how tubes are made

johnk_10 · #1 01-09-2013, 03:04 AM

just in case anyone is interested, here's a pretty cool video showing how vacuum tubes are made. this video was shot in the Czech republic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n4WVRKkmww

SneakyT · #2 01-09-2013, 03:28 AM

Very cool.
Always love seeing that kind of craftmanship.

Downunderwonder · #3 01-09-2013, 03:49 AM

Automated production line machinery must be fearsome.

DJJazzV · #4 01-09-2013, 04:41 AM

That was great. Thanks for sharing.

OldogNewTrick · #5 01-09-2013, 05:21 AM

Very cool! Thanks for the link

kobass · #6 01-09-2013, 05:35 AM

Wow! Very cool!

Thanks for posting!

Jim C · #7 01-09-2013, 07:08 AM

Never realized how much precision hand work was involved.
Assuming all tubes are made this same way, $15 - $35 for a standard audio tube seems like a bargain.
Cool post

Bassmec · #8 01-09-2013, 07:14 AM

Thanks for the link that's a great video.

RickenBoogie · #9 01-09-2013, 07:17 AM

I expected very cool, but got blown out awesome. Thanks for that, very interesting.

tombowlus · #10 01-09-2013, 07:24 AM

Thanks for the link! I love that show ("How It's Made"). My entire family is addicted. They do an excellent job telling about how a huge variety of things are made, and they do it in an interesting and pretty efficient fashion. They've done a ton of music-related features, as well, including Gibson guitars, and one on cymbals (Zildjian, I think?).

MICKUSS · #11 01-09-2013, 07:34 AM

I always assumed that they were eggs laid by the Tube Fairy!

beans-on-toast · #12 01-09-2013, 07:37 AM

Great skill in those workers hands. Those high end tubes like the 845 in the video and the 300B sound amazing.

spiritbass · #13 01-09-2013, 07:41 AM

Cool. I have never seen the process and did not realize how much skilled handwork is required. Thanks for sharing, John!

JimmyM · #14 01-09-2013, 08:05 AM

Wow, who knew it took so much work to make one tube? Cool vid...thanks John!

beans-on-toast · #15 01-09-2013, 08:22 AM

Here's another video, along similar lines, featuring the Mullard Blackburn tube production facility in England.

KJung · #16 01-09-2013, 08:29 AM

Amazing. Lots of skill involved.

You would thing the variability across units would be relatively high given all the handwork. I guess that is part of the beauty of tubes, each one sounds a bit different I guess (at least the ones made like this).

hdracer · #17 01-09-2013, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C

Never realized how much precision hand work was involved.
Assuming all tubes are made this same way, $15 - $35 for a standard audio tube seems like a bargain.
Cool post

The KR Audio tubes shown run $500-900 a pair!!
http://www.tubedepot.com/kr.html

sharpbass · #18 01-09-2013, 08:41 AM

Great video, thanks for sharing the link.

Foz · #19 01-09-2013, 08:41 AM

not as fun as watching this old guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzyXMEpq4qw

will33 · #20 01-09-2013, 08:43 AM

Yup....cool video John, thanks.

I have seen quite a bit of glass blowing done up close and in person as there are quite a few artisans here who do that stuff, although most of them just make pipes and bongs.

The coolest part for me was how they get the vacuum in the vacuum tube and take the impurities out. Always wondered how they accomplish that.