5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

60136 Alcazar · 1st Oct 2025, 7:46 am

These have just been listed and appear to be new, boxed US JAN military issue, high voltage, high current FW rectifiers - at least 12 off in a lot of "approx" 19 valves. There may be a small quantity of other valve types.

https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/a218c87d68df19...ay-1-furniture-and-paintin-lot-694/

They are listed amongst a load of washing machines and not identified by type number. Bit of a mystery in this auction as there doesn't appear to be anything else related to them.

turretslug · 1st Oct 2025, 11:39 am

This late-in-the-day version of the 5R4 has an unusually high PIV rating for an International Octal type, there's a special corresponding deep-recess moulded socket to go with in order to be comfortable with using the full voltage rating, it sometimes turns up at rallies. I gather that, besides the high voltage rating, it was also rated around high-altitude situations as 1950s aircraft pushed height and extended low-temperature operation ever further with the danger of flashover and creepage induced by condensation with traditional IO bases and sockets. I expect that the high-voltage triode amplifier fans will sniff them out!

CambridgeWorks · 2nd Oct 2025, 7:29 am

I've learnt something Tony. I always thought that base was for chassis drop through where height above chassis is restricted.
In the 60s, as a keen constructor of amateur tx with 807 pa my mate and I always drooled over the 5r4gy rather than the more available and cheaper likes of 5Z4 which for a 10W input pa was more than capable.
I had two of those bases in my recent clearance offer I THOUGHT on here but seems not so.
Don't know what happened to them, may have gone in my increasing size junk box!

I think I still have a couple of the same type as as those offered as well as the classic shape ones.

Offer:
"Vintage radio tubes - approx 19 1 electron tubes"
Is it 19 or 191?
Rob

HamishBoxer · 2nd Oct 2025, 2:31 pm

I think it means 19 total singly boxed.

60136 Alcazar · 12th Oct 2025, 1:05 pm

Hammer price was £30 which will equate to just over £38 with commission - so around £2 each plus transport.

1st Oct 2025, 7:46 am	#1
60136 Alcazar Pentode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 210	5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 These have just been listed and appear to be new, boxed US JAN military issue, high voltage, high current FW rectifiers - at least 12 off in a lot of "approx" 19 valves. There may be a small quantity of other valve types. https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/a218c87d68df19...ay-1-furniture-and-paintin-lot-694/ They are listed amongst a load of washing machines and not identified by type number. Bit of a mystery in this auction as there doesn't appear to be anything else related to them. __________________ John Progress consists of doing what you've always done - just more expensively.

1st Oct 2025, 11:39 am	#2
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 4,744	Re: 5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 This late-in-the-day version of the 5R4 has an unusually high PIV rating for an International Octal type, there's a special corresponding deep-recess moulded socket to go with in order to be comfortable with using the full voltage rating, it sometimes turns up at rallies. I gather that, besides the high voltage rating, it was also rated around high-altitude situations as 1950s aircraft pushed height and extended low-temperature operation ever further with the danger of flashover and creepage induced by condensation with traditional IO bases and sockets. I expect that the high-voltage triode amplifier fans will sniff them out!

2nd Oct 2025, 7:29 am	#3
CambridgeWorks Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,639	Re: 5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 I've learnt something Tony. I always thought that base was for chassis drop through where height above chassis is restricted. In the 60s, as a keen constructor of amateur tx with 807 pa my mate and I always drooled over the 5r4gy rather than the more available and cheaper likes of 5Z4 which for a 10W input pa was more than capable. I had two of those bases in my recent clearance offer I THOUGHT on here but seems not so. Don't know what happened to them, may have gone in my increasing size junk box! I think I still have a couple of the same type as as those offered as well as the classic shape ones. Offer: "Vintage radio tubes - approx 19 1 electron tubes" Is it 19 or 191? Rob __________________ I have many different connectors, chassis, cable ww2 to now, even scarce types. Message any query? Last edited by CambridgeWorks; 2nd Oct 2025 at 7:45 am. Reason: Last para added

2nd Oct 2025, 2:31 pm	#4
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 9,162	Re: 5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 I think it means 19 total singly boxed. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

12th Oct 2025, 1:05 pm	#5
60136 Alcazar Pentode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 210	Re: 5R4WGY in online auction 8 October 2025 Hammer price was £30 which will equate to just over £38 with commission - so around £2 each plus transport. __________________ John Progress consists of doing what you've always done - just more expensively.