Hickok 121 Cardmatic found today.

[mr_fixer]

Today was the music city vintage radio club swap meet in Nashville. I find a Hickok 121 cardmatic tube tester with a almost full tray of cards (90%). As nice as that is, there are a whole lot of tubes that i don't have cards for. 1L6, 01a, 24's 45's and plenty others. I've seen blank cards for sale on ePay but need a chart that tells you where to put the holes for each type of tube. Does anyone have that chart or database? Thanks

[Electronic M]

One can replace the card reader interface with a computer and run every setting it was ever made for and much more...There is a company that does these conversions.

[mr_fixer]

Way too much money. I probably have a need for around 300 tube characteristics, just different from most of the ones that came with the tube tester.

[mr_fixer]

Hey all, the ebay seller who says they have a info manual on test conditions for tube testing. is very wrong. I was expecting a manual, that gave a x-y coordinates for the punch cards. The manual only states the test conditions "filament voltage, screen voltage etc etc. Doesn't even list the pin out of the tube.

[N2IXK]

Does the manual not list a procedure for punching your own cards for new tube types? I have a Western Electric version of the Hickok 1234, and it explains exactly what each hole location controls, and how to translate desired test conditions and tube pinout into which holes to punch out. The tester also came with a supply of blank cards and a special hole punch for this purpose. An involved process, that takes a good bit of figuring out, but it works.

Unfortunately, the 123 takes different cards with a different pin/hole arrangement, so the 1234 instructions won't do you any good.

[MadMan]

https://elektrotanya.com/hickok_card.../download.html

idk if that will help. May give you some ideas. Also you need to dl the stupid djview program to open the file, there's a dl for that in the fine print.

Other than that, my recommendation would be to use existing cards to determine which holes do what. Google for Hickok test data or tube test sheet, and you can use that data to cross-reference what you have on the cards for a given tube, and then determine what hole does what. Knowing that, you can then make your own cards. And maybe test some known-good tubes first to make sure your new cards work right.

Also:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/16037911425/

[Olorin67]

these are a bit of a pain becuase the cards are not the same as for the more common 123 model

[mr_fixer]

Originally Posted by MadMan

https://elektrotanya.com/hickok_card.../download.html

idk if that will help. May give you some ideas. Also you need to dl the stupid djview program to open the file, there's a dl for that in the fine print.

Other than that, my recommendation would be to use existing cards to determine which holes do what. Google for Hickok test data or tube test sheet, and you can use that data to cross-reference what you have on the cards for a given tube, and then determine what hole does what. Knowing that, you can then make your own cards. And maybe test some known-good tubes first to make sure your new cards work right.

Also:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/16037911425/

Thanks but i already have that manual, The cards don't interchange between a 121 and the other models. I'm going to keep my eyes open for the Hickok 121 card making kit with blank cards, card punch, and the book used to select the holes to punched. If i find one I'll scan and post it here for everyone.

[mr_fixer]

Maybe some good news, Today while performing my mandatory Google searches. I found a post on the tubetesters forum of group.io I found a post of a gentleman named Walter who has 4 stock boxes of 121 cardmatic punch cards. I have emailed him and told him about Videokarma and hopefully we can see what he has. He hasn't gotten his 121 working yet so maybe bandersonb can give him some tips? Cross your fingers!