Tube Numbering System
European system after 1934 (pro-electron)
See also: Type Designation Code from "Preferred Types of Electron Tubes 1967".
Philips system before 1934
2nd digit or 2nd+3rd digits
x
xx
heater voltage
heater voltage < 10 V
heater voltage >= 10V
MAZDA NUMBERING SYSTEM Signal valves
MAZDA NUMBERING SYSTEM Power rectifier valves
RUSSIAN NUMBERING SYSTEM
The regulation GOST 5461-59 applies to tubes manufactured from 1959 and semiconductors manufactured from 1959 to 1963. Every symbol consists of four elements. If an element is absent, a dash should be written at its place.
Note: There are exceptions. Not all Russian tubes are numbered according this system.
First element
Generator (transmitting) tubes up to 25 MHz
UKF generator (transmitting) tubes 25-600 MHz
Centimeter range generation (transmitting) tubes
Modulator tubes
High power rectifiers
Voltage stabilizers
Current stabilizers
Thyratrons
Gas-discharge rectifiers
Mercury gas-discharge rectifiers
Photocells and photomultipliers
Receiving tubes
Picture tubes
Semiconductor diodes
Transistors
,
Approximate (usually full volts) heater voltage
Screen diameter in cm
Second element
Diodes
Double diodes
Triodes
Tetrodes
Power pentodes and tetrodes
Remote cut-off pentodes
Sharp cut-off pentodes
Secondary emission pentodes
Mixing tubes with two signal grids
Pentodes with one or two diodes
Triodes with one or more diodes
Tuning indicators
Triodes with hexode, heptode or octode
Double triodes
Double tetrodes and pentodes
Triode - pentodes
Rectifiers
Gas-discharge tubes, power rectifiers
Gas thyratrons
Mercury thyratrons
Cold cathode thyratrons
Oscillograph tubes with electrostatic deflection
Oscillograph tubes with electromagnetic deflection
TV picture tubes
Semiconductors
Type sequence number
Type sequence number
Third element
Receiving, picture, generator and modulator tubes
voltage and current stabilizers
photocells and photomultipliers
cold cathode thyratrons
Semiconductors
Type sequence number
Subtype, group (letter)
Fourth element
none
Metal
Glass
HF glass, side leads
Ceramic
Miniature glass 19 and 22.5 mm
Subminiature > 10 mm
Subminiature 10mm
Subminiature 4 mm
Subminiature 6 mm
lock-in-key
Disc leads
Water cooled
Air cooled
Luminophor color code
X = average current in A
Y = reverse voltage amplitude in kV
Receiving tubes; voltage and current stabilizers
Generator (transmitting) and modulator tubes
Picture tubes
Thyratrons (non cold cathode), Gas-discharge, power rectifiers
letter
X/Y
After symbol dash and postfix of one or more letters may be added:
high reliability tube (military)
long life tube (military)
designed for impulse operation
vibration resistant
Current Regulators
[A]
[A] is the current (in amperes) and [V1-V2] is voltage range
[V1-V2]
Brimar type designation code for Receiving Valves
Number
Serial number
Serial Numbers are allocated in chronological order as new valve types are introduced
TESLA NUMBERING SYSTEM
leading digits
heater indication
Approximate (usually full volts) heater voltage
leading 2 digits
3rd digit
screen specification
Approximate screen diameter or diagonal, in centimeters
type order
trailing digits
screen color and persistence
2nd letter
digits
trailing letters
X
Y
tube systems
see receiving tubes
power level
Anode dissipation in watts or kilowatts
cooling system (optional 1st letter), tube order
air cooling
water cooling