I Bought A TON Of Radio And TV Vacuum Tubes, Did I Pay Too Much?

We're trying to keep some of the vintage electronics out of the landfill. Many times when something stops working, it can be repaired if someone will simply take the time to attempt to repair it. This channel documents our amateur attempts at repairing vintage electronics we think are cool.
We don't typically restore anything, we're just trying to get them working again. We've found that most of this stuff was well built and with a little help will start doing what it was intended to do.
Radio Repair
Phonograph Repair
Clock Repair
Projector Repair

[@RobW-gx6ic]

Oh if my dad was still alive and i showed him this , he would be saying see i told you they’re are people out there with radio and tv tubes lol.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

They’re still around 🙂

[@DandyDon1]

TV vacuum tubes not so much, especially compactrons, which aren't that desirable.

[@janno288]

A friend of mine asked me weather he should buy them, I told him to but he couldnt get them in time. Lucky you

[@santherstat]

so you're the one who bought it while I was talking with the seller ... oh well, I'll get it next time. I was about to drive to SC the next day

[@Fatal_Jinx]

Finally it’s back. 🎉🎉🎉🎉 look forward to your future amateur repairs

[@AmateurRepairTime]

See you soon!

[@markjackson1444]

Great to be back on Amateur Repair Time. Great score and a good price considering everything you got. That’s gonna keep you off the streets for a while. …Can’t wait for your next radio repair.

[@goodun2974]

At 19:30, a 6K11, hard to find triple triode used in one or two vintage Ampeg guitar amps, and a 6U10 next to it, for the Fender SuperTwin IIRC.

[@Rep2369]

Ronnie!!! Amateur Repair Time is back!!!!!!! I certainly missed it and am SO happy to see you back!! GREAT deal imo for all you got, you'll make over 1/2 back just from the testing equ alone! Look forward to seeing you use those tubes to keep some vintage stuff alive and kickin!!! Welcome back my friend!!

[@JamesUK-je4ew]

So pleased to have a new video on this channel. Thanks Ronnie! Loved it. Regards

[@davidsmethurst1056]

EM34 is a Magic Eye.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you

[@janno288]

@@AmateurRepairTime Its under the European (Superior) namimg scheme. you will instantly recognise a magic eye bx its white photsphor coating on the top or side

[@stevehead365]

6E5 another.

[@NoelRamakers]

Hooray you're back. Now I can finally end my Sunday with a relaxing video!

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you Noel

[@FishDS9]

I checked yesterday to see if there were any new videos and saw none. Woke up today to see a new video! Thanks Ronnie! You didn't have to count all those tubes for us. We appreciate you.

[@frankgagliano9677]

Glad to see you put another video repair out there. That is a big haul.

[@wackyworldofwindios3476]

Wow what a haul Ron. You might make shango66 jealous. I think you did all right. I don't know if there that much old tec. left around to use all of them. A lifetime of tubs, LOL. It is something that will never be made again , many be start a museum .

[@PeterIvanchich]

Employees cleaned out several places where I worked, as some of us were asked if we wanted the stock of vacuum tubes, if not, they would go into the dumpster! They didn't have to ask twice. By this time, most electronics were transistorized.

[@MrSupro]

I bought up several television repair places decades ago. That looks like the regular mix. Nearly all of those boxed tubes will be used. From what I could see there are some audio types. The one box with all the 6SN7’s is where I would start. I saw an occasional 12AT7 and 12AY7 poking out. There will also probably be some floating around in those cans. The larger sweep tubes may be worth something but they look pretty tired. The silver mirror on the inside of the tubes is the getter. It’s a coating of barium that collects up the remaining gas to maintain the vacuum. When they are just brown and kinda see through that’s a sign the tube is at end of life. If they are white that means they have completely lost vacuum.

[@jamied2108]

Not a bad deal. There is a many television tubes in the lot . There is a small group of individuals that still do restorations on televisions.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you for watching!

[@senilyDeluxe]

And there's a slightly bigger group of individuals who still enjoy watching tube TVs! (or at least CRT TVs, tube or transistor - my only flatscreen TVs are Watchman tubes. Although that's not entirely correct, I do have a few of those 90s color LCD pocket TVs everyone wanted but no one had)

[@ericrawson2909]

Great haul. I spotted 80 rectifiers, and a 25L6. All radio tubes I think. The audio guys like 5U4 rectifiers and the 6SN7 double triodes, and I think the triple triode compactrons. Some TV sweep tubes are favoured by audio amp builders. By the way, I could happily listen to your truck engine all day. Englishman here, fell in love with US V8s as a schoolboy.

