Century Electronics Vacuum Tube Tester Advertisement
December 1958 Popular Electronics

December 1958 Popular Electronics Table of Contents Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Popular Electronics, published October 1954 - April 1985. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged.

A few days ago I posted an old ad for Radio Shack and mentioned the tube testers that used to be in the stores for customers to use free of charge. Of course they also had a nice stock of replacement tubes for you to buy if needed. This advertisement for a typical vacuum tube tester by Century Electronics appeared in the December 1958 edition of Popular Electronics magazine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, that $134.50 price in 1958 (the year I was born BTW) would be equivalent to $1,287.24 in 2021 money - not too bad really if it were still made in the USA as it was then.

Century Electronics Vacuum Tube Tester Advertisement

This self-service tube tester is your stepping-stone to a bright new prosperous future...

Earn big money and achieve financial stability

If you're ever longed for a business of your own . . to be your own boss and to work your own hours, then here's your opportunity to get in on one of today's biggest money-making opportunities - the self-service tube testing business. It's the easiest business to get into . . .requires no experience, little time and small investment.

A basic principle for making money is to have something work for you, rather than you yourself doing the work. As an operator of a FAST-CHECK SELF-SERVICE TUBE TESTER ROUTE, you can be the proud owner of a solid fast-growing business . . .earning money while you take life easy. Business can be started without giving up your present source of income and can be operated from home. All you do is make calls once a week to restock testers and collect profits.

What Is the Self-Service Tube Testing Business?

The self-service tube testing business is a take-off on the highly profitable vending machine business . . .but with several decided advantages. Larger unit sales and greater flexibility in operation. You place testers and tube stock in stores on consignment - the store location contributes floor space for the self-service tube tester - store patrons are offered the use of the tube tester free - they in turn buy their replacement tubes from stock in the tester. The store pays you for all the tubes sold less his commission. Each tester placed can net up to $1000 a year for you.

Posted November 22, 2021
(updated from original post on 3/18/2013)