The Subminiature Vacuum Tube

[@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.

[@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. . .

[@johnoakes5282]

My little Wireless microphone still works good.

[@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.

[@FredPeters]

Enjoyed the film, especially the John Adams music.

[@RodgerMudd]

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

[@eddyaudio]

Thanks for providing this most interesting information.

[@RadioHamGuy]

Thanks once again!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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)

[@ChaosMagnet]

I’m proud to work at Raytheon.

[@tadonplane8265]

When Windows 95 came out a computer scientist was being interviewed about it on Morning Edition. He said that modern (1995) desktops are often compared to room filling vacuum tube computers of the 1950s. But, he said, there's really no comparison. If one were to build the Pentium processor needed to run Windows 95, just that one chip, out of subminiature vacuum tubes they would fill the Pentagon.

[@samuellourenco1050]

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

[@jeffsaxton716]

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

[@johnoakes5282]

I have a RCA wireless microphone that uses the Little tubes.

[@flyingfox8072]

I am having couple of these tubes. 😁😁

[@briandoane7404]

What if used nitrogen gas to cooling vacuum 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.