Jtinn-Peace Brother!! No, I do not think that tons of tubes were purposely put away for future use. But there are tubes that have survived time in some radio shop or basement to begin life in a lucky audiophile's system. That doesn't automatically make them a reject. For one reason or another, they just were not ever installed into any gear. I met an older man at a ham-fest a few years ago and struck up a conversation with him. He had a few small signal tubes that were nice looking (ended up testing very good) and I asked him if he perhaps had anything else at home that I may be interested in. "Oh, I got a basement full of junk"-he says. So I make the journey down to his place and find seven-brand new-in World boxes wrapped in brown tissue paper-RCA 845s!! I about died! "Had 'em for years, but got rid of the radio that used 'em"-he says. Does this make them rejects?..no. So I scooped them up and later testing showed they were all as new. I do know from personal experience that correct tube testing is critical if you are going to do tube rolling. Andy rejects many tubes during his testing. Some tubes have a higher reject rate than others. I have sat by his side quite a few afternoons while he goes thru his stock making up tube sets for me. I too have experienced where Telefunkens were not the greatest. Actually it wasn't my idea at all to try the Telefunkens. It was suggested to me by Mr. Shushurin himself, as I was standing in his Brooklyn basement workshop with him and my dealer, admiring his production workshop. Peace Brother...
