Valve tester for Vintage radio hobbyist.

[Hammer_651]

Hi all. H.N.Y. for 2025. Would anyone be able to suggest a nice simple, effective, valve tester for me as a vintage radio hobbyist. With what i have read an emission tester would do the job nicely. Something not to expensive. Also, would anyone know where i might find a Scuola. Radio. Elettra valve tester voltmeter Model. N-264 or one that will do the same job. photo attached.
Thank You.

[Phaseseeker]

I own an earlier model of the SRE voltmeter; all it is in "valve tester" mode is a 100 uA (IIRC) ammeter with a specific internal resistance which is used in combination with an SRE emission valve tester to check for emission current. I don't know if the earlier meter is compatible with the model in your picture; I don't have mine on hand right now, but I can go search for it in the attic if you need any info about it...

[peteb2]

FWIW i ended up 'investing' in the kitset called eTracer that goes so far as to plot out the valve's "curves' for Plate current under various Grid bias etc which can then be compared with the same graph usually in the datasheet for the device. There is also a handy YT from Blueglow that traverses the options on vacuum tube testers and a discussion on emission checking:

[Roehrenonkel]

Hi,
many more testers:
https://jacmusic.com/Tube-testers/index.html
What i miss on all testers is the ability to meassure Grid-currents
and plot them.

Good luck

[iet]

Hi all. H.N.Y. for 2025. Would anyone be able to suggest a nice simple, effective, valve tester for me as a vintage radio hobbyist.

Here is a good DIY project.
https://valveheaven.com/2015/03/an-inexpensive-easy-to-build-diy-valvetube-tester/

[KungFuJosh]

There's also this: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/project-vacuum-tube-curve-tracer-(the-futracer)/