Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Sep 2014, 1:52 pm

About 15 years ago, 3 years before I moved to my present address I planted an acorn in a pot at the back of the old shop adjacent to the waste recycling bin.
It grew well and when I moved to W. Sussex I brought it with me and planted it as a memory of happy days at my Colliers Wood shop.
It has really taken off as can be seen in the picture and I guess, one day it will be a very fine example of the sturdy Oak we are all familiar with.
Imagine my surprise this morning when I noticed the local Crows picking away at something on the branches. After breakfast I decided to investigate the Crow's activity only to discover it had spurned some old radio valves on odd branches.
Nature sure is an amazing thing and I can only think that some scrap valves had missed the bin and fallen into the acorn's pot? It's a strange collection. Some sort of old 2v battery triode from the late 1920's and two American service types, a 9001 and the one with that hot little hat, an EF39 or EBC33 maybe?
A marriage has obviously taken place and the results can be seen in the pictures. Incredible! Regards, John.

Radio Wrangler · 13th Sep 2014, 2:35 pm

Radiation from thoriated tungsten?

David

Restoration73 · 13th Sep 2014, 2:37 pm

CRTs too heavy for the birds, though. Have you got any of those trees I saw on that
spaghetti harvest feature in an old Richard Dimbleby programme?

Alistair D · 13th Sep 2014, 3:11 pm

Can I have a cutting please?

Al

Michael.N. · 13th Sep 2014, 3:18 pm

Wait until December comes, the heaters will light up!

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Sep 2014, 3:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair D

Can I have a cutting please?Al

I'll post you an acorn..J.

Radio Wrangler · 13th Sep 2014, 4:01 pm

Acorns are one thing, but the bases are another.

David

Alistair D · 13th Sep 2014, 4:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heatercathodeshort

I'll post you an acorn

Possibly better to franchise them since it could a be a money spinner. I am thinking of calling my business The Acorn getter.

I will be putting screen grids round each tree.

Al

FERNSEH · 13th Sep 2014, 4:21 pm

Hi John,
Can you grow me an Acorn valve?
This is the type 955, UHF triode.

DFWB.

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Sep 2014, 6:33 pm

I knew someone would come up with that one! J.

Heatercathodeshort · 13th Sep 2014, 6:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair D

I will be putting screen grids round each tree.

That is very strange that you say that. I have just this week removed the 'screened grid' from around the tree trunk. Rabbits eat everything around here including the tree bark. It's total war.. John.

turretslug · 13th Sep 2014, 9:14 pm

Any catkins?

gezza123 · 13th Sep 2014, 10:19 pm

Excellent John

You better check for an (AcornHeatercathodeshort) John, as I cant see you getting (BBC Radio Tree) on that Aerial amp. What great ingenuity we have on here.
I wonder if it will work with the wife's bonsai. dare I try

well she does put lights on it at xmas.
Gezza123.

Peter.N. · 13th Sep 2014, 10:44 pm

About three years ago we reinstated our well that had been idle for about 60 years, among the ton or so of rubbish we excavated from it was a valve, only it was a B9A output pentode of some sort so obviously hadn't been there as long as yours.

Peter

Alistair D · 13th Sep 2014, 11:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by gezza123

I wonder if it will work with the wife's bonsai.

Are you expecting some DM70s or Russian rod valves from that one?

Al

Radio Wrangler · 14th Sep 2014, 5:51 am

I'm worried about the use of only a screen grid to protect the tree from rabbits (wascally and otherwise).

Without a suppressor grid as well, the tree will grow up kinky and only be fit for making paper for 50-level monochrome printing.

David

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Sep 2014, 8:10 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by turretslug

Any catkins?

Well funny you say that. I noticed a small kitten playing with something in one of the pine trees that I planted around the same time as the Oak..
Would you believe it...I was shocked and concerned to discover a mutant pine cone. Odd thing is, I can't remember repairing an EMI receiver using 'Catkins' back in the shop days. It must be spreading...Out of control..
Maybe I should inform DEFRA, the trees may have to be incinerated..Shame. J.

