How It's Made - vacuum tubes

For some reason, I LOVE the show "How It's Made" and this segment is a beautifully shot piece on how vacuum tubes are made. These tubes are being made in the Czech Republic for audio gear and it's amazing how much hand work goes into their creation. They almost look like sculpture.

[@RiveryJerald]

The fact they're still being made, is just astonishing.

[@coondogtheman]

I am glad they still make these. And am also glad How It's Made did a segment on them. A masterpiece right here.

[@basspig]

As a cinematographer who used to build vacuum tube amplifiers in the last century, this video was a lot of eye candy. It also unveiled a few mysteries, like how the getter is fired when it's sealed inside the tube. Great content, and nicely portrayed!

[@TangeClown]

tubes were used in most electronics back then. radios, tv's, phones, even computers. since then theyve been outdated. but for things like jukeboxes and turntables, soundsystems, and especially guitar amplifiers, tubes are still the best. they sound soo much better than digital and solid state

[@woodrowjang]

gorgeous works of art

[@3v068]

Whoever did this how its made, went to the right people. KR audio makes some DAMN good tubes, they're all handmade, and they perform excellently. Its worth the price of getting one compared to one that was machined.

[@frtard]

That amp at the beginning is nearly $17k... amazing.

[@steveperry1344]

when i was in the u.s. air force 50 yrs ago i was a ground radio repairman and repaired and maintained radio transmitters up to 50kw in power. the vacuum tubes in the power amplifier were about 3 ft. long and weighed about 20 pounds, they were huge.

[@arvisatwell5893]

I was under the same impression. I now have a whole new respect for the art of the making of these tubes!

[@ingenierocristian]

Vaccum tubes are still a thing, I ❤ it!

[@Number__3]

Just like the music they amplify, making a vacuum tube is like art. It is perfected with practice and the masters make the best ones. Goes to show no amount of automation can replace human skill.

[@hokulea8655]

I will never complain about the price of tubes again

[@Slugos45auto]

This is the best vacuum tube assembly video I've seen. It shows the detail of each piece of glass and how they are fused together. Great photos of the grid assembly as well.

[@gtrvoice4Him]

I admire the work of these artisans and highly appreciate their work.

[@SoddingaboutSi]

Absolute works of art. I want a pair for the living room.

[@JonasClark]

Amazing! I've done neon sign-type glasswork, and I've got a lot of respect for these guys. This technology is interesting - no matter whether one likes the result or doesn't - and, as with other archaic sound tech such as phonograph records, it's nice to see there's still a desire to have it available.

[@jamesslick4790]

For anyone watching, These are high end "handmade" tubes. Back in the "day" when vacuum tube electronics were common (1920's - 1970's), Most of these processes were done by automated equipment. There's plenty of contemporary to the time video on KZbin showing the MASS production of vacuum tubes (Mostly from the1940s and 50s). If tubes were all made THIS way "back in the day" only the rich would have had radios or TVs at all until 1978, lol.

[@56ceedee]

Nice impression of Chech Artwork. Hope they will continue producing these fantastic tubes for many years. The KR tubes match perfect with VSA speakers for play back music at a very high and realistic level. I know this for more than 15 years now. Enjoy, Cor

[@richymart]

There you go, one valve made.

[@llspragulus]

Thanks for posting this video!!