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Vacuum Tubes for Vintage Radios
 (1920s - Early '30s Tube Info)

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Some  tube image
examples click/tap to see

notes on some 1920's tube numbers, types  and bases

Vacuum tube numbers were not standardized until the early 30's. At that time all the prefixes such as "UX". "UY" and other pre-fixes were dropped. Examples:

No. UX201A became a "01A", a UY227 became a "27" and so on.

An "A" suffix on tube number indicated an improvement over the previous version, either version will work.

Some early tube
 numbering examples

00A, same as UX200A
01A, same as UX201A
301A, etc, same as 201A
C11, same as WD11

         WD-12
12A, same as UX112A
71A, same as UX171A
80, same as UX280

 

Newer tube info
bases etc.

Miniature & Loctal
Subminiature
More modern

 

  

 basic  specs  &  base info for common 1920s types: 

UV/UX200 (00) UV or UX base
gas filled triode detector
filament: 5 volts 1A tungsten

UV/UX200A (00A) UV or UX base
gas filled triode detector
filament: 5 volts .25A throated

UV/UX201 (01) UV or UX base
triode AF/RF amplifier
filament: 5 volts 1A tungsten

UV/UX201A (01A) UV or UX base
triode AF/RF amplifier
filament: 5 volts .25A thoriated

UV199 (V99) small UV base
triode AF/RF amplifier
filament: 3 volts .25A thoriated

UX199 (X99) small UX base, pin spacing
is the same as standard UX base
triode AF/RF amplifier
filament: 3 volts .25A thoriated

WD11 special base, unique
triode AF/RF amplifier
filament: 1.1 volts .25A coated filament, special base

WD12 UV base
electrically the same as the WD11

WX12 (X12) Ux base
electrically the same as the WD11 
 

"Big Pin" base example

 
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More Comments

The standard #27 was originally designated as "UY227" by most manufacturers, #45 was a "UX245". Some dropped the letter designations and simply went by 227 and 245 for the subject tubes.

The differences in the "ST" & "Antique Globe" style tubes are strictly cosmetic. The "Globe" styles are the early style & less common. They command a higher price because they look more authentic when peering into the insides of the 1920's radios.

During the 1920's, there was no standard numbering system for vacuum tubes. Although the "201A" was the standard used in most battery operated radios for RF & AF amplification. The suffix "A" indicated a thoriated filament which drew less current than it's predecessor the 201 which had a 1 amp, tungsten filament. The 201 with it's 5 volt tungsten filament lit up like a light bulb  whereas the "A" version with it's 1/4 amp filament produced a dull, warm orange glow.

Many manufacturers had their own prefix designation for the "201A". For the RCA "Radiotron", it was UX-201A, Cunningham was CX301A, Montgomery Wards; GX-201A and there were many other variations by brand name and some brands had their own numbers.

The UX, CX, DX etc, simply indicated standard 4 pin, plug-in base. This "UX" applied to other 4 pin tubes as well such as UX171A, UX210, UX280 and any 4 pin plug-in tube. The UV prefix was for the bayonet version (stubby, short pins) that required push & twist to lock in place. The tube sockets in many radios would accommodate either UX or UV based tubes. In the early 1930's tube numbers were mostly standardized, the prefixes were dropped and nearly all of the 1920's tubes were now designated with two digits. The famous 201A was now an "01A", UX120, was now a 20, the 280 became an 80, 210 a 10 and so on.

More valuable info > on tube testing.

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Below are images of some of the early vacuum tubes & bases
click/tap to enlarge


Brightson Blue
WD11's
UV201 brase base
Arctrus



Arctrus Tubes
Below are the common base types uses in 1920s & some '30s vacuum tues

WD11 base
small UV base

 
UV base
UX base
UY base
OCTAL BASED TUBES

Click/Tap to enlarge
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