06-25-2017, 09:31 PM
Mostly this is not an issue when the set uses the old style based tubes such as a 6A7 or a 75, those are fairly easy to find and in the Philco sets that use these the tube shield base rarely gets in the way of an adapter since the older style tube bases are usually larger in diameter to begin with. Where you get into trouble is with the octal based "G" style tubes, on the 1937 models this isn't a problem, but on the 1938 models Philco purposely made a tube shield base that will not accept metal tubes, only "G" style octal tubes. In my opinion this was a vindictive move to prevent metal tubes, which were a G.E invention but heavily promoted by RCA, from being used in Philco radios since the 1937 models do fit them.
One issue with socket savers is that they tend to be made for tube testers or audio tubes, so the pinout may not work with something like a 6A8G or a 6K7G. You may have to get an empty octal tube base, and an octal socket and make up your own adapter, the China venders on fleabay sell lots of those, but get the measurements of them first. The reason I suggest getting an empty octal tube base is that desoldering pins on a dead octal tube is a real PITA, on the old style four, five, six, seven, and even eight pin bases it's relatively easy to do as the pins are larger. I was thinking of getting some to make adapters to replace Rogers 2X3 and 2Y3 rectifier tubes, which were used in pairs, with something like a type #80 or a 5Y3, in these cases the diameter of the tube base is not important since these rectifiers don't need a shield.
Regards
Arran
One issue with socket savers is that they tend to be made for tube testers or audio tubes, so the pinout may not work with something like a 6A8G or a 6K7G. You may have to get an empty octal tube base, and an octal socket and make up your own adapter, the China venders on fleabay sell lots of those, but get the measurements of them first. The reason I suggest getting an empty octal tube base is that desoldering pins on a dead octal tube is a real PITA, on the old style four, five, six, seven, and even eight pin bases it's relatively easy to do as the pins are larger. I was thinking of getting some to make adapters to replace Rogers 2X3 and 2Y3 rectifier tubes, which were used in pairs, with something like a type #80 or a 5Y3, in these cases the diameter of the tube base is not important since these rectifiers don't need a shield.
Regards
Arran
