Tube or Valve in Australia? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Obsidianxenon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:28:49 am
content: I hear lots of people using the word 'valve' and 'tube' interchangeably, and have heard that 'valve' is more suited to the UK, but what is the correct way to say it in Australia?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:35:10 am
content: My guess: "chyoob", in the most annoying possible way.Just a guess, mind you.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:46:42 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on September 16, 2025, 07:35:10 amI think it depends on the state/where you come from. I say "Tube" instead of "Choob". Like "Battery" instead of "Baddery". I've also heard people here pronounce "Conduit" as "Con-joot", which I just think is lazy.People have also told me I sound gay as well, so *shrug*.

author: Obsidianxenon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:54:39 am
content: I was meaning either 'tube' or 'valve' as the word of choice, not the pronunciation. I pronounce it "chyoob" (and yes, I pronounce 'battery' as "bachry" for those wondering). I suppose it doesn't really matter but I'd like to stick with one.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 08:37:22 am
content: The Historical Radio Society of Australia uses 'valve', which is consistent with British English usage.https://www.hrsa1.com/Frequently-asked-questions.htmlIf you use 'tube' (other than when discussing valve circuits with Americans or Canadians), you are probably rabidly anti-pom or pro-'septic'!

author: Obsidianxenon
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 08:40:09 am
content: Righto. Guess I'm referring to it as a 'thermionic valve' now. Thanks

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 08:54:48 am
content: IIRC, oddly enough CRT tuning indicators (e.g. 'magic eye' type) and display tubes are 'tubes' not 'valves' in britspeak, even though the tuning indicators were in valve envelopes!

author: woofy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 12:30:21 pm
content: When I used to repair TV's for a living, we always referred to them as valves, except for the big one that displayed the picture. That was always "the tube".Customers sometimes referred to it as "the picture valve", and proudly announced "its the picture valve mate" when I called to repair their TV, whatever the actual fault.

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 02:02:13 pm
content: F. Langford-Smith, principle author of Radio Designer's Handbook (originally Radiotron Designer's Handbook) refers to valves, at least up to the fourth edition. The book, and I believe Mr Langford-Smith are of Australian origin.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 02:58:39 pm
content: RCA tried to get people to refer to them as “Radiotrons”, their legal trademark, hence the book title.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 06:11:25 pm
content: vacuum tube or thermionic valve?IMO "valve" is British & "Tube" is US however Chinese use word "Tube" for electronic component packagingor LED 7 segment displays.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 06:28:53 pm
content: Quote from: woofy on September 16, 2025, 12:30:21 pmSee, I thought the answer was simply going to be "tube/valve MATE!" would be what its called dawnunduh.And something bout shrimp and a barbie.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 06:53:44 pm
content: Quote from: Ian.M on September 16, 2025, 08:37:22 am"Pro-'septic"? Whuzzat?Never heard that before.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:01:54 pm
content: Quotehttps://youtu.be/Ec_2e7rCL4E?feature=shared&t=174

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:14:38 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on September 16, 2025, 07:01:54 pmSo Cockney rhyming slang?That's a great tradition, it is.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 07:26:59 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on September 16, 2025, 07:14:38 pmNot to be political, but a Jackson Lamb rhyming slang is “to take a Donald”.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 08:17:09 pm
content: Quotein cockney that would be a tom

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2025, 08:24:54 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on September 16, 2025, 08:17:09 pmTom Thumb?Tom Hanks?Tom Bombadil? (nah)Tom Cruise?Tom Jones?Tom Waits? (nah)Tom Tom the piper's son?

author: gbaddeley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2025, 08:20:37 am
content: ‘Valve’ in Australia. Though CRT is called a ‘tube’ as per the acronym. ie. old Televisions had valves, and a picture tube.HRSA has a ‘valve bank’ for radio restorer members. (I am a member).Aussies are aware that septics call them ‘tubes’.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2025, 08:54:13 am
content: Quote from: jonovid on September 16, 2025, 06:11:25 pmI wonder if the usage of "tube" in the US was influenced by germans moving to the US during and after WW2.In German, it's always "Roehre", for both the small tubes/valves, and the picture tube of a CRT. "Roehre", i a non-electronics context, directly translates to "tube".

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2025, 10:52:39 pm
content: Quote from: Ranayna on September 17, 2025, 08:54:13 amI don't think we (USAns) ever called them "valves".I could be wrong, but don't think so.