Re: VTTC Tubes

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Matthew Smith by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <matt-at-kbc-dot-net.au>

Hi Winston / All


> 
> 	Has anyone here tried to make their own high power triodes?  Since real
> transmitting triodes (833a's, etc) are very expensive, might making
> tubes be a viable option for some?
> 

Somebody (Fleming?) had to make the first vacuum tube and I'm sure that 
was done with pretty low-tech facilities...

To get something sufficiently efficient to run a TC may be tricky, but 
to make something that just *works* would be pretty neat - even a diode! 
  Having said that, I would like to see somebody prove me wrong and 
produce a from-scratch VTTC!

The ability to blow glass would, of course, be useful.  One of the 
biggest hurdles, I guess, would be getting an air-tight seal between the 
leads and the glass.

If I remember correctly, once the tube has been pumped and the pinch 
sealed, remaining air is removed by burning a tiny spot of magnesium in 
it.  I think that this is done using the heater as a source of ignition. 
  Think this is what's called a "getter".

For the home-constructor, I'd suggest that you consult *old* books, such 
as early editions of the Radio Amateurs Handbook (British) and the like.

Good luck

Cheers

M

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