[Amps] 8877 Advice

[Kevin LaHaie]

Lucky Me! (Maybe?)

Received a pair of Eimac 8877's from a friend, condition unknown but 
initial checks show no shorts, and physically one appears to have very 
little use (lettering still bright, just some evidence of light dust in 
the cooling fins) and the other could pass for NOS. Of course, 
appearances mean nuthin'

They are both date code 8750, and I assume this means 1987, which rumor 
has it was a bad year for these.  There is an engraving in the top of 
the anode compartment, CYR-058 and CYR-068, so these appear to be 
practically identical, certainly from the same run.

I don't have anything that runs the 8877, but I would love to build 
something to use them.  But, before I start procuring the necessary 
sockets and chimneys etc. to incorporate these into a project, I wonder 
if there is a somewhat definitive test to see if these are good or just 
pretty paperweights!

I suppose I will get lots of offers to send these to you for an 
in-amplifier test, only to find out that they aren't worth the return 
freight hihi.

I do have access to a professional HiPot tester, and would like to know 
if it is advisable to do that, and if so would you test between the grid 
and anode?  I hear the grids are pretty fragile.

Any further ideas?  Also, if anybody has a socket and/or chimney system 
available for the 8877, I would be building a single holer so would 
appreciate knowing what's out there.  Contact me off list on that.

As always, any info much appreciated.

73 Kevin K7ZS