Tube Rebuilding 2025
[July 2025] A fair number of broadcasters have recently been startled when seeking to rebuild a power tube. Solid-state transmitters are definitely the norm now. But what about those still trying to keep their tube units operating. Reid Brandon – a former Eimac engineer – has some disquieting thoughts.
I was recently contacted by a local SF Bay area broadcast engineer I know who wanted to discuss an Econco tube that failed after only 9 days.
It was a tube type that I am very familiar with, the 4CX12,000A.
My friend was pretty upset about the need to drive out to the site again to change the newly rebuilt tube and he decided that would be the last tube he would have rebuilt, so he ordered a new Eimac 4CX12,000A. He told me he was distraught in having to charge the station well over $10,000 (less his labor) to keep the station on the air.
I agreed that the cost was a lot more than I expected but there is inflation and the new Econco management to blame. I had recently heard from another good friend about a very considerable price increase from Econco, so much so that man was really depressed and has not spoken with me since.
CHANGES
Econco is now part of Microwave Power Products. Simply put: Broadcast is not their main business. A few Eimac tubes are still available, but costs have jumped a lot.
Checking with friends from the old days, with great sadness, I learned that Debbie Storz, the friendly woman at Econco whom I looked forward to seeing every year for decades at the annual NAB shows had suddenly been terminated – as was another person there, Ms. Lourdes Ramsey.
I subsequently learned there is a new person at Econco for customer service but I seriously doubt I will be using their services in the future.
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Reid Brandon (W6MTF) worked for Eimac’s tube division for 27 years, until his retirement in 2013.
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