[Arran]

I don't think that I have ever bought a NOS tube from any of the vendors, in most cases I can find a suitable used tube to do the job. I did buy some NOS 1629s over fleabay once but that's a different situation, it's isn't necessary to have a good eye tube to make the radio work. In my experience, 9 times out of 10, most of the problems in a radio can be fixed with under $20 worth of condensers and resistors which is much cheaper then a whole rack of NOS tubes, if it is a tube problem it's often a oscillator/mixer tube or a first audio. Fortunately with this HiFi, with the exception of the power output tubes, if a tube is dead or very weak they are easy to find and inexpensive, but test first. Used tube testers are cheap compared to buying sets of NOS tubes, plus it helps you find good used tubes in those bargain boxes of loose tubes you find from time to time.
Best Regards
Arran