Editing Compactron (section)

== History ==
The '''Compactron''' was a trade name applied to multi-electrode structure tubes specifically constructed on a 12-pin Duodecar base. This [[vacuum tube]] family was introduced in 1961 by [[General Electric]] in [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.electronicdesign.com/4g/multi-function-compactrons-promise-two-tube-radio |title=Multi-Function Compactrons Promise Two-Tube Radio |publisher=Electronic Design |page=74 |date=July 20, 1960 |access-date=2009-11-03}}</ref> to compete with transistorized electronics during the [[Solid state (electronics)|solid state]] transition.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.junkbox.com/electronics/CompactronTubesIndex.shtml  |title=Compactron Tubes: A Junkbox Guide |publisher=Copperwood Media LLC. |first=Jeff |last=Duntemann |year=2008 |access-date=2009-11-03}}</ref> [[Television]] sets were a primary application. The idea of multi-electrode tubes itself was far from new and indeed the Loewe company of Germany was producing multi-electrode tubes as far back as 1926, and they even included all of the required passive components as well.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_3nf.html| title = 3NF, Tube 3NF; Röhre 3NF ID1195, MULTI-SYSTEM, internal coup}}</ref>

Use was prevalent in televisions because transistors were slow to achieve the high power and frequency capabilities needed particularly in color television sets. The first portable color television, the General Electric [[Porta-Color]], was designed using 13 tubes, 10 of which were Compactrons. Even before the compactron design was unveiled, nearly all tube based electronic equipment used multi-electrode tubes of one type or another. Virtually every AM/FM radio receiver of the 1950s and 60's used a 6AK8 (EABC80) tube (or equivalent) consisting of three diodes and a triode which was designed in 1954.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.r-type.org/exhib/abc0014.htm| title = EABC80 @ The Valve Museum}}</ref>

Compactron's integrated valve design helped lower power consumption and heat generation (they were to tubes what [[integrated circuits]] were to [[transistors]]). Compactrons were also used in a few high end Hi-Fi stereos.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> They were also used by [[Ampeg]] and [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] in some of their guitar amplifiers. No modern tube based Hi-Fi systems are known to use this tube type, as simpler and more readily available tubes have again filled this niche. One tube, the 7868, is used in some Hi-Fi systems made today. This tube is a Novar tube. It has the same physical dimensions as the compactron, but a 9 pin base. The exhaust tip is on the top or bottom of the tube, depending on the manufacturer's preference. It is currently in production by Electro-Harmonix.(The new power amp, Linear Tube Audio's Ultralinear, uses 4 17JN6 compactron tubes as the power tube in the amp.) The amp generates 20 watts of power with these inexpensive TV tubes.