ke4mcl
12-03-2011, 05:04 PM
i've been slowly chipping away at getting 25 years or so of tube collecting sorted. today i uncovered some cool pieces of US radar history that i thought you guys might get a kick of.
the little RCA boxes are 955 acorn tubes. acorn tubes were instrumental in early radar development as they were the only tubes at the time that could be efficiently used at UHF frequencies. they were even classified at one point. tube technology quickly advanced during WW2 and the acorn style was no longer needed by the time the war ended. the tubes are uncommon and finding sockets for them is challenging.
the tube that looks like a nail polish bottle is from an early form of nightvision. it amplified near infrared light and projected the image on the curved glass lens at the end. it was used for infrared light signalling between ships. as i remember its marked IP25 or something like along those lines. i found a page that outlines how the system worked. i had no clue we had this tech in WW2.
the RCA box with the long paper tag is part of an actual tube complement to an SO-1 radar system. the box is dated 1943 and the tube is still sealed. its a voltage regulator tube. early radar units where really high tech stuff and well guarded. this is the only radar related tube i have found with a tag saying what it went to.
the tube with the glass bulb and round metal disc below it is part of the transmit side of an early radar. i believe these worked as a type of switch to interrupt the RF beam. it is new in box.
i found these bits of WW2 americana interesting. hope you guys get a kick out of it.
the little RCA boxes are 955 acorn tubes. acorn tubes were instrumental in early radar development as they were the only tubes at the time that could be efficiently used at UHF frequencies. they were even classified at one point. tube technology quickly advanced during WW2 and the acorn style was no longer needed by the time the war ended. the tubes are uncommon and finding sockets for them is challenging.
the tube that looks like a nail polish bottle is from an early form of nightvision. it amplified near infrared light and projected the image on the curved glass lens at the end. it was used for infrared light signalling between ships. as i remember its marked IP25 or something like along those lines. i found a page that outlines how the system worked. i had no clue we had this tech in WW2.
the RCA box with the long paper tag is part of an actual tube complement to an SO-1 radar system. the box is dated 1943 and the tube is still sealed. its a voltage regulator tube. early radar units where really high tech stuff and well guarded. this is the only radar related tube i have found with a tag saying what it went to.
the tube with the glass bulb and round metal disc below it is part of the transmit side of an early radar. i believe these worked as a type of switch to interrupt the RF beam. it is new in box.
i found these bits of WW2 americana interesting. hope you guys get a kick out of it.