Mr Moose · 14th Sep 2014, 11:40 am

Hello,
That's a coincidence. I've still got catkins (Osram) on my rare willow (Salix Electronicus) tree.

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Sep 2014, 12:31 pm

ACORN / PINE CONE PRICE LIST.

EF91 6d
EF80 4d
EF86 £250
GZ34 [double getter] £500
KT66 [specially grown to order] from £ 1100
PX4/25 P.O.A.

Heatercathodeshort · 14th Sep 2014, 12:32 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Moose

Hello,
That's a coincidence. I've still got catkins (Osram) on my rare willow (Salix Electronicus) tree.

MMMMM Out of season me thinks.....J.

13th Sep 2014, 1:52 pm	#1
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. About 15 years ago, 3 years before I moved to my present address I planted an acorn in a pot at the back of the old shop adjacent to the waste recycling bin. It grew well and when I moved to W. Sussex I brought it with me and planted it as a memory of happy days at my Colliers Wood shop. It has really taken off as can be seen in the picture and I guess, one day it will be a very fine example of the sturdy Oak we are all familiar with. Imagine my surprise this morning when I noticed the local Crows picking away at something on the branches. After breakfast I decided to investigate the Crow's activity only to discover it had spurned some old radio valves on odd branches. Nature sure is an amazing thing and I can only think that some scrap valves had missed the bin and fallen into the acorn's pot? It's a strange collection. Some sort of old 2v battery triode from the late 1920's and two American service types, a 9001 and the one with that hot little hat, an EF39 or EBC33 maybe? A marriage has obviously taken place and the results can be seen in the pictures. Incredible! Regards, John. Attached Thumbnails

13th Sep 2014, 2:35 pm	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Radiation from thoriated tungsten? David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

13th Sep 2014, 2:37 pm	#3
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. CRTs too heavy for the birds, though. Have you got any of those trees I saw on that spaghetti harvest feature in an old Richard Dimbleby programme?

13th Sep 2014, 3:11 pm	#4
Alistair D Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 2,008	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Can I have a cutting please? Al __________________ I won't tell you how I discovered that.

13th Sep 2014, 3:18 pm	#5
Michael.N. Pentode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 174	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Wait until December comes, the heaters will light up!

13th Sep 2014, 4:01 pm	#7
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Acorns are one thing, but the bases are another. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

13th Sep 2014, 4:21 pm	#9
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Hi John, Can you grow me an Acorn valve? This is the type 955, UHF triode. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

13th Sep 2014, 6:33 pm	#10
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. I knew someone would come up with that one! J.

13th Sep 2014, 9:14 pm	#12
turretslug Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 4,396	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Any catkins?

13th Sep 2014, 10:19 pm	#13
gezza123 Heptode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 788	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Excellent John You better check for an (AcornHeatercathodeshort) John, as I cant see you getting (BBC Radio Tree) on that Aerial amp. What great ingenuity we have on here. I wonder if it will work with the wife's bonsai. dare I try well she does put lights on it at xmas. Gezza123.

13th Sep 2014, 10:44 pm	#14
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. About three years ago we reinstated our well that had been idle for about 60 years, among the ton or so of rubbish we excavated from it was a valve, only it was a B9A output pentode of some sort so obviously hadn't been there as long as yours. Peter

14th Sep 2014, 5:51 am	#16
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. I'm worried about the use of only a screen grid to protect the tree from rabbits (wascally and otherwise). Without a suppressor grid as well, the tree will grow up kinky and only be fit for making paper for 50-level monochrome printing. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

14th Sep 2014, 11:40 am	#18
Mr Moose Octode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 1,043	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. Hello, That's a coincidence. I've still got catkins (Osram) on my rare willow (Salix Electronicus) tree. Attached Thumbnails

14th Sep 2014, 12:31 pm	#19
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Strange valve harvest. Autumn 2014. ACORN / PINE CONE PRICE LIST. EF91 6d EF80 4d EF86 £250 GZ34 [double getter] £500 KT66 [specially grown to order] from £ 1100 PX4/25 P.O.A.