Amperex 6550 ???????

[JPrest]

I have just received 6 nos Amperex 6550 Orange print "made in England" tubes wonder if I got taken? Black plates three getters, w 3 round holes in plates. Yellowish Alum. collar black base. Boxes are very good condition and are labeled Amperex R North American Philips Co. Seller states bought late sixties for amp and never used. I know, too good to be true. What do you think?

Lot of 6 - Amperex 6550 tubes NR! NO RESERVE! tung sol - eBay (item 140369006743 end time Dec-24-09 02:01:28 PST)
John

[tjnif]

The only 6550 tubes I ever saw were either: Tungsol
RCA, Sylvania, or GE. I think it was just a US tube..... Pretty interesting but not sure,might just be rebranded for Euro Mkt.??

[vintage_tube]

First, Amperex stated out as a small industrial tube company in Long Island, NY. After WW2, Philips acquired this company (which continued to make certain tube types in the USA, including the ubiquitous 6922), and began using them to distribute European made Philips products (including but not limited to tubes, there were also Amperex semiconductors, resistors & whatnot) in the USA. The products sold could've been from the Netherlands (made by Philips themselves), or any of their subsidiary companies, across Europe or elsewhere. So strictly speaking, there's very few tubes that were actually made by Amperex, and these tubes would've been sold in Europe under their home brand names. S o what you've got in a 1960's Amperex tube would've really been a Philips Miniwatt if it was marked "Made in Holland", a Valvo if it was made in Germany, and so forth...usually. Philips, like other tube manufacturers, was not adverse to buying in tubes from other tube manufacturers to fill out their distributor product line, so simply being labelled Amperex doesn't mean it was made by Philips or a Philips company.

Around 1980 Philips moved on from making tubes in Europe; its Amperex subsidiary wasn't doing too well & sold off their English & Dutch tube making assets and the rights to the Mullard & Amperex brand names to Richardson Electronics of La Fox, IL. They withdrew the license to use the Mullard brand name from International Electronic Components of Long Island, NY. Around the same time, in a shrewd move that greatly strengthened their position in electronic components and consumer electronics in the USA, they bought the Electronic Components and Consumer Electronics divisions of Sylvania from GTE, which included the Sylvania tube plant. This plant continued to make the same tubes, but under the new Philips ECG brandname, which doesn't have anything to do with European Philips Miniwatt, or Amperex tubes. Production ended around 1987 & Philips continued to market tubes under the Philips ECG brand name, by outsourcing tubes from current production manufacturers (when stocks of US made tubes were exhausted).

To recognize vintage 6550's, there were three unique visual designs: the coke-bottle Tung Sol, grey solid plate w/three holes (usually with numbers begining with 322 which are the Tung Sol factory codes). The rarest Tung Sol is solid black plate, no holes, white lettering on base w/date codes that were usually letters. The second design being the taller tubular shaped GE 6550A, with 2 tilted getters on top and third, the smaller Sylvania, straight sided.

The Amperex & Mullard brand names (as well as TungSol) as noted above are trademarks owned by Richardson Electronics, Ltd, which continues to market tubes under the Amperex brand name. The larger & more expensive industrial Amperex tubes are indeed made by Richardson, but the smaller tubes (like what you'd use in a usual hifi or guitar amp) are not, they're either US military surplus (usually, Philips ECG) or current production sources such as Svetlana or Tesla-JJ. New Sensor Corp is marketing new reproductions of Mullard & TungSol tubes (don't know if they own the name(s) or merely licensing their use from Richardson).

Unfortunately, and I say this in most 95% certanity -- this identical tube was listed on Upscale Audio's Tube of shame - but the photos are no longer there. Amperex never made a 6550 or KT88 even though it had that capability within it's reach or outsource tubes of that type. If it did, it would not brand it as an American designated 6550, it would in all liklihood brand it as a KT88, which is the European designation. In your case, it definitely would not brand it as a 6550 and stencil it "Made in England."

These as you purchased are manufactured in China & likely by Shuguang. They are a reproduction of a 6550; probably replicated around the GEC KT88, stenciled in rather large orange Amperex lettering and sold as a 6550 for as little as $15 each a few years ago.

On another web page, one keen tube owner noted on these Amperex 6550's -- "I do noticed numbers of this Amperex 6550 made in UK in Asia tube market, not coming out lately but at least 5-10 years, they are in T-S shape, three holes grey plate, but look deferent than a Tungsol, differ in brighter metal base, bigger 3 holes, and strange bottle shape if you hold them on hand, I thinks from China."

Kevin Deal (Upscale Audio) once reported on these Amperex 6550's (which is quite funny), one time he ran across a seller of fakes -- "There was a guy out here that was so stupid that he labeled Chinese 6550 as Amperex, and on one side of the tube he put "Made in Germany" and on the other side he put "Made in England" like the tube could not make up it's mind. Most of the folks that re-label are not tube heads or audiophiles. They are surplus and junk dealers. Some will label a used tube to sell it new. Some are so dishonest it would make your head spin."

Sorry to have reported this. If you find out otherwise -- please advise. It's extremely hard to give a 100% answer -- as I would be elated to learn you didn't spend that money wastefully. Additionally, I would love to see those tubes first hand.
Bob

[JPrest]

I didn't just fall off the truck just yesterday I do it everyday. With that said these tubes test (4) at 95 steady and (2) at 88, the stock McIntosh Test at 72. I have been listening to them this evening and they are very pleasing and easy to listen to. Much more punch on the bottom and Female vocals are clearer than the stock tubes. I put a caveat on PayPal payment conditions that if they were fakes to expect them back. Expecting NOS 6550 Tung Sols in tomorrow and GEC Canadian Sylvania's on Thursday. Any other places I can see pictures or get more information about fake Amperex would be appreciated.

[Vintage Pete]

I wonder why I can't open these attachments...this happens from time to time.

Pete

[jdandy]

Bob.......I thoroughly enjoyed the tube lesson. Thank you.

[tjnif]

WOW!! That was some history lesson! You really ARE a "Vintage Tube"! Thank you !

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by JPrest

I didn't just fall off the truck just yesterday I do it everyday. With that said these tubes test (4) at 95 steady and (2) at 88, the stock McIntosh Test at 72. I have been listening to them this evening and they are very pleasing and easy to listen to. Much more punch on the bottom and Female vocals are clearer than the stock tubes. I put a caveat on PayPal payment conditions that if they were fakes to expect them back. Expecting NOS 6550 Tung Sols in tomorrow and GEC Canadian Sylvania's on Thursday. Any other places I can see pictures or get more information about fake Amperex would be appreciated.

One individual who received a quad of these said the bass was soupy, yet pronounced and the mids were tight. Testing on a tube tester, he found they were very strong as you mentioned.

Not to say these are defective in any means of construction -- probably a good tube, if suspected is true, Shuguang is reported to make some great tubes.

Call Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio is the only authority that comes to mind who has delt extensively with these Amperex tubes.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

I wonder why I can't open these attachments...this happens from time to time. Pete

No 5th system until you get your computer requirement up to date.

Originally Posted by jdandy

Bob.......I thoroughly enjoyed the tube lesson. Thank you.

You’re welcomed Dan

Originally Posted by tjnif

WOW!! That was some history lesson! You really ARE a "Vintage Tube"! Thank you !

I will take a bow.

Thanks


Bob

[tjnif]

All hail to the king!!