I think anybody with tube equipment should get a simple tester like you want. I test new tubes I buy, garage sale finds, all tubes annually, and if a system problem occurs, to find either a problem, or more likely to know and have confidence the tubes are not the source of the problem.
I have 2 old Accurate models, #157 and #257. I have a big Hickock (see below) The 2 compact Accurate’s always show the same basic results as the big one, so I don’t bother with the big one,
You must have the manual (supplements and tube substitution books are nice extras)
I prefer ’buy it now’, but I would definitely bid on this one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125844705417?hash=item1d4cedd089:g:g4IAAOSws2NkHy2g&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4JF4YdCyxCoyoCtZ5u8RUEeSCWk3xRBA7Qbh4NUUkQM%2FRefS4D%2BeZHfwr%2Fe%2BPf9hGHP%2B0PMkUgECol5U2t0CfemW5%2BhvffN9Tlq2QycfaWeE0jomkfRlQ6vyqnxVtB8t%2BGf2HpWVFWJkUmdgaf4P%2FcniWqkm8Ys0XmM%2F9yx3Tw3eNZT33HQylTSumxsuD07%2BYHNAFhrjUtfzsk7tDEU2aQxgfdauiYG1vgX%2F7XSAjZQFzZIQhmEtKkvmrq0dHFGYxwM0LjxbTwZPQLFbImb1pcwpf3r0%2F0dFVgShRZ3mlN8i%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ
here’s my little Accurate 157. I week guarranty
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394530245122?hash=item5bdbd5ca02:g:bcIAAOSw9UFkHkpQ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4H01nKx1u5YbiZueNfCTrrLiuRhCRFfukMG5BJB9SJJyulkfUR%2FrfY26wnG%2FZzhvrRzBHiZdD2Nq2x1yswOiRA4Fi0daW5KfemsA66l3tSzUL0lrhqrmD14soBtXT9pPt0oQ4GFuFW5pm59fu%2BqBYCTCi6Lumm28Y25f%2FUBZ0f8W2DPJu%2BrfZKl40QE8MfWvAny0ULGn6XyItyEXlRoQ%2Fqo%2FOtdhiTh0JsysE2TfYiqQDPhegsEidMtd4GF5gBx5XpClBmB2RW7Op0SmuGJxsweTdd0GbvwfA2xTucJvm85k%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ
It is is pretty good shape. Don’t let rusty latches andd hinges worry you too much, they used cheap hardware, common to see torn vinyl, also cheap/thin wrap.
This is nasty/worst than most, but to prove my point
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175541678441?hash=item28df197169:g:LFYAAOSw9oJjogfH&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Gncov33JFz19G9G%2BnDzS8eq0%2FydKXyHGokKrjEGFDogxrylaGa4lEv5hOoH1q6Sca1QKEX4r9U5U1v0XoI%2FIVezG0wjxleghd1qm5RcsEU8uBXkdF7f%2FaCvVrzJZm64XWkKKpU%2BoAdlY8jqnrp%2BMuX43ZcYI89IWhdZzLJF2xtpo9P6AE16noCxFd30RXvDjgaovi%2F0et85g%2FZD6gWcoJKdTOsp403XNwh1zQoLukBv4YYzy44eTHVIMzYvviXezVkSIkqcB2WmdEbqsVClC1WRxmovpbjKoUNB0bmXc7h0%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4CcyI3lYQ
not enough sockets (look back at the 157
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394496094088?hash=item5bd9ccaf88:g:G7YAAOSwtaZkA7Lr&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Hl5538gaYhdXI95fDww660MMKw0w9Jg2aFXP%2FufL92KsE3NBFvACcihWC2ZsD2DlaAWq63d5rIBNlApeq%2Fd7MtFhol8hqMFMIBOQ%2FEmoq%2Fo4%2F5lL1bPiHlbPDvchePwIY7lfrzWoFb4I96AQlBHsdX5l3ituT5SwebmWKC4j0uGFnOM3Jaxu0zss%2Fd8HgCEcSgh2y46BTAR2oBFdZalk8vuXPFWDTKHEbQaRoGodTvnYcoOuiw5%2BoSWl%2FFOQ2b5QhoM0eWCG0lHhEtWMOVfYU9sQl71BOWebTalRJ31xH0r%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4KcyI3lYQ
This is tested, working, and clean, nice hard case. I would make an offer
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175385832190?hash=item28d5cf6afe:g:qsAAAOSwb2Vi~CqZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4LAaQU2va0y%2FFhxnyR044CFxFNfBCBfMO2mC9lXUZA0K7N%2B4%2FDwR9ufZ%2Fj9irbGoCr6sF1r1Tu7b7eMCLkDJ7zxlMPITQbD8ObXPITyO0K2UqZxTW%2BcroQmp6y4e%2FgiNHOq1Wfm993Z7bD%2B%2FUi%2BT10GJ5bc16vGZyFjOCDADF40cY3Wn%2Fx6%2B3dLH1Luxw50aYM4%2FXoC8XUQdjYKulNlmZ5Xr4SdmXuxZURg8lFrFD7SIOkXOkb46FN%2Bm4m7%2BGKQk0jdij3FORFIHLxJEjYMIsmICap7uRZQCi9pL%2B1PoNw4g%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4acyI3lYQ
"I will guarantee it to work or your money back."
