Tube tester?

Like a broken record, I keep on saying anyone with tube equipment should buy their own tube tester.

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most testers of that era used cheap hardware, thin vinyl, so don't let the beat up look concern you IF the seller says tested, works ....

those numbers you mentioned: "How do you read tubes that are marked :(I.e) 95/91 or 46/41"

are not tube identification numbers, there are markings on the tubes themselves, i.e. 12ax7; 12au7; 6sl7; kt88; el34; ...

pull them out, rotate them in the light until you can see the marking on the side of the glass.

they have key slots, or missing pin holes, so you cannot reinstall them incorrectly, BUT, make sure you know which socket they came from/go back into.

some chassis have the tube type printed next to the sockets, some print V1, V2 ....

then there is a reference page in the manual saying V1 is ... V2 is ...

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Cary ought to be able to help you, and simply search the internet with your model number, a lot of info is out there.

My Opinion

ANYONE with tube equipment needs his own tester to have confidence in their tubes when problems/suspicions occur, when checking periodically, when checking/confirming new purchases, ’matched’ ....

You don’t need an expensive pro version to get simple and relative answers. Smaller, lighter, makes it easy to bring upstairs, take to a friend’s house .... that’s why I like the Accurate Models, 157, 257, I have both.

I have a big expensive heavy one, the little Accurate testers ALWAYS gave the same answers as the big one. It’s downstairs somewhere, I haven’t seen it in so long, I forget if it a Jackson or a Hickok

I have had tubes since 1973. So my thinking is 'long', many of you don't see it that way.

I read so many questions here from people who have no idea if a problem is something else or a tube or tubes. Asking about tube life, IOW, shooting blind.

The Fisher President II I inherited in 1973 had tubes for it's: am tuner; fm tuner. tape deck, control center; pre-amps; multiplex adapter; phono; added stereo phono preamps.

What an ordeal checking them all just before Thanksgiving each year. I stood on the platform attached to the big wall like tester in the electronics store, separate paper bags for each unit.. People waiting behind me, it took forever, my feet and back hurt, .... each year maybe need 1 or 2 new tubes, 1 weak, 1 a short, ... but it gave me confidence in the unknown!

I always came home in pain saying "I want my own tester". One day the wife picks me up at the train, she drives me to a house, sends me up to the door, a surprise tube tester for my birthday! What a woman!!!!!

I still have the wanted ad she placed in the newspaper taped inside the Accurate 157. She's passed on, it's happy memories every time I open the lid.

I'm just saying, if you get into tubes, rather than shoot blind, get an inexpensive tester, get simple confirmation: short? strength meter, bad or weak (hardly ever), good, how good, matched strength?

It is hard to believe some tubes last 10,000 hours, it is hard to have confidence they don't need to be checked/replaced sooner than needed.

Someone got this Accurate 157 for $76.

one week satisfaction guaranteed

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394530245122?mkpid=0&emsid=e11010.m1951.l7533&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=28348ce0b99948e0a3ebaf663736ca12&bu=44707615456&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20230331142506&segname=11010&nma=true&si=%252Bvi%252BP8NtTsqAeqek%252Bo0875fzhV8%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557