Has anyone tried a pair of Tesla E83CC tubes?

headrott

I recenlty have seen some Tesla E83CC tubes on ebay (from a trusted seller) and understand them to be exacly the same as the Telefunken ECC803S tubes. Tesla actually mnufactured the tubes for Telefunken and then Telefunken would put their brand on them along with the signature diamond on the bottom of the tube.

Anyway, has anyone used this tube? The ones I am looking at are specifically the Tesla E83CC tubes, but as I said are repotedly exactly the same as the Telefunken ECC803S tube(s). If you have used them can you give me your impressions of them? I understand them to be the absolute best example of a 12AX7 and varients in existance. Thanks guys.

heiney9

I have heard good to fantastic reports on those, but those are just internet writings. They are cheaper than the TFK ECC803's but still relatively expensive for an 80's production tube. I'd stick with the Yellow label ones as this style is from the 70's. Not sure the later White label is the same quality.

heiney9

http://tubemaze.info/tesla-e83cc-gold-pins/#more-1534

I have been reading his blog lately and buying some of his recommendations. He is also a seller on Ebay.

They are not a warm, euphoric tube like the long plate Amperex, but most TFK's aren't.

H9

heiney9

headrott wrote: »

Tesla actually mnufactured the tubes for Telefunken and then Telefunken would put their brand on them along with the signature diamond on the bottom of the tube.

Where did you see that info? I have never heard that, especially putting the diamond mark on something they didn't produce themselves. I'd be curious to know where you saw the info.

H9

heiney9

Also be very careful of rebranding. There are RFT made tubes labeled as Tesla E83CC. You can tell by the large spaces between the serrated edges of the mica spacers and 3 side hole in the plate.



The 2nd from the right is a Tesla labeled RFT tube from East Germany.

headrott

Actually, funny enought brock it was from the guy you posted that link to in your last post. He is the person I saw have them for sale on his ebay page. The pair he was selling were from 1962 and a white label. But, I have read that the real Tesla E83CC tubes had white labels from earlier years and then became yellow later on.

The 4 tubes in your second picture are actually relabeled JJ tubes (JJ produced "Tesla" E83CC tubes) but the JJ tubes had nothing to do with being related to Tesla at all. They are completely fake. Look at the shape of the glass at the top of the tube. There are two getter supports for the "halo getter" on the real Tesla tube. There is only one on the fake "Tesla" JJ tubes. Also, look at how shiney the getter flashing is compared to the real Tesla tubes above. The first picture with the yellow labels are real however.

headrott

I just read a reply from Tubemonger on the vintageamps.com site and he says that it is a myth that Tesla made the E83CC tubes for Telefunken. That would have been my guess as well. It doesn't make sense that Telefunken would have someone else make their tubes for them. So, Nikolay either believes the myth, it's not really a myth, or he just doesn't know what he's talking about.

heiney9

Yeah, I've been reading Nikolay's blog and he doesn't seem to do his homework all the time. It's an interesting read, but hardly a definitive source. I did buy a pair of Sylvania JHS (gold) 5814's from him. Haven't listened to them yet, but they are supposed to be very good. He gets some stuff wrong about some Sylvania 12AT7's as well.

Just goes to show you have to do your homework when buying tubes on Ebay. I just spend part of the evening last night trying to identify these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-Holland-made-12AX7A-ECC83-Quad-Amperex-Phillips-TESTED-GUARANTEED-/300729757512?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4604e3ef48



He claims they are Philips/Amperex tubes like Bugle Boys since they say "made in Hollland". He couldn't find a photo to confirm on the internet. The larger side hole in the plate, the silver clip w/dual post getter support and the fact that there is no seam on the top of the tubes means they are not Holland made Philips tubes.

Turns out they are Tungsram tubes (made in Hungary) from the late 70's or early 80's. I emailed him but I bet he doesn't change his ad. I also had to email Brent Jesse about a correction to one of the tube subs for the 12AU7. I bought some 6350's on his recommendation and it turns out the PIN out's are different and they won't work unless you rewire the PIN's.

All the above is part why I love buying tubes, doing the research and trying to uncover origins or a treasure someone isn't aware they have.

H9

leftwinger57

Is counterfitting tubes a big industry?

heiney9

It can be today since the really old desirable tubes are scarce people try to take advantage. Back then, no. Also back in the day many, many, many companies bought tubes from other manufacturer's and re-branded them with their own brand because 1) their own production couldn't keep up 2) they simply didn't produce that particular tube type 3) they didn't produce tubes at all. Think organ tubes, so many different manufacturer's with the same "Baldwin or Wurlitzer" logo on the tubes.

Many times that's why looking at a logo/brand on a tube means nothing.

H9

heiney9

It's not widespread but you HAVE to do your due diligence when buying tubes from an unknown source.

headrott

Indeed Brock. Unfortunately, there are a number of (especially) ebayers that will try and take advantage of people. I see there are a couple sellers selling fake (i.e. JJ "Tesla") tubes on ebay right now instead of the real Tesla tubes.

Nikolay I think is a pretty good guy, but as you said is misinformed sometimes. He does have some real, and difficult to find tubes on his ebay store however.

steeve874

Sorry to dig out an old topic but for those who are interested on Tesla E83CC I've got several things to add...
First of all the printing color seems to be used independently to the era of production, and say white or yellow label color is older or not than an other one is an error!!
Then for the "myth" that Tesla made E83CC for Tfk: this is not a myth!! One of my parents have bought several bulk pack of Tfk ECC803S in the 90's and the cardboard packing was from Tesla with Tesla write on it and the packaging was Tesla too, but the tubes inside was labelled Tfk ECC803S so could you explain me why Tfk would have produced ECC803S and stored them in Tesla packaging?!?
And a second evidence is Tfk have produced only few thousands unity of ECC803S and they did it between 1962 to 1968 approximately, but in the light of the quantity sold the production have continued after this date, and the most consistent is that Tesla produced them to Tfk...
After this explaination you are free to think it's true or not, but at least you have the informations!!

Mikey081057

I have a pair of Tesla E83cc's. never heard the Tele's. But the Tesla's are sweet and don't over emphasize anything ....