Silvertone 6bq5 tubes

[Tubeglowpio]

Anyone know who made Silvertone 6bq5 tubes. They are black plate with 312, 244 and ALM printed on them, thank you.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

They are made in the us so I'm thinking either sylvania or rca?

 

[danrclem]

If 312 is the EIA then it would be Sylvania.

 

[sempai]

just guessing that these are Sears supplier codes.

312 = GTE (General Telephone & Electric Corporation (1955–1982))

244 = Kal Equipment/Peerless Instruments

i could be wrong.

art

edit: just found this interesting site. when completed it just might be the place to research this kind of question.
http://vacuumtubemuseum.org/current-projects/

 

[tubeampking]

Probably Sylvania...pics? A good shot of the designator would be helpful. Sylvania had distinctive branding.

 

[Big Harry]

Most of the tubes I've seen that were Silvertone branded were made by Sylvania.

 

[gadget73]

EIA codes most likely, not Sears internal. 312 is Sylvania, 244 probably means 1962, week 44.

Not to say that all Silvertone branded tubes are made by Sylvania, just the ones in front of you probably are.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

Thanks guys, yeah I was thinking sylvania. Searched some up on eBay and they were sylvania. I've been wanting to try some sylvania black plates, I've heard the black plate ones are pretty nice. Got them out of a Silverstone console that I'm going fix up soon if I can get changer parts. Who usually made the changers around that year?

 

[gadget73]

Could be anyone but to throw a dart at it, I'll guess Voice of Music. Pictures would help, or thevoiceofmusic.com has an ID page to tell you what to look for and where to figure out what you have.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

Could be anyone but to throw a dart at it, I'll guess Voice of Music. Pictures would help, or thevoiceofmusic.com has an ID page to tell you what to look for and where to figure out what you have.

Thanks, I was hoping it was a voice of music because I'm going to already put an order in for some parts. Those console changers are pretty scarce on the bay, any other ceramic cart changer should work right?

 

[gadget73]

The changer doesn't really care what kind of cartridge it has. You can put any type you like in there so long as you can mount it. I'd try and find one that fits the cutout though if possible. Its rare that another brand will line up with an existing one, the holes are usually in the wrong place, or there is wood missing where you need some to be. Cases like that usually end up with a new motor board cut to drop into the console where the original sat, and you cut the new board to fit a different changer. If you're going to the trouble of replacing the changer though, get a good one. No point in sourcing, repairing, and installing a junker.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

The changer doesn't really care what kind of cartridge it has. You can put any type you like in there so long as you can mount it. I'd try and find one that fits the cutout though if possible. Its rare that another brand will line up with an existing one, the holes are usually in the wrong place, or there is wood missing where you need some to be. Cases like that usually end up with a new motor board cut to drop into the console where the original sat, and you cut the new board to fit a different changer. If you're going to the trouble of replacing the changer though, get a good one. No point in sourcing, repairing, and installing a junker.

I should clarify sorry, I mean does the amp care which cart is being fed into it? As long as its a ceramic cart changer from that period it should roughly have same output correct? Ill figure out the wood working if need be, and totally agree that ill put a decent changer in there. Any suggestions? I have an extra magnavox imperial that I was thinking of putting in there. The cab is actually pretty nice, all wood. Not the best speakers though and its also a smaller cab but would be cool in the bedroom or something.

 

[gadget73]

Sort of. If it doesn't have a magnetic phono stage, it will either need a ceramic cartridge or an external magnetic phono stage. I kind of like the external stage idea. Doesn't need to be anything fancy, my Hoffman console rocks a Garrard AT6 with a basic Pickering cartridge and a phono stage made by Radio Shack in the 80s that I picked up somewhere for 5 bucks.

If it wants a mag cartridge, then it has to have a mag cartridge in the changer.

The Magnavox changers are actually pretty decent. "have it already" is a big motivator in my book.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

Sort of. If it doesn't have a magnetic phono stage, it will either need a ceramic cartridge or an external magnetic phono stage. I kind of like the external stage idea. Doesn't need to be anything fancy, my Hoffman console rocks a Garrard AT6 with a basic Pickering cartridge and a phono stage made by Radio Shack in the 80s that I picked up somewhere for 5 bucks.

If it wants a mag cartridge, then it has to have a mag cartridge in the changer.

The Magnavox changers are actually pretty decent. "have it already" is a big motivator in my book.

 

[Tubeglowpio]

I probably will just put the Magnavox changer in there. The Garrard turntables are usually nice. Eventually I would like to make a stereo console from scratch, I would probably use a Garrard changer in it since there is no good new changers.

 

[danrclem]

Take a picture of the changer and post it here. There's a very good chance that somebody would recognize it.