Tube Testers and Classic Electronic Test Gear

Rating:
Summary: Great History of Tube Testers
Review: Alan Douglas has managed to compile an impressive collection of information on vacuum tube test equipment. If you are looking to buy a tube tester, repair them or just have a general interest, this is the bible.

Rating:
Summary: Great History of Tube Testers
Review: Alan Douglas has managed to compile an impressive collection of information on vacuum tube test equipment. If you are looking to buy a tube tester, repair them or just have a general interest, this is the bible.

Rating:
Summary: Tube Testers and Classic Electronic Test Gear
Review: EXCELLENT treatise by well known "Vintage Radio" author Alan Douglas on the many well known (Hickok, Heath, Eico, B&K, Precision) and "not-so-well-known" (Military, AVO, Western Electric, Mercury, Triplett, Weston) Vacuum Tube Testers. While the major topic of this book is Vacuum Tube Testers, other "Classic" and very useful pieces of test equipment for troubleshooting "Vintage" Audio and Radio equipment are also examined. Items such as Capacitor Testers, Noise Bridges, Impedance Bridges, Curve Tracers, Signal Generators, and HV DC power supplies are covered.

Alan Douglas also provides the reader with wonderful insight into a variety of testing and test equipment related topics that have been "difficult to explain" for decades. Testing issues such as: why tube tester readings disagree for the same tube tested, using Curve Tracers for characterizing vacuum tubes (other than the Tektronix 570!), building the "Ultimate Tube Tester", how to REALLY obtain and interpret tube characteristic curves, how to relate measured tube data to manufacturer's published tube data, proper Capacitor testing; including ESR and leakage, as well as test equipment restoration and maintenance tips.

This book imparts a "WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE" to the reader about Classic Vacuum Tube Testers and Test Equipment. However it is NOT a "review" of tube testers or test equipment on a "which one is better" or "what is the BEST" type of basis. Rather, it is a careful examination and explanation of the "method of operation" as well as the "inherent limitations" for a multitude of vacuum tube testers and test equipment. Numerous and detailed photographs of practically EVERYTHING described makes this a book that is destined to quickly become a "Standard of Reference" for all of us that enjoy working on Vintage Vacuum tube Audio and Radio equipment as well as testing and selecting vacuum tubes for optimum performance in a particular application. A "must have" book for those considering what tube tester(s) to purchase for their needs and/or which ones to retain in their "collection".

[NOTE: IMHO, this book is NOT intended for the "average user" of vintage Radio, Audio or "Audiophile" equipment. Although the "average user" may be able to glean some useful "tips & general information" on the test equipment listed, the "intended reader audience" is those who are thoroughly knowledgeable in electronics and regularly work on vintage, vacuum tube based, electronic equipment (for either fun or profit).]

Rating:
Summary: Buy for nostalgia purposes, not for technical data
Review: EXCELLENT treatise by well known "Vintage Radio" author Alan Douglas on the many well known (Hickok, Heath, Eico, B&K, Precision) and "not-so-well-known" (Military, AVO, Western Electric, Mercury, Triplett, Weston) Vacuum Tube Testers. While the major topic of this book is Vacuum Tube Testers, other "Classic" and very useful pieces of test equipment for troubleshooting "Vintage" Audio and Radio equipment are also examined. Items such as Capacitor Testers, Noise Bridges, Impedance Bridges, Curve Tracers, Signal Generators, and HV DC power supplies are covered.

Alan Douglas also provides the reader with wonderful insight into a variety of testing and test equipment related topics that have been "difficult to explain" for decades. Testing issues such as: why tube tester readings disagree for the same tube tested, using Curve Tracers for characterizing vacuum tubes (other than the Tektronix 570!), building the "Ultimate Tube Tester", how to REALLY obtain and interpret tube characteristic curves, how to relate measured tube data to manufacturer's published tube data, proper Capacitor testing; including ESR and leakage, as well as test equipment restoration and maintenance tips.

This book imparts a "WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE" to the reader about Classic Vacuum Tube Testers and Test Equipment. However it is NOT a "review" of tube testers or test equipment on a "which one is better" or "what is the BEST" type of basis. Rather, it is a careful examination and explanation of the "method of operation" as well as the "inherent limitations" for a multitude of vacuum tube testers and test equipment. Numerous and detailed photographs of practically EVERYTHING described makes this a book that is destined to quickly become a "Standard of Reference" for all of us that enjoy working on Vintage Vacuum tube Audio and Radio equipment as well as testing and selecting vacuum tubes for optimum performance in a particular application. A "must have" book for those considering what tube tester(s) to purchase for their needs and/or which ones to retain in their "collection".

[NOTE: IMHO, this book is NOT intended for the "average user" of vintage Radio, Audio or "Audiophile" equipment. Although the "average user" may be able to glean some useful "tips & general information" on the test equipment listed, the "intended reader audience" is those who are thoroughly knowledgeable in electronics and regularly work on vintage, vacuum tube based, electronic equipment (for either fun or profit).]

Rating:
Summary: Buy for nostalgia purposes, not for technical data
Review: I like photos of old electronic gear in order to identify items that I have or want to buy. Just remember what the first reviewer said above. There is no help in this book for comparing tube testers for the purposes of making a purchase decision. I would have thought a little tech data would not have hurt.