Anyone know of tubes? Zaerix, Haltron..

[Jouni]

Hi

I discussed in the bus to work about my tube amp with an old geezer at my work, he's working in the electronics..
He asked what sort of tubes the amp uses, and I said ECC83/12ax7, a couple of days later the geezer hands me a paperbag full of Zaerix and Haltron 12ax7 tubes in original boxes, unused.. they were used to amplify automationrelated signals back in the day, and these have been left in storage. NOS..?

Do anyone know if they are any good??

 

[Tadpui]

Dude, that's pretty cool! What a nice guy.

Sorry I don't have any helpful input but that's a pretty cool story to be handed a bag full of preamp tubes!

 

[Jouni]

Yes, pays off to listen them old geezers stories once in a while!

I've been looking all day what they are..

Both brands are "repackers" from UK.
They bought tubes from wherever they could, and re-stamped and packed them and sold them.
"Zaerix" sold to army and aviation.
They repacked RTF, Sovtek, Brimar, Mullard.. whatever they got their hands into. This was in the 60-70's..

I emailed a tube seller that said that older, the better, newer are more probably Sovtek.

There are no dates of any kind visible... I'm not enough in the know to tell the original maker from their structure. All I know that they were acquired here somewhere in the seventies.

But ain't gonna look in the mouth of a gift horse, must try them on!!

took a photo of a couple:

 

[mrface2112]

I emailed a tube seller that said that older, the better, newer are more probably Sovtek.

I was going to say......but didn't want to say. they're definitely rebadged (like Amperex Bugle Boys and Groove Tubes) and are probably either Russian or Chinese in origin, I would suspect they're more than likely Russian. I can't see any of the etching that would mark them as GE, RCA, Mullard, Telefunkens, etc.

Don't despair though, older Sovteks are actually pretty decent tubes (I've got some 12ax7-WA labelled Sovteks that are real nice in high-gain circuits).

Put em in an amp and see what they sound like! That's the real answer. Free tubes are free tubes!


cheers,
wade

 

[Jouni]

You're right, free is free, and my amp is a Sovtek so they'll be right at home!

If some are busted, I'll make a necklace out of them!!

 

[Ritzy]

Your Zaerix labelled tube is an RFT, manufactured in the former East Germany.

I can't 100% tell from the pic, but the Haltron labelled tube looks to be a Tungsram. Can you tell me, is there a small medal square (or diamond) shaped plate attached to the side of the rod that holds up the getter ring? This square could also be attached directly to the side of one of the plates, and should have a number (such as 17) stamped into it.

Hope that helps...

 

[Jouni]

Damn!..

Thanks!!!..

Yes, there is a small plate in the rod holding the getter, "18" it looks labeled.

Sort of helps knowing what they are.

Got 14pcs of RFT and 6pcs of Tungsram, presumably.
..He still has 12 more "Zaerix"'s if I need them.

Early christmas.

 

[Ritzy]

Cool bananas!

Yeah, it's definitely a Tungsram then, made in Hungary.

That's a cool score, congrats!