Where can I buy new complete tube sets for 57 radio?

[Renato]

I searched many sites, but nobody can help me.

[Walter Youshock]

Have your original tubes tested first.  Throwing a new set of tubes in the set is probably overkill.   What you really need is to replace the electrolytic and other capacitors and check the resistors.  New tubes won't correct for bad components in the circuits.

After an overhaul,  the set will need to be aligned to work properly.

I have several tube radios and amplifiers still running the original tubes from the '50's and '60's.   All the tubes in the Cadillac radio are also the originals but the caps were replaced.

Your best bet is to find an electronic shop who can rebuild the set for you.  Tube gear is very different than solid state.

Check aaudiokarma.org.  it's a message board dedicated to audio equipment and there's even a car radio section.

[Renato]

Dear Walter,

Thank you fro your help. My radio works well. Has been rebuild, I just would like to buy for the bad times...as spare parts.

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

There is a guy on E-Bay that sells replacement tube sets.  I have a set for my
'55 that I bought for the same reason you want one (spares).  Unfortunately,
that was a while ago and I do not remember his name.

[Walter Youshock]

The tubes you have will probably outlast the car.  Check antique electronic supply:  www.tubesandmore.com.

[Renato]

Thank you

[Doug Houston]

I sort of doubt that you'll find a place that has tube sets for any radio.

I hear this inquiry many times, and that isn't such a case of tubes being missing, but of the owner wanting to buy new tubes to maximize the radio's performance.  There are few instances where I've found a tube totally dead in a radio (not in TV sets, however).

There are lots of allegedly new tubes advertised on eBay and such, but they buyer has to accept the integrity of the seller, which is frequently lacking. There are more shysters than  good ones hanging out now. I don't know whom I'd trust.

I don't service  radios any more, but when I did, I'd never replace a tube unless it showed internal shorts, pen filament, of some radical fault. Today, baring any bad faults, I recommend continuing to keep the existing tubes in service. They're becoming less  ans less plentiful.