[@michaelmiller9483]

Perhaps you have already, but if you get a chance to visit a drag strip in America,or for that matter in England, listen to the sound of a billet version of the 1964 Chrysler Hemi. 500 cubic inches of the LOUDEST engines on earth- whether in a dragster or funny car, same engine.

[@ericrawson2909]

@@michaelmiller9483 Went to Santa Pod in about 1970. Top fuel dragsters. Incredible, feeling your lungs vibrate. Best sound I remember was formula 5000, the Lolas at Brands Hatch.

[@trevorhaddox6884]

TV flyback driver tubes can also be used to make Tesla coils.

[@simondempsey1]

I think you've done well. Take what you need and sell the rest on. Good to see you back on this channel.

[@sgath92]

If he sells the TV ones off, he might find 10-20 years from now that he wants to get into restoring tvs and regret it (ask how I know!).

[@goddessesstartrekonlinefle3061]

Thats a-lot of tubes you've got there! Totally Tube-ular? :D Thanks for filming this! :)

[@KeritechElectronics]

Quite a haul! Most impressive. These tube testers are already something. 450 bucks is not bad, there are tubes useful for amps like 6V6, so despite lots and lots of "trashy" TV tubes, I think you got a good deal.

[@Jason-lx3zu]

Good to see you back on this channel Ron! Upvoted all your supportive comments :-)

[@Jason-lx3zu]

Btw you really do live in beautiful country, reminds me a lot of western Washington "the evergreen state "

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you Jason

[@Jesselovespinball]

The coolest part of a tube tester is that it uses tubes to test tubes. How cool is that ?

The B&K 707 is a good tester and probably worth around $200. I've been using one for at least 30 years and is my go to tester rather than my Hickok 600A or 539B testers. The 707 is easy to use and calibrate, but I would recommend replacing the electrolytic caps if you are planning on using it.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you

[@sgath92]

Another thing to think about: I find that its essential to buy white boxes for storing locktals & miniature tube-types because the ink on them is so easy to wear off that just being jostled around together in a box will slowly rob you of any way of identifying some of them. If you do start buying white boxes, which is an expensive undertaking (a little cheaper if buying in bulk), you can store the smaller sizes easily in the largest-size of free flatrate USPS boxes (the kind that's something like 1 foot by 1 foot by 6 inches or something around there). They're just about the right size to fill with octals, loctals or 7/9 pin minis with two "levels" if you tape the top flaps down over the sides so the boxes are like trays. If you organize them by the first number so all the 1's are together, all the 6's together, 12's, etc., and put them in a spreadsheet as you go, you can very quickly find what you need ("oh I need a 6v6? go to box 5 of the GTs"). You can then go overboard with a purpose built shelf to store all of those boxes and start having tubes invade your dreams and nightmares.

[@ray73864]

I can count to 3, but I need all my fingers and toes to do it! :D

[@KB1UIF]

You got your monies worth in tube testers alone. Nice find.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Great find. Now you need a tube tester. There are still some used ones around to be had.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

You didn't watch much of the video, did you?

[@joewoodchuck3824]

@@AmateurRepairTime Correct.

[@DeadKoby]

Some years ago, I bought a few lots of tubes.... many were NOS. I went through and tested ALL of them... Some of the tubes were good for what I wanted, and others weren't. Those that weren't were tested and sold. Some models sold fast, and others I thought I might be buried with.

[@lorenzorentniop717]

Tubes are so cool justified to horde them lol

[@Zepphd2]

First off, glad to see a new episode! 2nd, pretty sure you got a deal!! I’ve been looking for a tube tester and can’t find one around here less than $150 plus outrageous shipping. Nice haul!!!

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thanks for watching

[@williamnutley5509]

Thanks for the video Ron!

[@andygrime]

Like the windscreen, this was a cracking video 😂. Good to see you again 👍🏼

[@ShawnBernard70]

Thank you for sharing your spare, spare time, you didn't have to do that.

[@goodun2974]

The 6GH8 is a triode-pentode tube, in the same general category as 6AN8, 6EA8, 6U8 and 6KD8. They were sometimes used, or can be made to sub for other types, as driver and phase inverter tubes for guitar amps and tube hifi.

