1945 or 2015? Seventy years
have passed since this photo of a vacuum tube manufacturing facility in China was
taken. Given that most new vacuum tubes are made in China, and that the labor work
conditions have not changed much in the intervening time period
(except in high-profile plants like
Foxconn where Apple products are made), this might very
likely represent a modern day operation. BTW, most of the vacuum tubes not being
made in China are made in Russia... to assure their antiquated infrastructure has
an ample supple of replacement parts. I say that only partly in jest. The largest
market for new vacuum tubes is music amplifier equipment and a few commercially
made vintage radio replicas (like my
Tesslor Model R601S).
Chinese Vacuum Tubes
JJ Electronics vacuum tubes, manufactured in China, available
new on
Amazon.
Golden Gate is another Chinese vacuum tube
producer that sells on Amazon.
Electro-Harmonix Russian vacuum tubes are
also available on
Amazon.
Sovtek is another Russian vacuum tube manufacturer
whose products are sold on Amazon.
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This
picture (right) was taken in the battery factory of
the Central Electric Works near Kweilin, China, before the Jap forces occupied the
city. The photograph shows the rather crude method employed in the manufacture of
radio tubes. Similar to American industries, girls do the intricate assembly work.
The city of Kweilin was recently retaken by the Chinese forces. However, there is
considerable doubt as to whether production at this plant has been resumed. The
radio industry in China has always been rather crude. Chinese officials aware of
this fact have recently made plans to adopt American production methods to facilitate
expanding the radio industry in China. Provisions have been made to send a group
of engineers to this country to study our production methods.
Posted February 27, 2015
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