[etech]

IMHO the bogey 6L6 was just another urban myth. although it was a good general workhouse barometer.

Well maybe. But, take a look at this article from the Tube Sound website. He asserts that the 6L6 "bogey" tube was actually used at the factory as the last step in the calibration of the Hickok 6000 tube testers. Whether you agree or not, it is definitely an interesting read.

http://tubesound.com/2010/04/28/hickok-6...libration/

Here is the statement I was referring to:

"Hickok did not calibrate the red dots on your Shunt control using this test, nor does the factory calibration document make any mention of this test. The factory used a calibration tube — a real tube — a 6L6 of known value — and marked the Shunt dial according to the micromhos reading of that tube.  (Using a calibration tube to mark the micromhos ranges is Step 9 of the Hickok 6000 factory calibration instructions.  The calibration tube was the LAST step of the calibration procedure.)"

I think we can debate the value of a calibration or "bogey" tube at will, but I believe Hickok did use them in the calibration of some of its models, specifically those which used the dots on the shunt or english control to set the gm meter range.

And my offer still stands, if anyone has an official "bogey" or calibration tube and wants to send it here for testing, I will pay the shipping both ways. Or, if anyone with such a tube wants me to send one of my "calibration" tubes to them to compare against their test tube, I will be happy to do so.

Best regards,

Ed