[@hardball107]

The lot is definitely worth the money IMHO. All TV's had an audio section, lots of crossover there and the testers alone made it a score. Many of those video tubes can be used in homebuilt, practice amps putting out between 1-4 watts. They are great because they are cheap and sound great, I've built a few amps using alternate numbers and they have worked out just fine. Ebay can be your friend and pay for the cost, time and effort. BTW, those 12 volt tubes are most likely vintage 12AX or AU 7's, worth a bunch and those vibrator tubes are unobtainium, serious money.

[@SiaVids]

The "Getter" is there to mop up any gas inside the tube. it does make a useful indicator if the device has come up for air...

[@KentTeffeteller]

The Hickoks are regarded as the gold standard, but the B&K DynaJet tube testers were reasonably good testers. The TV shop I was grunt technician, radio and phono man at had one. I used it, and it was a very good tester. Did what I needed. I also serviced Black & White and older Color TV chassis, tube and hybrid. The B&K DynaJet likely needs new electrolytic capacitors, and is easy to calibrate. The

[@brucem2007]

Love the B&K!!! Been looking for one! Great haul!!!

[@justinrayguitars6024]

I would be interested in some good 6LQ6 tubes if you have any. I think you got a great deal!

[@naytch2003]

I noticed nobody noticed you were driving on the wrong side of the road Ronnie 😉😁

[@fish3cats]

Hooray!

[@OhRonaldo]

Lissen Ronnie, the guy used a sharpie on those white boxes, so when you use the dielectric grease because it's an insulator it's going to run when you clear coat them. 😉😉 Way cool score. Refurb that awesome tester, that would make a great video!!! I think the 6g6 and 6ax and similar tubes are used in radios 6L6... But I just never learned them, the naming scheme is like voodoo or something. And I worked at radio shack haha 🤣 but I used to know resistor codes and flashlight bulb codes (yup, there's a code!) Ahhh the good old days

[@richardh100]

Wow great find some rare tubes

[@goodun2974]

Honestly, the Eico tube tester should probably be parted out for the bakelite knobs which were used in vintage guitar amps, and the red switches which were sometimes used in vintage hifi equipment from the 1950s. Unfortunately, the switches are riveted in place and you'd have to grind or drill the rivets out which is a pain. It's easy to get slide switches in black or brown but not so easy to find them in white, ivory or red.

[@chrisingle5839]

I saw a few boxes there with radio tubes. Majority is TV, though.

[@williamcooper2368]

I LOVE THE OG ORIGINAL GANSTER. VIDEO'S . I REMEMBER THE T V REPAIR GUY .BRINGING HIS 2 Big case's filled with TUBES . IN THE HOUSE

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you for watching!!

[@philsanalogbasement]

Some of those compactrons could be worth money. Look for 6c10s in there. They were used in fender amps at one point

[@goodun2974]

You should buy yourself a copy of the book Tube Lore by Ludwell Sibley, which is an exhaustive reference guide with a cspsule description of virtually every vacuum tube ever made. You might be able to buy an online version of it.

[@atmazee]

Whatcha gonna do with all them tubes? You should give some out at Halloween. Tell them they are robot hearts.

[@hestheMaster]

Ronnie on ART is back! A B&K Dyna-Jet model 707 is a really great tube tester! The PACO tube tester is actually a rare tester. Hopefully you can get the manual or reprint of one from a major selling site on the web. The EICO one I wouldn't even bother with it since it uses slide switches (hard to clean dirty contacts). Holy crap that's a lot of tubes Ronnie! After all that sorting you will become an expert when it comes to tubes and cleaning the pins to test the ones you do want to use! Price wise I think you did great. Eye tubes that used in tube radios are :1629, 6E5, 6U5, 6T5 (rare!), 6AF6 ,and 6AL7.

[@goodun2974]

The most valuable thing on the Eico tube tester are the knobs and the red slide switches which might be sufficiently desirable for restoring vintage hifi equipment that it's worth grinding or drilling out the rivets and saving the switches.

[@quetzal4042]

I saw an 0Z4 gas rectifier, used in car radios with vibrators, maybe a 6V6 audio output and a 5U4 rectifier. But looks like you got >95% strictly TV tubes.

