The Quest for the Ultimate Vacuum Tube

[Fansome]

Full article: http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/the-quest-for-the-ultimate-vacuum-tube
   

The Quest for the Ultimate Vacuum Tube

For supposedly antiquated legacy devices, vacuum tubes are oddly relevant and very much in demand. The traveling-wave tube and other vacuum devices continue to do what they’re called on to do (like generating RF power in the form of microwave, millimeter-wave, and submillimeter-wave radiation) extremely well—and in environments that would kill a solid-state chip dead. That has been enough to sustain a multibillion-dollar industry in which innovation—including the push for an instant on-off tube—continues apace.

[Billy the Mountain]

What about nuvistors?

[Terry]

I think I still have some 6CW4 nuvistors. Built some VHF and UHF converters with them back in the day.
.
~runs out to garage~
.
Went and looked. Couldn't find the 6CW4's but found a 7587 and a 8058. External anode nuvistors.
Boy, am I old.

[redhat]

There's a 4CX1000A/8168 on my desk and a 4CX15000A7 on the coffee table.  Does that make me old too?

+-RH

[Terry]

rh, probably. All my really good tubes are gone. Gave them away last move. 2c39's 4X150 and on and on. I wish I had kept everything. 
And you should put some of those tubes to use and off the furniture.

[redhat]

I would but there is something so unappealing about a device that required a 30KW cat diesel to run it

+-RH

[ka1iic]

50C5