From the apex of Western Electric's quality, a nice matched set of 349A output tubes, one of their finest octal tubes. Built in house, by Western Electric, solely for quality powered output of audio (used for a great many places throughout the Bell system of the 1940s-1960s). This tube has attained legendary status, from it's station as the output stage of the 133A line amplifier (from the WE 25 audio console). The 349A is Western Electric's improved answer to the wonderful 1930s era 6V6/6F6 compact pentodes. It delivers indeed the enhanced life, rugedness and sound quality you would expect, gived the sound tht 300B's and 350B's. Clever uses for these abound, and it's possible to successfully build many more circuits around these than you could imagine -- well beyond the excellent WE layouts that perfected Push-Pull 6L6/350B, 349 (6f6) and many other wonderful power tubes. Research your uses -- once you own a pair of 349A's you'll be well equipped for an astonishingly broad array projects.
Nice pairs from the 1940s & 50s are seldom seen, these are a scarce catch!
Both tubes have beautiful, thick, shinny flashing. Tight bases and clear glass. They're very clearly ultra low hours or new. Tube #2 (July 1952), has two very small (cosmetic) flaws -- it has a small rattle, from carbon bits left inside the glass envelope. The carbon bits are non conductive, and pose no threat to operation or life of the tube. This issue is common in WE tubes of this era, and never causes problems. This same tube also has a small flaw in it's base. It is a small cosmetic fissure, that is very minor. The base is stong and tight, study enlarged photo below. The base is not related to vacuum (the vacuum us sealed by glass, not the bakelite) Tube #2 is solid and presents as near mint.
Condition of these tubes is immaculate. They both test strong, No shorts, and well matched, on a calibrated TV7 -- tube #1 is 36, and tube #2 35, minimum = 20 (65%). On a calibrated Jackson 648, at full load, they both read 105%, better than new (minimum = 70) -- please see full test reports, and tests of actual tubes below. Both units are very strong, and have excellent projected life.
The WE 349A appeared in the 1930s, right before WWII -- and to my knowlege made it's debut on WE's highest fidelity audio amps and line amps ... notably the now priceless sought after WE 133A (an astonishingly good sounding 8 watt bridging amp (famously found as the final line stage in the WE25 speech input console, where it was beautifully employed in push-pull configuration.
For the 1930's, the compactness and high possible wattage dissapation (3.3watts max as a pentode). This tube was a stunning departure from the old, large triodes of the 1920s and 30s.
Western Electric famously employed WE300B triodes, and the larger 350B (6l6 varient) in production, and in active use in the Bell System well into the 1980s. Usage of the 349A in long lines, Speech Input, Broadcast recording and playback was far less widespread, making the 349A far more rare, than it's larger brothers.
The features and quality construction of the WE 349A are simply not avalable in tubes today. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, wise audiophiles in Japan had discovered the amazing quality and versatility of the 349A, especially employed in the 133A amp circuit. In more recent decades, 1990s to present -- the modern audio builders discoverd the (well documented) incredible quality that can be obtained by using the 349A as a triode, where it excels for use in preamps and low power headphone amps. In these circles, when used as a triode .. it is sometimes refered to as "the baby 300B".
Up and running the superior quality is easy to hear. Modern day small pentodes don't come close.
These, (see exhibit A, I, F) were selected spares from the estate of an engineer and dedicated audiophile, who kept them carefully shelved should his daily use units ever fail (they did not), so these were not pressed into service -- not during his long ownership. See exhibit A,B,C,D, E for reports --low hours -- making them perhaps... new / unused. In any case, this is a top notch pair to use in your next project; the bakelite has nice yellow ink, tube #1 is mint, and #2 has only a few small cosmetic flaws (see above). They present beautifully in person, no mistaking their age. Both feature nice original boxes.
If you are planning to build your own 133A amps or preamp project now, or in anytime in your future audiophile lifetime, these would be a wise investment. Because of the stellar sound, and tremendous utility, they have been hoarded by listeners and collectors all over the world. Their value has steadily risen decade by decade, and in the most recent 10 years time, they have outperformed almost any other financial instrument or other precious asset. That's a pretty astonishing track record for tubes that are such a pleasure to use daily.
You won't see a set this nice around for a long while -- so seriously consider buying it now -- they will sell very quickly.
Will be carefully double-boxed, in tri-wall cardboard with lots of cushion -- best, safest packing on eBay or anywhere else.
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