[@mauryfeskanich4523]

Yeah, that’s a pretty good haul! About 4000 tubes for about $200 is around 20¢ each. Looks like most are for TVs, but there are still a few folks that could use them so I wouldn’t put them in the trash. If nothing else, you could always see if Shango or Bob Anderson might be interested! You can’t really say that all 6’s or all 12’s are for radios, but in general radios used mostly 6’s and 12’s. The 6’s are usually in sets with transformers. The 12’s are usually in hot-chassis sets, along with some 35’s and 50’s (usually rectifiers and power output). The transformer sets often use a 5-volt rectifier, 5Y3 and 5U4 being common. Loctal tubes labeled 7 and 14 are actually 6 and 12. The leading number was changed to indicate the Loctal base. For instance, a 6SK7 and a 7SK7 are the same tube except for the base and maybe a different pinout (I totally made up those numbers just to illustrate the idea). Those two-digit tubes are mostly for pre-octal sets, pretty much 20’s and 30’s. There was some crossover in the mid-ish 30’s as octals started showing up. Also, battery powered portables typically used 1’s and 3’s. Leading numbers other than the ones above I expect to be TV tubes, but there are probably exceptions. Be on the lookout for really tiny tubes (I think they’re called subminiature). They can be mistaken for automotive-size light bulbs. I don’t know what the market is for those, but you don’t see too many of them. As I recall, they were used for only a short time as solid-state was ramping up. The most commonly used magic eye tubes used in the US were 6U5, 6G5, and 6E5. They are interchangeable, but the 6U5 is the least sensitive. These are 6-pin tubes. These was at least one octal base equivalent (electronically), but I don’t recall the number offhand. There were others, but these are the ones I’ve seen. In case you’re not familiar with them, look for an image online. They’re pretty easy to recognize.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you

[@williamcooper2368]

GREAT DEAL

[@doogie812]

For some quick cash sort all your sweep tubes (the big ones with the plate caps). Ham radio enthusiasts are paying some big bucks for some types. Magic eye is 6E5 and 6U5 (most common).

[@TMS9918A]

Keep it up Ronnie!

[@matambale]

Hire a highschool kid to create an inventory on a spreadsheet. Just tell 'em accuracy is more important than speed, and to put the un-readables in their own box. Just a thought. Not saying it's brilliant, but I think in the long run that spreadsheet would be worth a lot to you.

[@SiaVids]

Some TV tubes are useful to the audio community for their exotic amplifiers.

[@Joseph-ut4ui]

The unfortunate situation with used TV tubes is that weak means bad; most circuits in a TV need a tube that is near 100% or you will get a washed out picture or poor deflection. If they can be used in a radio it's a different story. Some of the Horizontal outputs were also used in transmitters and have value.

[@eDoc2020]

No, most positions in a TV will be perfectly fine with a weak tube. If you have a very weak horizontal output the picture will be pulled in from the sides a bit, most everything else can be adjusted.

[@Joseph-ut4ui]

@@eDoc2020 I've been a tech for 51 years, and that is not my experience.

[@sgath92]

A few things to ponder: 1- it seems like on ebay any tube tester starts at around $100 and goes up from there if its a particularly in demand unit (like a TV-7 or Hickok 539). In the real world of swap meets & radio clubs its more like half of whatever eBay is showing you. Tubes have a high theoretical value but a much lower resale value. If you added up every single tube you own including all the weird oddball stuff & TV stuff, and priced it by completed eBay sales or what various tube vendors online charge, you'd see your stash would cost you many thousands of dollars to replace (e.g. if your house burned down and insurance gave you a blank check to go replace them all). BUT, if you were trying to liquidate such a stash as a business or side-gig, you'd find that some won't have buyers even at 50-cent prices or they might but it might takes months or years (or longer) to get rid of -all- of them if selling them individually. A lot of people in this hobby are setting on stashes that, replacement-value wise, is in the tens of thousands of dollars but they'd never be able to see a fraction of that if disposing of them. People in the business of selling tubes buy out tube stashes by paying around 50-cents for random, unsorted, untested, used types and a little more for stuff that's all new in boxes.

[@cardboardboxification]

a 6t5 magic eye tube is worth $200 -$300 for a new one , only made one year , my 1938 zenith used one, but I used a different one

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you!

[@possumgrits825]

Awesome!

