Ex workshop spare parts drawer
Clearing out all of the workshop spare parts ... this socket has to be from the 70's ~ 80's when I first started out learning about vacuum tube circuit design. Nice vintage socket, bakelite body with Silver plated pins and solder tags (read below about this)
Great quality valve socket for a decent front end of an amp using something like a 12AX7 (ECC83) or if you are going more exotic, the 6N30 series
NEW Old Stock
CFC - Valve Socket
Country of origin is unknown
Part # unknown
9 Pin standard size
Topside, this socket has only CFC stamped into the bakelite and I am unable to remember who made this socket (it's hard enough remembering yesterday let alone 50 years ago!)
Underside has stamped into the bakelite each pin number
Metal topside mounting
Silver plated pin sockets and corresponding solder tags at the rear
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Stored all these years in a funny sort of cotton wadding material (my old WWII valves also are in the same material, seems to be the "stuff to use" back in the day) but I did notice initial light oxidisation, common with Silver plated metals ... in fact at first glance I thought the pin sockets were Gold plated due to the Yellowish look of lightly tarnished Silver!
I have given the pin sockets a quick cleanup with metal cleaner and the same for the solder tags at the rear, the socket contact areas all look much better now and ready for soldering! If you wished to clean up the pin sockets a bit more, best of luck as it may be pretty hard getting down inside each socket although I guess a "soak and wash" solution may work.
NO cracks or damage to the bakelite body
Bakelite? Absolutely, I did the rub and chemical test of this "plastic" and residue comes off Yellow and it has that slight Formaldehyde odour when rubbed vigourously. Great for higher temperature environments (Bakelite not Formaldehyde!)
In an effort to maintain the current condition, I have now placed this socket into a SEALED clear plastic packet and it now awaits a custom high end vacuum tube preamp to live in ...
