Pope AZ11 Rectifier Tube NOS Original
The Pope AZ11 rectifier tube is a key component for restoring mid-20th-century European radio receivers. Designed as a directly heated full-wave vacuum rectifier, its primary function is to convert the transformer’s alternating current (AC) into clean, stable direct current (DC) to supply the rest of the tubes in the circuit.
Product Condition & Technical Testing
This item is genuine New Old Stock (NOS), meaning it is a new, never-used component that has been carefully stored for decades and has never been installed in an electronic circuit.
Box: Supplied in its original Pope branded box, which shows significant wear and poor cosmetic condition due to decades of storage. This aging is consistent with its vintage nature and helps verify its authenticity.
Testing: To verify the basic integrity of the filament and proper rectifier operation, the tube has been tested on a Precision 612 tube tester, confirming correct filament continuity and basic diode functionality.
Manufacturer History: Pope / Philips Quality
The Pope brand (Pope’s Metaaldraadlampenfabriek), founded in Venlo, the Netherlands, was one of the pioneering manufacturers of European lighting products and vacuum tubes. After being absorbed by the Philips group, tubes marketed under the Pope name were produced on the same manufacturing lines and subjected to the same rigorous quality standards as Philips and Valvo branded tubes. Owning a Pope tube is synonymous with exceptional durability, high-purity glass construction, and an excellent vacuum seal—hallmarks of European craftsmanship that continue to be highly regarded by collectors and restoration enthusiasts.
Who Is This Tube For?
Repair technicians and restorers working on vintage vacuum tube radios, including classic models from Telefunken, Blaupunkt, Grundig, Philips, and other European manufacturers.
Purist audiophiles building, restoring, or maintaining vintage tube preamplifiers and other classic vacuum tube audio equipment.
Collectors of vintage European vacuum tubes and the history of electronic technology.
Primary Applications
Used in full-wave power supply rectifier stages of vintage superheterodyne radio receivers, low-power period amplifiers, and analog instrumentation equipment manufactured from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Detailed Technical Specifications (Datasheet)
Tube Type: Directly Heated Full-Wave Vacuum Rectifier.
Cathode Type: Directly Heated.
Base (Socket): Y8A (8-pin side-contact base / Stahlröhrensockel).
Filament Voltage (Vf): 4.0 V AC.
Filament Current (If): 1.1 A.
Maximum Anode Voltage (Va max): 2 × 300 V RMS or 2 × 500 V RMS, depending on the circuit configuration and operating conditions.
Maximum Output Current (Iout max): 100 mA (at 2 × 300 V RMS) or 60 mA (at 2 × 500 V RMS).
Maximum Filter Capacitor Value: 60 µF.
Minimum Series Limiting Resistance (per Anode): 75 Ω (at 300 V RMS) or 200 Ω (at 500 V RMS).
Direct Equivalents: AZ12 (with slight differences in current ratings) and UZ11 (same tube family and physical construction, but with a different filament rating; not a direct replacement).
(FAQ)
Is this tube new or used?
This is a genuine New Old Stock (NOS) tube. It is new, never used, and has never been installed in any electronic equipment or circuit. The original Pope box is included but is in poor cosmetic condition due to improper long-term storage, while the tube itself remains unused.
Is the original box in perfect condition?
No. The tube is supplied in its original Pope branded box, but the packaging shows significant cosmetic wear due to decades of storage. The tube itself remains in excellent, unused condition.
How has the tube been tested if it is New Old Stock?
A Precision 612 tube tester was used to verify filament continuity and the tube’s basic rectifier (diode) operation, confirming that the filament is intact and that the tube shows no signs of internal shorts or open elements.
Can it replace an AZ1 or other rectifier tubes?
The AZ11 has electrical characteristics very similar to the AZ1, but the two tubes use different base types. The AZ1 features the traditional European pin base, while the AZ11 uses a Y8A side-contact base. Therefore, the AZ11 is only a direct replacement in equipment specifically designed with a Y8A socket. Adapters or socket modifications may be required for other applications.
