Tubes identification

[Will]

Hello.
I´ve scored some tubes I would like to know more about. Some are EL34, pair of 6L6GC and some 6V6,besides a ECC83.Here they are....

RSD 6L6GC Made in Germany?¿

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1730/6l6rsd1ut0.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6l6rsd1ut0.jpg)


http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1409/6l6rsd2zv2.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=6l6rsd2zv2.jpg)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1357/rsd6l63hf4.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rsd6l63hf4.jpg)

6L6??HEATHKIT
These tubes says 6L6GC but they´re smaller size,more like a 5881 size.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1592/variasen3.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=variasen3.jpg)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/3527/heathkit2tr8.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=heathkit2tr8.jpg)
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5927/heathkit1kb8.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=heathkit1kb8.jpg)

Beside there are two 6v6 tubes and a Siemens ECC83 I64 code...One Sylvania and one Phillips Miniwatt(very odd tube I guess)....

6V6GT HALTRON
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1075/haltron6v62qq4.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=haltron6v62qq4.jpg)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7320/haltron6v63ww2.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=haltron6v63ww2.jpg)

ECC83/12AX7 HALTRON( two different ones) and a Made in Germany(orange logo)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5366/ecc833df5.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ecc833df5.jpg)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7/ecc8334rv9.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ecc8334rv9.jpg)
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1323/ecc8333jd7.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ecc8333jd7.jpg)

EL34: HALTRON,ULTRON,PINNACLE

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8094/3el342hu7.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3el342hu7.jpg)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2002/el34ultron2qs5.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=el34ultron2qs5.jpg)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7251/el34pinnacle1tg0.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=el34pinnacle1tg0.jpg)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4466/el34haltron3ig2.th.jpg (http://img165.imageshack.us/my.php?image=el34haltron3ig2.jpg)

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff West]

OK, quick run through, those RSD 6L6GC are actually Russian-made approximation of a 6L6GC, you might say, not especially tasty I'm afraid but maybe you'll like. Not really up to 6L6GC specs re: ruggedness nor power output though. Many of these say "Made In England" too but they're not.

Those Heath 6L6GCs were made in Kentucky, USA in 1960 by GE- a nice tube IMO, fine guitar 6L6GC version!

I64 coded Siemens & Halske ECC83 was made in Munich Siemens plant in late '60s or so. Should have "unequal sign" factory symbol w/date codes if not rubbed off, I'd be curious about specifics.

6V6GT Haltrons look to be RCAs in actuality, could be early '60s despite not being blackplates. Nice!

ECC83 Haltrons, looks like you've got a '60s smooth plate W. German Telefunken on the left (diamond on the bottom, right?), Tungsram made in Hungary on the right (strong, powerful sounding in many applications), these are all fine 12AX7s depending on taste . . .

EL34s: Trigon on left is RFT made in E. Germany (good sounding!), Pinnacle, Haltrons in middle and on right in this case are Japanese Matsushitas, very good 6CA7 version IMO . . . Ultrons below that are RFTs again, then more Matsushita EL34s branded Pinnacle and then Haltron below those. . .

Someone spot me, did I screw one up or get out of order . . . ?

Jeff W.

[Timbre Wolf]

Someone spot me, did I screw one up or get out of order . . . ?
I could only id the GE (Heathkit) 6L6GC and the Telefunken smooth-plate 12AX7 for him, when he posted this in another locale. I will add that the Tungsram 12AX7/ECC83 can be confirmed by looking for a square metal tab with a number on it, just above the top mica disk.

All I can say about the rest of the tubes is that Will is lucky you've replied to this thread, Jeff.

- Thom

[Will]

Thank you so much Jeff and Thom.Now things are becoming clear to me as far as EL34 tubes brand are from rebranders.
More opinions are wellcome.
The Heathkit 6L6 are odd to me,never seen any with these size and characterictics.
What about Phillips Miniwatt 6v6?

[Blue Strat]

Not sure if this is clear or not, but all 6L6GCs with straight sided bottles that are narrower than the base are cheapo Russian 6L6GCs no matter what they're labeled.

[Jeff West]

Oh yeah, the Philips Miniwatt, I knew I'd forget at least one or two.

Well, can't see everything in the one photo, but I'm assuming that's one of the W. Euro 6V6GTs that was actually manufactured by Philips; (like any Philips tube) these may have any number of brandings. Mike might have additional comments, but I suspect that one's like the "Pope" branded 6V6GT that I noticed was included in recent VG 6V6 shootout. Kenin Deal at Upscale has described those particular "Popes" as as having been made in Holland 1957-60. Any additional small or large printed clues on that one?

[Blue Strat]

I don't have any info on the Euro Philips 6V6GTs other than that I have some grey glass ones in stock, likely the same as the Pope labeled tubes.

[Will]

I have not teh tubes here,but I will check to see any digits on them and will post here for more in formation,some numbers seemed to be erased....

[Jeff West]

I'd be curious about any codes on the Miniwatt 6V6. Also the Siemens ECC83, because you said it's "I64", right? Would appear to be pretty late instance of intertwined S&H logo. May have something like "#9B" or "#0L" underneath the "I64", where "#" is an equal sign with vertical bar through it.

[Will]

I have checked the tubes. Phillips Miniwatt have nothing printed on the glass and the Siemens have = as told and 0D followint the equal sign.Did not tried the Siemens still,I wonder how it can sound in a 18w amp....
One of the Haltrons have 1700 mg readings in one triode and near to that figure in the other....I only saw this on a Mullard I have.
I think I´ll try the Heathkits in my 5e5-A clone ,I suspect will make a great sound,I feel the modern JJtesla it spots now are very loud,much loud than another tube I hear....

[Jeff West]

Thanks for info, Will. The Siemens ECC83 was made in Munich in April 1970. I'd suspect you'll find it sounds pretty nice including in Marshall circuit, good sounding bite of a Philips tube but with a little more high end and note definition than some versions, might really get those high harmonics going in the right dirty amp.

The GE 6L6GCs are definitely a natural for late tweed Pro circuit, have long been a favorite for vintage Fenders, right behind RCAs and along w/T-S 5881s. They can sound nice and round and warm and, in some applications, I'd say twangy, vintage classic rock'n'roll. I've tried them in vintage Marshall head too, just for fun, with sufficient bias available.

Are you saying the Tungsram 12AX7 tested high? That would be my guess, some of them test way above average out of the box, among the highest, higher than typical NIB Mullard!

JW