[README] ======================================================================== The editor wishes to thank OSRAM SYLVANIA, Inc. for the permission for the compilation of this CD-ROM. This CD-ROM contains direct-scan images of following publications: Sylvania Technical Manual, 1943 ("Red Book") Sylvania Technical Manual, 1949 ("Blue Book") The scans are in standard GIF('87 GIF) format, and should be readable with any common web browser or GIF viewer. This CD-ROM collection is intended for hobbyists who wish to understand and design with vacuum tube technology. This CD-ROM collection is also likely to be of interest to vacuum tube historians. The evolution of vacuum tube technology can be observed by comparing the content and style of the 1943 and 1949 publications. The Editor has technical manuals from 1943, 1949, and 1959. This CD-ROM Collection contains only the 1943 and 1949 manuals due to limitations imposed by the available CD-ROM capacity. Another collection for the 1959 manual will become available at a later date. The Editor of this CD-ROM Vacuum Tube Data Collection contacted the Osram Sylvania Corporation in 1997 for permission to collect and publish the contents of the vacuum tube manuals in his posession. Permission was granted, and the Editor got busy scanning everything in each of the manuals. In the late 30's, vacuum tube technology was becoming well established, although the number of "experts" available to use the technology was somewhat limited. The editors of the 1943 "Red book" saw fit to include considerable information on vacuum tube theory and design technique. With the expanding pool of post-war engineers and vacuum tube technologists, the editors of 1949 "Blue Book" apparently saw less need for "educational" information. Increasingly, later data books focused less on technology, and became more attuned to the publisher's commercial ambitions. The 1949 manual shows considerable technological progress. Many new vacuum tube types that are illustrated were not shown in the 1943 manual. Some obsolete tube types were removed as well. Browse on, and enjoy! The Editor [THANKS] ======================================================================== Paul Reich, one of my tube mates, wrote "00-LEGAL" and "README" files for me. Many thanks to him. He made my words 'real english', since I am not very good at writing in english. He is also a fashionated amateur neon lamp worker. His car has a special stop lamp on the rear window, that is made of a neon lamp, and has a shape of "STOP" traffic sign. Following people kindly reviewed the beta version of this CD-ROM, and gave me many constructive feedbacks. Many thanks to them. Andy Cowly Murray Leshner Rich Henthorn July 26th 1998 Atsunori Tamagawa 924 N.Winchester, Chicago IL 60622 ======================================================================== I still remember one Japanese tube enthusiast once said that what makes vacuum tubes so lovely to him was a simple fact that if you drop them accidentally on the floor you break them, and they are gone. ========================================================================