The Subminiature Vacuum Tube

The Subminiature Vacuum Tube: The Cycle of Technology is a short documentary of the history of the subminiature vacuum tube. This 16 minute film was produced by the MIT Museum with funding from Raytheon in 1986 for the MIT Industrial Liaison Program. The producer and director was Seichi Tsutsumi of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program.
If you enjoyed this video, consider becoming a member of the Antique Wireless Association at: antiquewireless.org/homepage/...
Subscribe to the Antique Wireless Museum channel and you'll receive news of our latest video uploads.

[@Starphot]

I serviced Navy A-6A Intruder aircraft in the early 1970s and they had the peanut tubes in them. The tubes were in a part of the circuits where the transistors were not robust enough to survive that environment at the time. The RF and IF amps were vacuum tubes or relatives as the transmitted RF radar pulse subdued, but still leaking in the receiver section would fry the transistors at that time. The A-6E had the latter transistors and the logic ICs along with the first microprocessors, still with the tubes in the IF and related in the RF amplifier in the receiver. The latter advanced A-6E electronics went to passive detection later before the first Gulf war.

[@joefishtale]

“If you can agree that I can fire you at the end of the year if it fails” Ya, and if it succeeds, if you can agree that since I am also taking such a risk, I receive XYZ of the profits of future sales. People seem to get away with taking advantage of engineers because of their lack in people and negotiating skills.

[@UQRXD]

They milked the tube as long as they could. I was so glad to see them go. Very well done video.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

Fascinating show. Makes me want an old hearing aid with Raytheon subminiature tubes in it. You know, just for the curio cabinet.

[@stevew1487]

I have a couple military walkie-talkies with these tubes that I picked up at a hamfest years ago.

[@samuellourenco1050]

Basically, they tried to compete with the transistor, but to no avail. Still, interesting concept for audio pre-amps.

[@ChaosMagnet]

I’m proud to work at Raytheon.

[@davidroyer5049]

Raytheon and Sylvania were making subminiature tubes for replacement use in old equipment as late as 1986-- I have been using NOS subminiature tubes in tube microphones for more than twenty years.

[@randyab9go188]

Don't forget GE. They were also making replacement tubes for the military in 1980's. By that time GE owned the RCA vacuum production so you will never see an RCA branded tube that late.

[@davidroyer5049]

@@randyab9go188 true. . .

[@Steven-re7xt]

Lot of things my induction to army brought me,.. ie a back pack tranciver. That had several tubes as small as pencils...and did as well as the rig that it replaced...😊 it just needed heater batteries. More often.

[@FredPeters]

Enjoyed the film, especially the John Adams music.

[@AdamosDad]

We also used these subminiature, tubes and more powerful tubes aboard ship in those days. I also worked on Raytheon equipment very well engineered. 🖐🏻73's🎙🎧 KD9OAM 📻 USS Newport News (CA-148) USS Springfield (CLG-7)

[@eddyaudio]

Thanks for providing this most interesting information.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks once again!

[@jeffsaxton716]

In my vast junk collection I have some of those.. the part number is CK something.

[@flyingfox8072]

I am having couple of these tubes. 😁😁

[@dennisyoung4631]

I have a fair number, both heater and filament kinds.

[@MAGATRON-DESTROY]

Tesla invented the technology that made the radio possible and marconi stole it from him when he worked for him. I'm so sick of hearing this garbage. Tesla came up with so much of technology we use everyday

[@daviddavidson2357]

Tesla came up with a lot, however he could have done radio too. Instead he chased the dream of wireless electricity, which we can only really do efficiently over very short distances (ie inductive chargers, or incidction stovetops) had he used the Whardencliffe tower for his stated purpose (radio communication) he may have been better noted during the 20th century. Early bird gets the worm, but if that early bird sits there singing to all the other birds about how he can make wireless worms so they never need to leave their nest, another will take it. Also the genius of most artists and inventors isn't really appreciated until they're long gone, take Leonardo for example. Even the Mona Lisa wasn't that famous until it was stolen in the early 20th century by a janitor, it was just another painting among many in the Louvre.