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If you are planning on doing TV work, try to find a tester that will check for grid emission. This seems to be a common fault in TV tubes and excessive grid emission can cause problems in TV circuits. The Sencore "mighty mite" and the smaller B&K emission type testers usually have a good grid emission test function. The only problem is that the B&K and Sencore testers don't have sockets to test the old prong style radio tubes of the '20's and '30's.
As far as people using ebay as a price guide, I now walk away the minute someone tells me what their item is "worth" on ebay. Depending on my mood and their attitude, I usually tell them, "I'f it's worth so much on ebay; then, that's where you need to put it". I know this is off topic; but, ebay and the internet in general has done much to drive the prices up of things that we used to find at giveaway prices. 20 years ago, there was always stacks of tube audio equipment, test equipment, radios, etc. at the hamfest and antique radio meets for very reasonable prices. By the end of the day, some sellers would almost be willing to pay someone to take the stuff home. Fast forward a few years and along comes ebay and all the buyers with deep pockets who have the "I've gotta have it, no matter the cost" attitude and look where we are today. Now, it's "ebay this" and "ebay that" and it's getting to the point where one has to be rich to enjoy this vintage electronics hobby. The last couple of hamfest I attended had very little vintage electronics and what they did have came with a price.
When I thought I was done fixing tube type TV's, I sold my two Sencore mighty mite tube testers for something like $20 each and was glad to get that for them. When I got into actually collecting vintage TV's, I decided to go on ebay and find a tester that was new enough to chack compactrons. I thought a tester that new would go for a giveaway price. WRONG! I said to myslef that I'd do without a tester before I paid $100+ for a '60's/'70's era emission tester. I finally ended up buying a small B&K for $80 from someone who had it advertised in ARC. $80 was really more than I wanted to spend; but, it wasn't looking like I was going to find one any cheaper any time soon.
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