The Growing Challenge of Buying NOS/NIB Tubes
An old forum post recommended The Tube Museum to source NOS/NIB tubes. I noted it has Siemens Halske and Telefunken ECC802S tubes for sale on The Tube Museum website. I asked Mark for a matched pair of Telefunken ECC802S or Siemens Halske ECC802 tubes. He said he had a pair but the link he provided were for Siemens E82CC and when I questioned whether they were true equivalents, this was his response:
You are incorrect.
These are TRUE AUTHENTIC TELEFUNKEN < > DIAMOND ECC802S.
Makes me think you are seeing the wrong pictures. Or, are ignorant about Telefunkn ECC802S tubes and their inner architecture.
E82CC Siemens are TOTALLY different - se he 2 meal tabs? See the < > between the glass.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Please, don’t insult my intelligence.
Mark
Needless to say, I was taken back by the tone and content of his response and the barrage of equally insulting emails that followed from Mark even though I told him I didn't want to hear from him anymore. SH ECC 802 tubes have a triple Mica and are not the same as standard E82CC Siemens or, in terms of quality, an Ulm Tele ECC802S. It gets weirder. The Tube Museum continues to show and offer for sale true SH and Tele ECC802, but when you try to order them, Mark tries to sell you something different and claims equivalency. When you question Mark, this is the response you get.
It's a further example of how hard it is to find reliable sources for genuine NOS/NIB tubes that are accurately described. I've had better results buying from European sources lately.
Been around tubes for a while and have not heard of meal tabs, although I am not acquainted with the types you refer to. I’d just walk away, should your assessment be correct. As you say, you have Euro suppliers and they probably speak English quite well and not speak in < and > words or shout at you in capitals letters. |
had a look at the site, and a lot of the the stock is unpriced, which is quite bizarre. I guess you put it in your basket, and once you‘re hooked he throws you a price, because nothing shows up at checkout. Or perhaps the tubes never existed and you get offered something else. The stuff that is priced is way over market and hyped to the max. Personally, I would steer well clear - this site has got honeypot written all over it. |
Shocking behavior!! Maybe it's called the The Tube Museum because he doesn't want to sell his tubes, only wants to collect and admire them. Not all his tubes are NOS, but measurements are posted and he says they don't come with boxes. That's fair, better than many other dealers. Still, his behavior is unacceptable.
Maybe "meal" tabs is a typo for metal tabs.
|
Have you tried new production such as JJ and if so what has been your experience? They are available - this link. {edited link from incorrect one} My own experience with new production has been invariably positive (mainly Tung-Sol available types, being made in Russia - hmmm...JJ are Czech?), but perhaps I am alone in having that luck. Yeah, I now get that it may have meant metal tabs, which is obviously some very technical.aspect of these tubes. Anyway. Best to not query his spelling prowess or he may be insulted - oh, wait... |
