Valves are still being made, there are several manufacturers around the world.

In fact they never stopped being made, although now they are made in much lower quantities than the 1950s or 60s.

Also the types of valves being made is smaller. Back then, pretty much all electronics needed them, so there were all types – TV, Radio, Audio, and many others.

Now, the only equipment using them in any quantity still is audio, so those are the ones being made.

This means audio enthusiasts using valves will have a ready source of replacements for the foreseeable future.

If you have an old black-and-white TV you’re restoring though, and you need a complete set of new valves for it, you may have a harder time finding them.