WERMACHT BAL GLOBE ENVELOPE AZ12 BY RATRON CONVERTED TO B4 BASE

WERMACHT BAL GLOBE ENVELOPE AZ12 BY RATRON CONVERTED TO B4 BASE

Well, this is a real rarity and something quite special, it is a Ratron globe rectifier made for the Wermacht - an AZ12 BUT at some time, possibly during WW2, due to shortages it has been converted - very professionally -to have a B4 base.     The key to identity of course is the ceramic filament suspension anchor plate which was an expensive device used towards the end of WW2.

A bit of one enigma, we have tested this device as an AZ12 and it shows superb emission and is a real and exciting rarity.

Now, a little more about the Ratron company: -

Ratron (from Ra-dio and elec-tron) was founded in Berlin in 1925, by the brothers Dr. Ing. Martin Paul William Richnow (Berlin, 22.7.1901) and the physicist Gerhard Julius August Richnow (Berlin 19.2.1899) to manufacture valves.

In 1938, the company was converted into a limited partnership by a limited liability company, the limited partner being Martin Richnow.  The Dutch division of Ratron was founded on 22 May 1942 in Beek (near Arnhem) in Straatweg b41. When the Allies arrived in Beek in 1945, the factory was empty, everything had already been taken to Germany.    After the resignation of Dr. Ing. Martin Richnow In 1958, Gerhard Richnow remained the sole shareholder.  Ratron closed its doors in 1968, this was also the year in which the last of the brothers, Gerhard, died.