You very rarely such a nice matched pair of these ...  we have here a balanced, matched plates and GM, identical set of Tung Sol 2A3 tall grey plates, from 1963 (or 1953, as date's can be tricky to decode).

They look and perform as near new (or new) low hours in original boxes....

These are original production, and about 62 years old ... don't settle for modern 2A3’s -- these are terrific sounding -- the real McCoy. Old tubes sound better (proving the old maxim .. you get what you pay for! )  

They have authentic etched - in - glass Tung Sol 2A3 letters (which are faint, but present, see exhibit D,F,G), as well as white Ink markings all along the nice, tight bases. These tubes are beautiful.  Notice (observe TV7 photos) to collectors and buyers: in test photos, both of these tubes are so perfectly matched - in production, they both have over/under filaments, which both perform nicely, (sometimes these have Tung Sol’s sometimes seen, unusual uneven illuminaton pattern (one side of each tube appears, at the very top to be less bright) -- these looked great, (if you ever experience that , it's a normal condition, from factory like this  and these tubes still perform flawlessly, and strong -- they sound nice and are guaranteed No DOA, to arrive working well.

See reports in Exhibit A, C,D,E for detailed descriptions for each tube.

These are the real originals, made in the USA during the early 1950s...the 2A3 was by then a very mature tube, still manufactured for early production HiFi amps like the Brook, and other exotic high fidelity consoles like Caphart of the late 1940s, and for the  prewar amps still in service of the 1930s, many of which were still operating all across North America well into the late 1950s/60s. Manufacturers like Tung Sol had perfected their build quality and performance of big triodes during this time, though not many were sold.  Matched Tung Sol 2a3’s are tough to find, so these will sell quickly.  

For easy reference, refer to TV7 photos, These tubes are  very strong, testing over 100% on our Calibrated Tv7, and  projected life on both of these is excellent.

Real, early 1950s Tung Sol tubes are a treat to find. They were, one of the most unique tube designers and manufacturers. Most always they built 100% in-house, by their own employees and rarely crossbranded, a practice common to other companies.  Unlike the other major competitors (GE, RCA, Sylvania) -- Tung Sol, founded in 1904  primarily specialized in Tubes ( and related Lamp) design & manufacture -- in one way or another -- ever since inventing the very first automotive headlight around the turn of the century. Audiophiles have long appreciated Tung Sol tubes ...and you are guaranteed some of the best build quality. The nice and usual, exceptional musical performance is a treat -- always pleasingly different and often times better than other USA brands of the era. Tung Sol is   primarily known for their 1950s coup, winning a brief leg up, with the design of the 6550 power tube. Really the 6550 by Tung Sol ruled HiFi land until GE put out a very nice  (under appreciated) design in the 1970s. Arguably, thoughout their golden era Tung Sol developed and mfr'd the most uniformly made, prettiest postwar tubes this side of the pond. When it came to  larger power, pentode / tetrode tubes, only the British made nicer -- and at much higher cost.

Tung Sol manufactured their tubes mostly in house, and the quality was simply outstanding. Production facilities were actually operating laboratories that housed manufacturing / poduction lines ... a much different philosophy , and higher standard operation than their larger competition. Tung Sol's quality and innovation maintained well into the 1960s (they made some of the finest Transistors too) -- and  business came to a close sometime in the 1970s as they lost their battle to competition, soaring R&D solid state expenses and poor tube sales in the newly transistorized era.

Getting back to the unique qualities of Tung Sol designed and produced tubes though, of which these  are ...  date from the early part of the 1950's ...just before mid decade changes.  

In general, Tung Sol tubes often have interesting musical qualities, many of the grey plates triodes and pentodes pack in punch around the lower mid vocal area … more than  even RCA's or GE could... and they have a well defined bottom end ... not reaching down as far ... but absolutely no flab ... hitting notes perfectly in  percusive harmony, keeping it all real with an errie smoothness.

These tubes have original boxes, in which they were stored (they show wear and foxing from the  many years)

I get allot of requests for 2A3’s like this.... (from owners early globes and mono plates, looking for reliable workhorse 2A3’s to use daily, for instance). If you  are already in love with the other major 1940s & 50s USA brands, like GE, RCA & Sylvania ... don’t deprive yourself of the rarely see Tung Sol variety … you won’t be dissapointed … and they  deliver the goods.  If you are looking for the same amazing detail and build quality; something refined and different ... look for old Tung Sol's 1940s-early 1960s are the best years.

These days  audiophile hobbyists have left by the traditional European favorites to discover the rugged & satisfying quality of the USA's golden postwar tube production era. The vintage American tone can't be duplicated. You get crisp, bold midrange, with a smoothness and warmth, all in one package.  These 34mm -ish grey plates are tops for vocals and instruments alike.

As shown, this special offer includes (2) testing strong, excellent audio 2A3 triodes tested, orignial Brilliant, like new condition, matched plates and GM at full operation volts on multiple lab grade calibrated tube testers. Pins are straight, shinny & clean.

ALL TUBES Guaranteed NO DOA.

See our excellent feedback on all vintage audio tubes.