Good book for tubes and stuff

[tomg]

>     If you don't have it, keep an eye out for the fouth edition of the
> RCA "Radiotron Designer's Handbook (1952, published in Australia, if I am
> not mistaken).  This book can answer just about any question you might
> have about tubes and tube circuits (well, probably at least 95% of
> them).  I am still trying to get my own copy.  Somebody on the web had
> one for $150 US, which is a bit more than I can afford to spend on a
> book.  My father has one that I borrow, but he keeps it on a short leash.
> 
>     -Jim Patchell
>     Wannabe Tube Head.

My RCA "Receiving Tube Manual"  was published in 1975 and has most
of what you might want to know. I got it at a thrift store for $1.00. I
have
a older version my uncle the Ham-Head gave me (1964 I think) in storage. 
It's basically the same thing. So I would think any RCA manual would do.
Sylvania too probably.

The problem is getting tubes. Unless you can build it out of 12AX7/AU7s,
6L6s or 6550s. You are pretty much out of luck. A good source is
Ham Fests (I got a nice pair of Audiotron 6550s last year ,chrome
base and everything $10 each). Although they are being replaced by 
"Solid State Tubes" a lot of transmitters especially the big ones still 
use glass tubes so they tend to support them.... if they can. You
never see any "nice" tubes anymore even the 12AXs and 6L6s are
made in China. The envelopes are always crooked!

-tg