Jim, et al.
I just learned a few things that should be of interest on the subject of Econco.
This morning I had an inquiry from a local broadcast engineer I know.
He asked me about a 4CX12,000A knowing I was involved with taking the CC curves on the prototype when I was employed at the big E.??
I am retired and seldom do anything with tubes any longer, I like to listen to my stereo (no tubes in it either!)
He mentioned the last tube he got from Econco lasted only 12 days.
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Earlier in the year I was speaking with Debbie Storz regarding another Econco issue (re: warranty and pricing).
I just tried calling her to get help with the failure of the 12,000A but I learned she was just laid off, as was Lourdes, the other woman in customer service there (her responsibility is / was for export and Industrial tubes). The new owner TransDigm has been laying off or forcing retirements to reduce overhead. Last December the tube engineer at Eimac responsible for the tubes you all know, quit when they gave him different marching orders. TransDigm is a huge conglomerate -? check the current stock price of $1300 a share. IMHO they bought CPI MPP in order to extract as much profit as they can squeeze out of it.? ??
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Case in point, I recently found the price of an Econco rebuilt 4CX10,000D went from $2059 from last year to $3059 now, effective April 2025. (I checked my notes twice!) this means a new Eimac 10D will be $6118 provided Econco still bases the price of a rebuilt as one half of a new tube price.??
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I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there's more!
Seems Debbie had been speaking with a CB op who had an issue with a tube that he wanted some answers on, technical questions that used to be routed to Matt Lindsey and before him Joe Canaveri. The policy used to be that one of the aforementioned employees would provide test results etc. Now there isn't anyone available there that knows a volt from an amp.
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Anyhow, what I learned last Dec was the CBer insulted Debbie more than once in a long telefone call but apparently she brushed him off politely, I'm sure she wasn't insulting because that's not her nature. The man hung up and called the CEO who must have got an ear full of CB anger because he then informed Debbie that henceforth Econco wasn't accepting any rebuilds from CB or hams.?
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I can't get a clarification from her as to that policy now since she's gone but I'm pretty certain that they will not do special mods like you described where a grid flange could be added to a 3CX3000A7 for example. I was getting that done at the factory level 20 years ago no sweat, for a few bucks only. Those days are gone!?
very 73 and GL with ur project!
Reid? ?W6MTF? ? ?
Brandon DX