This article is from the Antique Radios And Phonographs FAQ, by Hank van Cleef vancleef@netcom with numerous contributions by others.
The most frequently asked questions are about tube testers, and many
people who are attempting to get their first radio working assume that a
tube tester is the first piece of test equipment needed. This is not
the case. In a recent discussion between "old-timers" on the boatanchor
list who had worked professionally in manufacturing plants during tube
days, it developed that none of them recall seeing a tube tester in
places like Tektronix, James Millen, or Automatic Radio. While vacuum
tube (or valve, to the British speakers) faults are historically the
most common faults found in old electronics, most of them can be quickly
diagnosed in the application circuit. Also, there are many subtle
faults that a tube tester won't find. We'll discuss tube testers
further down, but will put discussion of other test equipment first.
 
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