mmd8x28
02-18-2010, 04:08 PM
I did some traveling yesterday, for something rather old. Older than my father..
So, in the morning, I called this warehouse which stocks these things, to see if they were in and would be there when I arrived. All good. So I set the GPS, clamp it on my windshield, and set off on the long journey. Would could I be traveling for, that couldn't possibly be shipped? Well it could be shipped, but my luck has been they arrive broken from careless carriers.
I get on the highway, shift her into overdrive, and set off for a long drive.
Finally I arrive the exit, pull off, go through all the local roads, and find the warehouse.. Sign says they moved to a different unit. Ok, I search for other unit. Oh, it's just a door down, haha. I park the car, roll up my windows, and shut it off, and head out with a measly $12 in my pocket for said items.
I walk into the warehouse, and mentioned I called, and they said "Oh, you're the guy who wants those 6AK5's.". I say "Yes sir I am.".
He goes into the back, grabs what I ordered.
So what is a 6AK5? It's a vacuum tube. The tubes I ordered were so old, I wanted to pick them up, and not ship them.
I got, 4 tubes in total for 12 bucks. Two of them are from World War II era (1945), and the other 2 were from 1957. The WWII era tubes were even manufactured to be IN the war, but when made in 45, the war had already begun to end, and the tubes have sat in a warehouse for all that time.
I pay, and head back to the car, and tell my GPS to "Take me home". I embark on the journey back home, which by now, the sun was still up, but getting ready to set. I finally make it home, I go to my room, and snap pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/tubes217.jpg
(Bare tubes sitting on the desk are new actually, manufactured last year, they were removed to use the older tubes)
So I put in the 1945 tubes first, they will be the sweatest sounding, because they are Military grade, and designed to be the strongest. I pop them in, turn on the amp, hear the wonderful hum of the tube warm up in the headphones, allowed them to heat up, and immediately turned on some Metallica (The Ecstasy of Gold).
The orchestra sounded AWESOME in tubes that haven't been turned on since WWII, though obviously need a little burn in time, because of just that, they probably have some gasses in them the "getter" needs to burn off.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/EF2/tuberunef2.jpg
So I travelled for many hours just for 4 tubes.. Crazy? Yes, but I had a good reason. I just wanted to drive. I hadn't taken my car on a long trip in some time. And the needle is still on "F". Amazing. I probably did end up saving on $12 shipping, along with $12 for the tubes.
So, in the morning, I called this warehouse which stocks these things, to see if they were in and would be there when I arrived. All good. So I set the GPS, clamp it on my windshield, and set off on the long journey. Would could I be traveling for, that couldn't possibly be shipped? Well it could be shipped, but my luck has been they arrive broken from careless carriers.
I get on the highway, shift her into overdrive, and set off for a long drive.
Finally I arrive the exit, pull off, go through all the local roads, and find the warehouse.. Sign says they moved to a different unit. Ok, I search for other unit. Oh, it's just a door down, haha. I park the car, roll up my windows, and shut it off, and head out with a measly $12 in my pocket for said items.
I walk into the warehouse, and mentioned I called, and they said "Oh, you're the guy who wants those 6AK5's.". I say "Yes sir I am.".
He goes into the back, grabs what I ordered.
So what is a 6AK5? It's a vacuum tube. The tubes I ordered were so old, I wanted to pick them up, and not ship them.
I got, 4 tubes in total for 12 bucks. Two of them are from World War II era (1945), and the other 2 were from 1957. The WWII era tubes were even manufactured to be IN the war, but when made in 45, the war had already begun to end, and the tubes have sat in a warehouse for all that time.
I pay, and head back to the car, and tell my GPS to "Take me home". I embark on the journey back home, which by now, the sun was still up, but getting ready to set. I finally make it home, I go to my room, and snap pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/tubes217.jpg
(Bare tubes sitting on the desk are new actually, manufactured last year, they were removed to use the older tubes)
So I put in the 1945 tubes first, they will be the sweatest sounding, because they are Military grade, and designed to be the strongest. I pop them in, turn on the amp, hear the wonderful hum of the tube warm up in the headphones, allowed them to heat up, and immediately turned on some Metallica (The Ecstasy of Gold).
The orchestra sounded AWESOME in tubes that haven't been turned on since WWII, though obviously need a little burn in time, because of just that, they probably have some gasses in them the "getter" needs to burn off.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/EF2/tuberunef2.jpg
So I travelled for many hours just for 4 tubes.. Crazy? Yes, but I had a good reason. I just wanted to drive. I hadn't taken my car on a long trip in some time. And the needle is still on "F". Amazing. I probably did end up saving on $12 shipping, along with $12 for the tubes.