Cost for Polam EL84s?

[fernieite]

Hi guys,
Any idea of what a NOS pair of Polam EL84 tubes would cost these days?
Thanks.

[zuceno]

A guide price would be $20 each - but Polam EL84 are usually the 6BQ5 design with round holes in the plates, which do not sound as good as the Russian 6p14p (with slits in the plates).
Early Polam EL84 had slits, because they were made to Russian specifications. Because Polam was taken over by Philips, EL84 produced after the takeover were to 6BQ5 pattern.

For some reason the Philips group used the 6BQ5 design for most of their later production (inc.Mullard) rather than their earlier design, which is what the Russians used exclusively. The 6BQ5 design was originally from Sylvania. The Russians licensed many designs from RCA. RCA licensed the EL84 from Philips, so the Russian 6p14p tubes are closer to original Dutch design EL84 than the Philips-made Polam.

[fernieite]

That was very interesting and informative. Thanks very much!