My valve hoarding problem... - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ppppenguin · 20th May 2010, 10:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowinganode

...I remember my Dad taking me to the Clarendon? Labs Archive Museum for my 10th birthday, whatever happened to the collection?...

If you mean the CRL (Central Research Labs) musuem I only knew it at the new CRL building on the corner of Dawley Road. It is now at the National Media Museum at Bradford.

jamesinnewcastl · 20th May 2010, 10:33 pm

My two pennyworth......

I like the 'look' of old and new technology - I have some vidicon tubes and photomultipliers 'on-display'. Beautiful things. Can you believe what man has achieved?

I intend to make a TV camera with an Image Orthicon I have - Can't decide whether to make the camera electronics miniature and processor based, miniature valve based or based on the valves of the day - For me it is the design and build that is the drive I have no use for the camera.

I suppose I would keep valves if I were a person who repaired old TVs and Radios - but then I would keep them clean, dry and ordered.

If I were keeping them for prosperity, to show tomorrows children then the same applies.

Can't see the point of just keeping them jumbled in an attic/garage - I'd just give them to someone who was doing any of the above or to a museum.

James

Sean Williams · 20th May 2010, 10:38 pm

Having just cleared most of my collection of valves - several thousand.... I feel I can sleep better - they arent likeley to crash through the ceiling any more!

Sadly the days of getting large batches of valves has been and gone - I used to enjoy getting them and sorting through, finding all sorts of interesting things.

On that note if anyone has 6 or 7 CV315 (4304CB) transmitting valves, I know of an aging RAF transmitter that would like them (at a non audiophool price too please!)

They are a good thing to collect though, hours of endless fun!

Jeremy M0RVB · 20th May 2010, 10:56 pm

Well you can always throw them at http://www.tubecollector.org/ - though I mainly collect CVs and military stuff these days (and semiconductors even, but only CV types! Can't have them poisoning the glassware)

glowinganode · 20th May 2010, 11:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

If you mean the CRL (Central Research Labs) musuem I only knew it at the new CRL building on the corner of Dawley Road. It is now at the National Media Museum at Bradford.

Yes that's where I meant, at the junction of Blythe Road and Dawley Road. I recall there was the bottom 10 feet or so of one of the experimental microwave masts in the car park, with another one half a mile up the road, just past the pub with the exotic dancers.
I remember being fascinated by the exhibits, I think they had some BIG TWT's. Would love the chance to revisit the collection, is the National Media Museum worth a visit?
Rob.

Alan Stepney · 20th May 2010, 11:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesinnewcastl

Can't see the point of just keeping them jumbled in an attic/garage - I'd just give them to someone who was doing any of the above or to a museum.
James

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to one of the officials at a museum. He told me that they get so many gifts from the public, including valves, that they dont have the space for them all.
So, museums may not be the answer.

It is likely (probable?) that the collective membership here may well be the best custodians of such "relics" as it does mean that they are available for restoring old equipment.

ppppenguin · 21st May 2010, 7:10 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by glowinganode

.....Would love the chance to revisit the collection, is the National Media Museum worth a visit?

I don't think any of the EMI stuff is on display. As with virtually all museums they can only display a tiny fraction of their collection. The NMM is definitely worth a visit anyway.

The section of mast in the car park at Dawley Road was part of EMI's copy of the AP TV mast from 1936. Incredible that a section survived at all.

Tim · 21st May 2010, 8:19 am

Hoarding isn't the problem, it's finding space to keep them all in!

ppppenguin · 21st May 2010, 8:22 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

Hoarding isn't the problem, it's finding space to keep them all in!

But remember the time domain to space domain transform of Parkinson's Law

(with apologies to Fourier and Laplace)

PJL · 21st May 2010, 8:40 am

I am still working through this latest batch, a handfull a day, very therapuetic after work. The storage conditions have not been good and possible 20% have lost markings but I am beginning to see the bottom of the cardboard boxes where the metalisation dust lies.

Although these boxes had been in storage for many many years, the damage was evidently before that as the previous owner has also gone through trying to identify some of them.

This has been a good haul - I now have my very first really bright EM34.

20th May 2010, 10:33 pm	#22
jamesinnewcastl Heptode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 722	Re: My valve hoarding problem... My two pennyworth...... I like the 'look' of old and new technology - I have some vidicon tubes and photomultipliers 'on-display'. Beautiful things. Can you believe what man has achieved? I intend to make a TV camera with an Image Orthicon I have - Can't decide whether to make the camera electronics miniature and processor based, miniature valve based or based on the valves of the day - For me it is the design and build that is the drive I have no use for the camera. I suppose I would keep valves if I were a person who repaired old TVs and Radios - but then I would keep them clean, dry and ordered. If I were keeping them for prosperity, to show tomorrows children then the same applies. Can't see the point of just keeping them jumbled in an attic/garage - I'd just give them to someone who was doing any of the above or to a museum. James

20th May 2010, 10:38 pm	#23
Sean Williams Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: St.Ippolyts, Hitchin, Hertfordshire QRA IO91UW Posts: 3,517	Re: My valve hoarding problem... Having just cleared most of my collection of valves - several thousand.... I feel I can sleep better - they arent likeley to crash through the ceiling any more! Sadly the days of getting large batches of valves has been and gone - I used to enjoy getting them and sorting through, finding all sorts of interesting things. On that note if anyone has 6 or 7 CV315 (4304CB) transmitting valves, I know of an aging RAF transmitter that would like them (at a non audiophool price too please!) They are a good thing to collect though, hours of endless fun! __________________ Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished

20th May 2010, 10:56 pm	#24
Jeremy M0RVB Hexode Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 458	Re: My valve hoarding problem... Well you can always throw them at http://www.tubecollector.org/ - though I mainly collect CVs and military stuff these days (and semiconductors even, but only CV types! Can't have them poisoning the glassware)

21st May 2010, 8:19 am	#28
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: My valve hoarding problem... Hoarding isn't the problem, it's finding space to keep them all in! __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

21st May 2010, 8:40 am	#30
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: My valve hoarding problem... I am still working through this latest batch, a handfull a day, very therapuetic after work. The storage conditions have not been good and possible 20% have lost markings but I am beginning to see the bottom of the cardboard boxes where the metalisation dust lies. Although these boxes had been in storage for many many years, the damage was evidently before that as the previous owner has also gone through trying to identify some of them. This has been a good haul - I now have my very first really bright EM34.