Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 1043 Location: Boulder, CO
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:19 pm Post subject: Happy 100th To The Vacuum Tube
Happy 100th To The Vacuum Tube
williamw83 writes "Today, November 16, 2004 has been declared as the centennial of the birth of modern electronics by the American Vacuum Society. As the AIP Physics News Update reports, this marks 'British scientist John Ambrose Fleming's 1904 invention of the first practical electronic device. Known as the thermionic diode, this first simple vacuum tube, containing only two electrodes, could be used to convert an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC).' Today's celebration takes place as part of the AVS's 51st Annual Symposium & Exhibition in Anaheim, CA. Being a guitar player myself, I've come to truly appreciate the technology of the vacuum tube every time I crank up my amplifier. This 100-year-old grandfather of electronics, used by musicians and audiophiles across the world, has proven that profound advances in technology do not always render old technologies obsolete."
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:25 pm Post subject:
And we're still using those "thermonic diodes" in the guise of dual ones in the rectifier tubes of many of our amps. Thank you Mr. Fleming. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 289 Location: Baltimore, Md
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:19 am Post subject: Tubes...
Nice article.
Who's old enough to remember the "tube tester" machines that were ubiquitous in electronic stores, drug stores, etc., back in the day? As a tyke I found them fascinating, with all the dials, switches, meters...
I also found this post pretty funny (from the site of the article.)
In response to the question, "Why didn't they build silicon-based processors? Sand has been around forever."
"Actually, that's a myth. Sand was invented by the British shortly before World War I, as something to fill all their at-the-time useless surplus "cannonball catching bags".
"Unfortunately, even in the height of wartime, mass production far exceeded supply, and in a desperate move to cover up the multinational financial boondoggle and rescue what they could of the struggling world economy, the "sand" was dumped unceremoniously across africa and most of asia, as well as most poor, equotorial regions that thought the wealth of inventory would translate into increased economical benefit for their country.
"By the time they realized the sand was nearly worthless, the newly formed UN began work on quietly covering up and brainwashing the world into believing that "sand" had always been around. Often tankers continued to run aground for a few years, or jettisoned their now-worthless cargo of sand into the ocean, where it washed up and covered beaches."
Do our limey buddies find this humorous?
btw, is "limey" an offensive term??? (I've certainly been called worse.)
If so, sorry, no offence (note the sensitive spelling)...but I did find this:
"It is a corruption of the Mandarin term "lei mei", meaning "succulent
buttocks". This was a term applied by the Chinese to the first modern
Westerners seen in Beijing (Peking). It is thought to refer to the
larger gluteal muscles seen in Europeans, when compared to Chinese.
The term "limey" is very offensive to a Brit, but the English
translation "succulent buttocks" is a perfectly acceptable way to
address someone you have just met."
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