Does anyone else remember the "tube testers" that they used to

[Old Troop]

have in drugstores? You brought in your vacuum tubes from your radio or TV and tested them to see if they need to be replaced and beside the tester there was an array of packaged vacuum tubes you could buy.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Why, yes, I do. We had a Philco TV and a Philco HiFi with Tubes.

We still have the HiFi.

Tube testing stations were in the larger supermarkets and you'd test your own tubes and hope they had the correct replacement.

:hi:

[triguy46]

2. Yep we had one at home, my father built the tester so we could test tubes at home.

I found one just like it a few years ago and sent to son who was into tube amps for a while.

[WCGreen]

3. Yep at the leader drug store...

[kayakjohnny]

4. Yes and here's one version....

They always kind of scared me as a kid.

I thought something could blow up.

And I'd have little pieces of glass in my eyes.

[KT2000]

5. Yes - I am that old!

Weren't there battery testers too?

[Suich]

6. As a matter of fact, I do!

I used to test tubes at a Radio Shack up the street!





:hi:

[DBoon]

7. yes and I used to scavange old tubes and make stuff

like a superregenerative receiver that could get police calls!

This was before home computers - what was a young nerd to do?

[GoneOffShore]

8. Thanks for reminding me how old I am.

Nice post Hitler.

[HopeHoops]

9. Hell yes! My dad used to let me do the testing. I've got a shitload of old tubes in the basement.

Since I don't have ANYTHING that uses tubes anymore, I was planning to sell them on eBay (when I locate them).

[MajorChode]

10. I worked on tube type electronics for many years

Those drug store tube testers weren't all that reliable. They would sometimes show bad tubes and good and vice versa. I remember getting the pee shocked out of me several times as many of the voltages involved were quite high. The reliability of tube type stuff was low, but the circuits were simpler and easier to troubleshoot. Sometimes I miss those days if I don't think about it too much.

[Jokerman]

11. I've still got a portable one at home.

My dad had the tester and a large selection of replacement tubes from his days as a repair man.

[FloridaJudy]

12. I'm old enough to remember X-ray machines in shoe stores

...and why my generation hasn't collectively croaked of toenail cancer baffles me.

[Seneca]

13. Yep

An early, but distinct memory. Those, and S&H Green Stamps.

Now I feel compelled to yell at some kids to get off of my lawn. :-)