Many hams fondly remember their first homebrew transmitter--it is hard to forget the warm glow of a vacuum tube.  With the availability of New Old Stock (NOS), it is quite practical for hams to recreate that first radio!

•  A Simple Transmitter  Original December 1946 article
   A Simple Receiver  
  How To Become A Radio Amateur, 1955
  Many of us started with these - a single 6V6 and a single 3S4.

• A Novice T.R. Switch by Lew McCoy, W1ICP.  While this switch passes too much power for modern solid state rigs, this 6AH6 pentode switch is perfect for vintage tube stations.  You can substitute a 1N4004, 1N4005, 1N4006, or 1N4007 for the obsolete selenium rectifier, CR1.

• DCS-500 Double-Conversion Superheterodyne Receiver 
  The Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1964, pp. 133-139
  This ham band 80 -10 five tube (6BA6, 6U8A), two transistor receiver includes a 100-kHz calibrator. 
• An Inexpensive 75-Watt Transmitter 
  The Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1964, pp. 172-175
  This crystal controlled transmitter for 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meters uses a 12BY7 and a 1625. 
• The "Novice Special" Transmitter 
  The Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1971, pp. 181-183
  This 15-watt, 80- and 40-meter cw transmitter was intended for the novice constructor. It uses a 6C4 and a 5763. 
• A 75- to 120-Watt CW Transmitter 
  The Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1971, pp. 184-187
  This transmitter uses a 6GK6 and the famous 6146B. 
• FT-101 Power Amplifier Valves from Ham Radio Today (RSGB) April 1998
  Beware of changing the 6JS6C power amplifier valves in the venerable old FT-101 (this applies to direct replacement without circuit modification) 
• Converting Surplus Transmitters for Novice Use 
  The Radio Amateur's Handbook, 1960, pp. 215-218
  Information on converting an ARC-5, BC-457 or similar surplus transmitter for amateur use.

The BoatAnchor Manual Archive (BAMA)
The manuals in this archive are available to all who enjoy working on and restoring old tube type amateur radio equipment and short wave receivers.

Bill Beech, NJ7P -- Tube Data Searchable Database

Frank's Electron Tube Pages
Data Sheets, Type Lists, Number Systems, Tube Bases, Substitutions, and more

Nostalgia Air
Vintage Radio References

Welcome to The Vacuum Tube Page

Comprehensive Transmitting Tube Data
1988 Handbook Base Diagrams and Data