[TenTec] Origin of 3-500zG Tubes

[Richards]

Greetings Ten-Tec Amplifier Mavens --


THIS IS THE REPLY I RECEIVED FROM RF PARTS UPON MY INQUIRY AS TO THE 
ORIGIN OF 3-500 Z  TUBES.

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Hello James.

Thanks for your email.
All new 3-500Z type tubes are now made in China.
Before that, the tube was made by Eimac until 1996.
Amperex discontinued making the tube in the 90's also.

RF PARTS CO. worked with one manufacturer in China,
starting in the early 90's, as a hedge against
Eimac's planned discontinuance of all glass transmitting tubes.

RF PARTS designated the graphite tube as the 3-500ZG.
Eimac also chose to use the designation on their
last production of the graphite tube order from RF PARTS.

RF PARTS has exclusive rights for the 3-500ZG from it's
Chinese manufacturer
(that's some 20 years of production).

Last year, Penta Labs arranged to copy this tube
from a second Chinese manufacturer.
They sell it under their Machlett brand name.

This should settle the question.

73,
Merit W6NQ

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