[@TomSorrentino-r2p]

wow, I paid 500 for a fraction of that pile. I have about 100 tubes in stock, and any doubles or triples of a tube number you want to sell just let me know, I'm a vintage repair fanatic always looking to add stock and variety. Thanks, Tom, Central Florida

[@goodun2974]

The Paco is an emission tester, not mutual conductance, therefore far more likely to pass bad tubes and reject good tubes then the B&K would be.

[@stevenmajewski3870]

seems like guy went through and sorted out anything worth more than $5

[@fernandezvonschwephausen1979]

Yep, crazy. But, I always get taken in by a "good deal". Hopefully at least a few (thousand) will work out for you.

[@garp32]

I'd say ya did ok. I'm mostly into radios, but in the last 2 years I have gotten into TV's. I have around 3,000 tubes now. I've been collecting the last 7 years or so. I turned down a whole trailer load last week at a hamfest. He estimated about 6,000 and wanted to sell the lot. I just don't have the room..but I coulda took them home for $450. I think im set for a while! 2/3 are new while the rest are pulls without boxes. The boxes are around .20 a piece new..so you can look at it that way. I'd like to buy some but just can't justify blowing a few hundred on boxes.. just for them to sit forever.

[@P_RO_]

A handful of high-percentage 8950's in there will cover your costs. Sweep tubes (especially the late ones) have become very expensive in usable form as CB and Ham radio restorers need them. Most sets can be converted to other tubes but then they're no longer original. Most 'lot' sales of tubes are chock-full of used low-percentage tubes and unpopular ones which didn't sell back in the day so unless you test a tube before buying it's a big gamble on what you'll get.

[@goodun2974]

Having purchased numerous large tube lots over the years, unfortunately what you may find is that the time you put into sorting through the tubes and pulling out the usable and valuable ones really cuts into any profit that you might make from them. It could take you several days to go through all of those, and so the question arises, how much is your time worth? You've got a lot of chaff to sort through in order to find the scarce grains of wheat. Wear your crappiest jeans and T-shirt because it will be a dirty process! Your best bet would be to begin by pulling out anything that doesn't have a 5 volt, 6V or 12 V filament and throwing all that stuff in a separate box to deal with later. You're primarily looking for 5 V rectifiers and 6 V and 12 V radio and audio tubes. There are very few tubes that run on any other voltages that would of much interest or value to equipment restorers, although of course if you find a 1L6 then that's highly prized by collectors of Zenith transoceanic radios. This batch of tubes mostly appear far too "modern" to contain any high value1930's 2.5 volt radio tubes like 2A3's or 45's. Although some ham radio linear RF amplifiers and a few esoteric audiophile amps used sweep tubes for output, most of the 9 pin and 12 pin compactron tubes won't be of any use to anyone, eslecialky if they dont have 6 or 12 volt filaments ---- but a few notable exceptions are 6C10, 6U10, 6K11 and 6BK11 which were used in a few vintage Fender and Ampeg guitar amps and are very hard to find nowadays. Sure, you can use 35Z5 and 50L6, 50C5 and so on in series string table radios, but those tubes are worth a few dollars at best. Don't assume anything from the physical condition of the boxes or the numbers marked out. You could find an apparently new tube inside a beatbox that might have the wrong number on it or vice versa, an old dirty tube inside a crisp clean. Even all of the cartons marked with oddball- voltage tube types should be carefully checked because sometimes you'll find a rare gem inside a mismarked or non- original box. Good luck and happy hunting! I don't envy you your task on this particular score because the wheat to chaff ratio appears pretty poor on the surface of it..... PS, Locked old type tubes that begin with a 7 or 14 are actually 6 or 12 V filaments respectively and some of them are useful for audio or radio or might be adapto replace another scarcer, rarer tube. A 7C5, for instance is essentially a 6V6 tube but with a different, noncompatible base, however one can make or sometimes even buy adapters for such tube substitutions.

[@vainwretch]

If you pay $1 a piece and were working you got a great deal.

