[TowerTalk] Vacuum tube 100 years old today

[Keith Dutson]

Oops.  After checking my math, it appears I am OLDER than you by almost 10
years.

Keith NM5G

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Keith Dutson
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 10:41 AM
To: 'Tom Rauch'; Topband at contesting.com; '160m QTH';
towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Vacuum tube 100 years old today

Happy birthday, Tom!  You look younger than your age (in CQ magazine).  I am
a tad more than a year behind you (21-Jan-42).

It seems they were correct about the transistor not replacing the "valve" in
high power amplifier circuits.  Hooray for companies like Eimac!

Keith NM5G 

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tom Rauch
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 10:28 AM
To: Topband at contesting.com; 160m QTH; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Vacuum tube 100 years old today

On Nov. 16, 1904 Fleming patented the Fleming valve. The vacuum tube is 100
years old today (exactly 46 years to the day older than I am).

I was an electrical engineering student in the late 60's.
The electronics lab stock room was full of tubes and sockets, and our
benches had 300 volt power supplies. About 50% of our inventory and study
was tube related. I built a complete 500 watt HF station, receiver and
transmitter, from stock room parts in my spare time. Every component
necessary was in the stock room. From a textbook I still use, "Electronic
Amplifier Circuits" McGraw-Hill Electrical Engineering Series 1961, comes
the following quote:

"For many applications a relative newcomer, the transistor, is replacing
vacuum tube types because of the greater inherent reliability, lower power
consumption, and smaller size. However, the complete replacement of the tube
by the transistor does not seem likely, for the latter has shortcomings at
high temperatures and high radiation intensities and in the production of
high power at high frequencies. "

About ten years later I received a call asking if I wanted any of those old
tubes, tube related books, or HV bench power supplies before they hit the
dumpster.

73 Tom


_______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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