You don't need to go back to 1955?? Go today, to diyaudio. They have a whole section devoted to DIY tubes. Read this for a few weeks, and you will be full of ideas. Just look at the thread subjects!!
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=5
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http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=5
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