[@mauryfeskanich4523]

Paused at 6:05 to say YES.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

I think it came out alright

[@CaseyRedDragon]

I'll take those TV Tubes

[@jimp.7286]

Good score right there. Did you pay too much? I don't think so. Way bigger than my collection which the family has had since the 50's/60's. My dad ran a home tv repair business late 50's early 60's all based around earlier tube tech but quit as the tech was just making the transition to solid state. His timing was poor and he wasn't interesting in making the change. People stopped dropping off old tv's and bought newer ones. He had another job anyway. I inherited all the tubes and test gear. Mostly eico. I've often thought about selling things off. Maybe some day. As a musician and ham op, the tubes were handy a few times in my amps/xcvers,......but I use modelers these days and the tube ham gear is in storage. Plus, most of the tubes were odd-balls for tv's. Power rectifiers, sweep tubes etc, though hams that still build could use that stuff. Not many around anymore. Sadly, the tube gear sits and collects dust. Again, you've got me beat by a few hundred. Seeing that pile made me wince as I know I've got to clear my mess out some day soon, ugh. Cheers. 👍

[@AmateurRepairTime]

I don’t know if I need this many but they were there !

[@jimp.7286]

@@AmateurRepairTime 👍

[@pacthesir]

Hi Jeff (or Geoff)

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

America is huge. somewhere out there there's a lot of new old stock tubes and CRTs. Somewhere out there it's a warehouse full of them. Buy the TV tubes you can make a profit selling the to KZbin people like Glasslinger and other KZbin repair men.

[@carlstanland5333]

Yay!

I'm seeing a bunch of TV tubes with the odd heater voltages. If you have sweep tubes like 6JS6, 6LQ6 etc, those tubes can be worth a bunch of money to the ham and cb people to use in linear amps. I see many 6 volt tubes that are used in the better pre and post war home radios and auto radios. You did ok as far as I'm concerned. The magic eye tubes would be 6U5/6G5, 6E5. 1629, EM84/6FG6. There are more numbers like 6AB5, 6N5, and 6AL7, but those are not really common.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Thank you

@@AmateurRepairTime I've been restoring radios, TVs and electronics test equipment since the 50's when we would find nice radios and TVs sitting on the curb, in a neighbors basement or buying them for a few bucks at thrift stores. I've made several great tube buys over the years where I would fill to overflowing, the 8 foot bed of my pick up truck with tubes and test equipment. At last count, I have somewhere around 10,000 tubes in stock dating all the way back to the late 20s.

[@tonychapman4074]

LYON’S TUBE EMPORIUM!!!!!

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Now there’s a long term viewer 😂

[@leighannedawson9335]

We looked up one of the tubes and it is worth $27. Just one

[@nickolaswilliams935]

If you come across any 6CB5 coke bottles let me know, I restore first generation color sets that use that tube.

[@B_MAD_24]

Now I can send you my swan 350 TRX radio

[@moshly64]

I think you made you money back physically, but the time it will take to sort them all out if there are no gems, may make it a loss.

[@justjoe942]

Yeah, if I did what you do I'd have to go after that stash.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Couldn’t resist!

[@y_x2]

If testers work it is not a too good deal... tubes most worth nothing but some should get some good money after working a lot selling them.

[@DandyDon1]

How many fix it tickets have you received for the cracks in your windshield within your visible line of sight? ;)

[@DandyDon1]

Both the Hickok/RD Instruments/WECO KS-15874-L1/L2 and MK-827/USM-118-A/B use a horizontal output 6CD6GA vacuum tube in their 1960s circuitry.

[@DandyDon1]

B&K's Mutual Conductance Circuit, not to be confused with Hickok's circuit. The 707 was the predecessor to the 747. They were common in the 1980s. ROC (Regional Occupational Center) TV Repair had a several of them.

[@DandyDon1]

6AL5 is radio, 6SC7 is also radio. 6V6 is an Amp vacuum tube. The getter is there to eat up the remaining air in a vacuum tube after it is pumped down.

[@AmateurRepairTime]

None nobody can swap a windshield in my 83 pickup anymore it’s a lost skill

[@davidstallworth4800]

Do you want to sell some of them?

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Not at the moment

[@MichaelGolby]

You need a new windscreen

[@AmateurRepairTime]

Unfortunately nobody can install one

[@naytch2003]

It's broke

[@spikester]

@@naytch2003 LOL, I thought I recognized that voice from another channel. Love it.

[@LanceHall]

I just assumed you died lol

[@joeyjustin6895]

8:00 ITS SAD NO ONE TOLD YOU. BUT IM GONNA. THE ONES WITH BLACK DOT ARE GOOD. IF BLACK DOT IS WHITE. ITS BAD

[@JamesUK-je4ew]

Some info here for the magic eye tube en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_eye_tube