Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: Frankenamp on November 06, 2009, 01:32:04 am
-
A gentleman in the area is getting rid of some resource materials:
The 1963 RCA receiving tube manual, and "1963 RCA receiving tube manual," and Ryder Publications 'Basic Electronics volumes 1-6' 1-5 c. 1955, V6 (with updated addtl material) c.1959 Are these useful for tube theory and practical (self-taught) instruction?
-
1963 RCA receiving tube manual, ... Are these useful for tube theory and practical (self-taught) instruction?
If you have copies of any earlier RCA Receiving Tube Manuals, you will find that most of the material towards the front (covering basic theory and circuits) will be copied from earlier manuals. Therefore you may not see more in the front that what you've already read before (again, if you've got a copy of earlier manuals). There may be some additional stuff regarding television circuits, but on the whole perhaps nothing too useful.
There's also a catch with the stuff in the RCA manuals: it really helps to have someone who knows their stuff discuss the material with you. What I mean is the info that's there is factual and correct, but if you already know it inside out, then you start seeing how they put a lot of info in but also implied a lot of things. In other words, once you already know what they're already talking about, you'll see that they cover a lot, but if you don't know what they're talking about you might not grasp all they're telling you.
I have not read the Rider books, but anything by Rider covering basic electronics is a solid bet for you. Check out Pete Millett's Technical Books Online (http://www.pmillett.com/technical_books_online.htm). Rider's Inside the Vacuum Tube is a great book for those starting to get a handle on tube stuff. And Rider's stuff in general seems to be written in a manner that is easily grasped.
I'd get the whole set if I were you. I'd also consider contacting Pete Millett and giving him the chance to scan these books and post them online for the benefit of a wider group. I do prefer reading an actual paper book rather than reading it in acrobat format, but I'll also admit there's a lot of stuff on his site I'd have never seen any other way.
-
Read everything you can get your paws on.
Some of it will not make sense at first. Some of it is half crap. It's all food for the mind.
You NEED an RCA Rec Tube Man. The intro essay goes a bit fast and hasty, but still an excellent overview from the folks who sold tubes for a living. And when Time-Warner won't show up to connect your internet, the handbook is a heck of a lot faster than 27K dial-up to Frank or Pete.
Ryders ran from pretty-OK to excellent. Under $5, I'd buy on impulse. Over $20, I'd spend 5 minutes flipping and reading at random before deciding.
-
Well, he ain' got the Rider book, but he's waving a 1950's copy of NAVPERS 10087*... all 700+ pages of it under my nose.
*Navy basic electronics training book- large blue with a line drawing of what i thought was a wafer based 1B3GT, but on further perusal appears to be a giant 1X2 surrounded by WWII style planes, tin can ships, carriers, subs, & an automobile... BRUTAL! Funny thing: back when I was wearing Crackerjacks and a Dixie Cup (newly reissued, and a welcome replacement of the crappy and disgusting wool pants and Good Humor hat- think it was LBJ's fault, may he get extra hell-time for that) I don't think I would have been nearly as interested in thermonic technology then as I had fallen under the evil spell of the germanium and silicon anti-mojo.
-
The Navy stuff won't get as far as you'd like into amplifiers (I read that stuff both before and during the time I was in the Navy; during was all the NEETS stuff). But it does explain almost everything in a dummy-proof way that will get the idea through to anyone. I recommend it on that basis.
-
Missed out on the NAVPERS book, buuut, Rider's 'Basic Electronics' is a civvie adaptation of that very book (at least what the blurb on the back sez). Found a 1970 vintage RCA Receiving Tube book for a buck and change less shipping included... For a "second opinion," would the Sylvania Tube tech manual be a (wise) choice? And, poking around the net, I found a 'tube substitution manual*' would this be another useful tome? I'm still making a leisurely stroll through the middle of the first Rider electronics book (Power Supplies). The vintage art work is a kick, and the diagrams showing the flow of electrons through the transformers and tubes is pure 'Reddy Kilowatt'! Very Cool. More food for thought
*I'm sure it's geared to Sylvania subs for other tube brands- but I'm sure that the applicability would be rather broad. (1951 vintage so post WWII, by about three years).
-
> would the Sylvania Tube tech manual be a (wise) choice?
"This problem calls for a bigger hammer!"
Read everything you can get your paws on.
> 'tube substitution manual*' would this be another useful tome?
Lots of characters but weak plot and no action.
-
Read everything you can get your paws on.
Rodger-Dodger, That won't be a problem (the problem is usually getting my nose OUT of the books).
-
Well, the 'everything you can get yer paws on' now includes the Sylvania sub manual, a '70's vintage RCA receiving tube manual, and a Sylvania tube manual... In addition to the Rider 'Nooger & Neville' electronics texts. Should have plenty to keep me busy during those long winter nights when I'm not cleaning the garage or tutoring algebra, and those nassssty quadratic equasssionsss- no likes them at all I don'tssss.
EDIT: Mister Postman just left my copy of the venerable RCA receiving tube man today. Tomarrow I will not want for reading material as SWMBO drives up to sacto at oh dark-thirty. :angel