5R4 rectifier tube upgrade suggestions

dromunds

Want to make a significant upgrade from the Cetron JAN 5R4WGB's. Any suggestions for top shelf? Thanks in advance for any advice.

mhardy6647

Is that a potato masher style 5R4?

If so, not sure there was ever any thing better (or, at least, anything tougher!).
There's a bunch of 'em downstairs, not sure who the mfgr was/were. I tend to associate them with Raytheon, but I dunno who all actually made them...

heiney9

Don, did you ever do any research on the one you have? It seems most of the Cetron 5AR4WGB's were Military made and called the "potato masher". I've seen some, in my short search, that were made by Bendix.....sort of looked like the potato masher style.

I think you should roll atleast one other type, but be sure to identify what you currently have. Could be one of the good one's. If it is, that can be your baseline.

I have heard early Brimar's black plates are excellent.

H9

dromunds

I'll try to post a photo of the one I have in a couple hours.

mhardy6647

Even the JAN tubes have EIA codes on 'em... don't they?
If so, should be an easy matter to ID the actual manufacturer (if not Cetron).

http://www.triodeel.com/eiacode.htm
http://www.thevintagesound.com/ffg/eia-codes.html

heiney9

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Even the JAN tubes have EIA codes on 'em... don't they?
If so, should be an easy matter to ID the actual manufacturer (if not Cetron).

http://www.triodeel.com/eiacode.htm
http://www.thevintagesound.com/ffg/eia-codes.html

In a perfect world.

Tube Depot is selling Cetron 5r4WGB's and I don't see a viable EIA code. Looks like most of them were made or atleast boxed in 1987 by Richardson Electronics. Or they were actually manufactured in 1987 and 89 by Richardson Electronics. I don't believe Richardson has an EIA code, that was a thing of the past.

H9

heiney9

Triodeel shows National Electronics (also owned now by Richardson) and Cetron could have an EIA code of 749.

It appears that most if not all Cetron 5R4WGB's for sale in Ebay and some various tube dealer sites are the 1987 or 1989 Richardson Electronics version. Granted I haven't unturned every stone, but so far everything I;ve looked at is the same version.

H9

heiney9

It appears Chatham Electronics made very similar looking tubes as well. They seem to be older from the late 50's thru the 60's. Rather than a white base they have a cream or almond colored base.

It appears Chatham was a division of Tung Sol.

H9

mhardy6647

Chatham! Yeah, that's the name I remember on the (vintage) potato masher 5R4s.

dromunds

Here's a couple photos.

dromunds

Looks like double top small halos. Photo doesn't show it too well but you can make out one

dromunds

Do these look like Richardson made (or boxed) to you guys? Kind of look like that doesn't it?

dromunds

I've done a little research and there are some indications these may have been made by Bendix and later boxed by Richardson in the 80's? Hmmm. Made originally for the B-52 Bombers?

mhardy6647

My father long ago told me they were used (for something) in B-52s, but I don't know if that's true. More likely used in H-bombs, I would think :-/

dromunds

I see some places are selling what appear to be identical tubes as Bendix purportedly made in late 50's-early 60's and later boxed by Richardson. Any way you know to confirm that? If they are Bendix, how do they rate as far as 5R4's?