Loose sockets

[PRR]

This looks like a bad idea. Aside from micro-cracking (or breaking!) the glass, it may damage the socket. But maybe get you through the night so you can replace the socket next day.

[Rontone]

Ooooo nasty, "Then the tube itself is given a slow, discreet twist". Is that so your colleagues/customers can't see you doing it?

At least grab the pins near the base with pliers and use another set of pliers to bend? Or apply the tiniest bit of solder for a 'wedge'?

I have a tube here, the bending seems to have not broken the glass, but has really pulled on the joints to components inside, its popped a little fragment of metal off a connection somewhere, that is so small its undetectable unless you rattle it real hard or hold it up to the light, I was hoping it may go to the tester with some others as its a useful old tube too,

[mresistor]

It's not cool to bend vacuum tube pins at all..   re-tension the socket contacts.