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175651165400?hash=item28e5a014d8:g:M7QAAOSwK9lkEQ1v&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4KFAyCMTrmznLjMmJCUQn35F4x7zVAzoA3aFGr2WIQbCQfMj03GSqVXabvKJH65ySgVjOrzwv8tn%2B7L71fjz0fniK8%2BJGRj4TDHFFeVeIjr2fR9Jc9x0cc2XEG0KVkJU5oezlNN5FmB%2FxFBrn7I6PtCE%2FB2bUWAKBB3dOTsQdSVQl37UUTI6Ik71LCTNGZCTqoLzOa1DbWlzl0IuxVYbAw3PzN6cXGtLiZxjCzmXRH1YV79O2jKO%2FVimPl2a3a89mvGXwIyQAiAB%2FMVi7bvhkWZ5Yh6iECc6gCyjrIYCN8OC%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4icyI3lYQ
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Works Well (no returns). I always buy using PayPal, and use my credit card with best protection to fund my PayPal account, so you are double covered.
My experience: If seller says ’works well’ (or anything in writing that proves not to be so) Paypal/eBay will support the buyer. Credit card simply calls it Fraud and supports you.
Note: no mention of manual, so ask seller, and see if you can find a download
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175661126130?hash=item28e63811f2:g:hjEAAOSweXNkG2K3&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4ArYv%2Bt11MKsOuX9VPZ2S13tRBf%2FQi1IHTU71YWuprFbkfhh9HJsBq8VcbmkgorEo0aKyMB%2FhdNNHyfaMuCVYEOXtc4ldB5QuxT2xyHjjvsBtfxsPg3QWqcpp60Oh%2B9kMkby%2FA2xXxyV%2FDLS9YGrlJwUJofxJOL3AyRJAc0EKlox7Tp3IJCCO5ZlYFXnZ8SQXS7A66Vz%2Bu7sIH9fvJvdGCMFQUW4m7XgsZseqTqtehhMa56ec8l4Fkyi5K30vImCK7CILantSGor3wEtMtOM9Zig3jg03fqdSjke3Iyo7fvi%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4qcyI3lYQ
Hickock (looks like mine) over your budget, says ’good working condition’. Feature filled, more than the Accurate’s, other simple types.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/155472160795?hash=item2432dce81b:g:LRAAAOSwQNhjhouM&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAwMsPA7HtnZFOCaA2gYIlRq2lj4U8XoJcL%2Blb2OySpjr9%2BJpu4UdKH8yy7NfiITi9M5186lYy6Mdi8O7KQ5ogSA1xMszpFBwBKdFfEYPSXXWNjdGxZNcLakGOV9B%2BvGCpewZExXs7reB9ypyj0uswty%2FLjDyOfpVU41PRjCLSC3uuLwYfIIiGAeLbwCxixIz7g4H6hgEer%2BoISKHvWo2vNxx0aNDAHF%2F3MOI7VySa7%2FRCxY%2FhhPmQmhQTe8MtS3Yyxw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR46cyI3lYQ
thats from eBay, HiFi Shark has others I didn’t look at
https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=tube+tester
