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Vacuum Tubes
Welcome to our webshop where we offer a wide range of vintage and rare electronics parts. One of our special products is the vacuum tube.
The vacuum tube, also known as an electron tube, played a crucial role in the development of electronic technology during the first half of the twentieth century. These tubes were used in a variety of devices, from radios to televisions and from computers to radar systems.
Although the vacuum tube was largely replaced by the transistor, they remain an indispensable component for vintage electronic equipment. We are proud of our selection of high-quality vacuum tubes that are perfect for restorations, repairs or simply for preserving authentic vintage equipment.
Explore our collection of vacuum tubes and other vintage electronics parts to bring your electronic projects to life.
- Vacuum tubes, also known as electron tubes, are a form of electronics that conducts electric current through a vacuum. They were created in the late 19th century and were essential in the development of technologies such as radio, television, radar and the first computers. They work by the principle of thermionic emission, in which electrons are given off and controlled in a vacuum within the tube. The electrons are drawn in by an anode, or "plate," which carries a positive charge. This causes an electric current to flow between the cathode (which gives off the electrons) and the anode.
- There are several types of vacuum tubes, each with a unique function. Triodes, the simplest form, have three elements: a cathode, an anode and a control grid. Tetrodes add an additional grid, the screen grid, which serves to stabilize electron flow. Pentodes add another grid, the suppression grid, which prevents secondary emission. There are also special tubes such as microwave tubes, which are used in microwaves and radar equipment, and photocells, which convert light into electric current.
- Vacuum tubes were originally used in early radio and television equipment, as well as in the first computers. Although they have largely been replaced by semiconductors in many of these applications, they still remain in use in certain areas. Vacuum tubes, for example, are still used in guitar amplifiers because of their unique sound quality. They are also used in high-quality audio equipment, in certain types of medical devices, and in some industries that require powerful radio transmissions, such as broadcasting and radar.
- There is a wide range of vacuum tubes available for different applications. They range in size from miniature to very large tubes used in industrial applications. They can also differ in terms of their internal configuration, with different numbers and types of diffusers. There are even special vacuum tubes such as the Nixie tube, which is used to create numerical displays, and the klystron, which is used to generate microwaves.
- The basic operation of a vacuum tube revolves around the principle of thermionic emission. When the cathode of the tube is heated, it emits electrons. These electrons are negatively charged and are therefore attracted to the positively charged anode or "plate. Between the cathode and anode is a control grid, which can be used to regulate the flow of electrons. By varying the voltage on the control grid, the flow of electrons, and therefore the current flowing through the tube, can be controlled. This makes it possible to amplify and modulate signals, which is crucial for applications such as radio broadcasting and audio amplification.
