AMP-/121767741803?hash=item1c59ec496b:g:YeAAAOSwsB9WAh8a)
WE 422A (I have three of these in my possession 2 NOS in the box (not matched), though I think one is spoken for)
STC 5r4GYs (Four of these suckers, but the Oldway version stinks. Long live the Footscray)
Haltron/Brimar/Mazda/Siefte 5R4G (three or four of these at this point)
GZ34s (3 Mullards, no metal base. It's my white whale. Something always goes wrong when I get one or try to)
5z4s (A few Brimar bullet holes floating around)
5v4s (a few Brimars and a US made ones)
5u4G (a few US made)
I am sure there are others laying around here somewhere....
Shawn