When were the best tube amps made?

@fsonicsmith Don’t mind fan boys/fan girls, but tell us a little of why you think they are exceptional, please!

P.S. - Are they still in business?  Their website hasn't been updated in years.

Another version of "back in the good old days".  I suspect with tube amps or anything else, it's hard to say that advancements in design and technology haven't improved todays products over things being built in the past.  Politicians being the exception to the rule. 

Now. So many choices at so many price  and quality levels.

Due to the improvement in component materials the best sounding amps are probably being produced today.  Unfortunately the best tubes produced are from the 40s and 50s.  It does seem that recent  tube manufactures are  focusing on producing a better quality product but at a increased cost.  That makes sense as the numbers produced are so much lower than they were in their hay day.  

The best amps were made when Japanese thoroughness joined American ingenuity: think Wavac, Shindo, Yamamoto, Kondo and nowadays Allnic, Zanden and Luxman