Preamp tubes rattling

[Vlada]

Hi there guys, recently I have bought some NOS ecc83/12ax7 tubes in original boxes from closed radio repair shop. Got them cheap. I sold my last build, now I am waiting parts for 50 watt plexi to arrive and don't have an amp to test those tubes. Some of tubes have a strange sound when shake I or tap them gently like rattling or hitting loose spring. Does this mean tube is bad?

[davidwpack]

I've got 3 different amps with rattley rectifier tubes. Don't know why it's always the rectifier. But anyways, they all work fine.

[PRR]

Don't throw them out. Yet.

[shooter]

also, look really, really close, the obvious chunks are easy, the little pieces...