So in reality, how bad are these?

[mashaffer]

I know that reusing these sockets is generally not recommended but in the spirit of "Repair, Reuse, Recycle" (and the fact that they would be very convenient for a utility preamp with 180v B+) I am curious as to what the risks and downsides are if I were to clean, adjust tension, and repurpose.

 

[dhaen]

Looks like Paxolin (Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper), good for low voltage insulation.

 

[jdarg]

I've done it with sockets just like those from old Heathkit test equipment. What do the contacts look like? I'd have no reservations if they look good. Frankly I don't think a new 3-5$ Chinese socket is necessarily better.

 

[mashaffer]

They are from the tone generators for a Baldwin spinet organ BTW.

 

[kodabmx]

I've used Cinch sockets. Nothing wrong with them but they are brittle. I run them up to 300V or so.

 

[mashaffer]

They look really clean especially since they are almost 60 years old.

 

[Ketje]

Those are nice sockets for Greg Hyatt
He wants to build a phono pre with octal tubes, not noval, because of bad vision. If he has sockets like that I think his problem is solved
Mona

 

[VictoriaGuy]

The sockets should be fine - the problem for me was always getting them ready to re-use if I wasn't using the chassis again.
The solder lugs can be fragile - and it's always the 7th or 8th that I'm unsoldering that decides to snap.
If you are taking the sockets out of the chassis, I've found that an angle grinder to take off the rivet ends works better than trying to drill the rivets out. I've split a socket with the drill, and also the rivet tends to just grab the drill and spin.

 

[Tom Bavis]

It's NOT fun to remove the wires - they were wrapped before soldering. Easiest if you cut the loops with a sharp pair of cutters before unsoldering.

 

[mashaffer]

I plan to use the chassis and just cut off extraneous ends of it so I should be able to leave a lot of the wires in place but I do intend to replace heater wires with twisted pair.

 

[JMFahey]

Problem is not "age" by itself but tension (somewhat solvable) and corrosion which makes them useless.

As noted above, metall looks "metallic" with no visible or significant rust or corrosion, so .... go ahead.

 

[mashaffer]

Given how short they are is it really worth the effort to unsolder those heater wires and replace with twisted?

 

[popilin]

I do not want to be unkind with you, but those sockets are junk, even if they were gold plated.

New good sockets are not *that* expensive, and all the work involved to salvage the old crap does not worth the effort, IMHO.