Celebrating 85 Years of 300B Manufacturing
A tradition of quality continues
This year marks eighty-five years of the type 300B electron tube. Western Electric celebrates this milestone with music listeners around the world who know the iconic triode for its unrivaled sound quality and reliability. The journey of the 300B, from unknown workhorse in 1938 to becoming a revered mainstay in high-fidelity, continues at our Rossville Works facility. We proudly maintain the longest product life cycle in the history of electron tube manufacturing.
After successful runs in Kansas City and Huntsville (1996-2008), Western Electric CEO Charles Whitener reintroduced the 300B at a permanent, modernized facility in Georgia. Established in 2018, the Rossville Works supports continuous production of the 300B and research for new Western Electric products. In the 300B wing, a core team works to exceed quality standards each day. Original machinery and by-hand techniques harken back to the golden era of tube manufacturing.
In the same space, computerization and automation have improved the way we make 300Bs. Our people work safer and more efficiently than ever before. What’s more, this investment in the future has paid off, with average test characteristics consistently higher than previous runs.
In 2020, initial units were shipped—legendary five (5) year warranty included. End users, distributors, and industry reviewers praised the return of hi-fi’s favorite tube. In 2023, Western Electric shipped a record number of units to new customers.
The origin story
In 1938, it was just another electron tube commissioned by Western Electric engineers. The 300A needed a bayonet pin reconfiguration and so the 300B was born and shipped off to power some of the first high-fidelity sound systems for movie theaters. In the old days, a trip to the movies was the only practical way to experience the magic of a 300B. There, an elaborate network of amplifiers, cables, loudspeakers, and projectors—all crafted by Western Electric—brought Hollywood soundtracks to life. A whisper of dialogue. The roar of a freight train. Advanced thermionic devices like the 300B reproduced every detail loud and true. Crowds marveled at the most lifelike sound they’d ever heard while the 300B glowed dutifully behind the scenes.
The 300B has its origins in the earliest days of high-fidelity sound for motion pictures.
Eighty-five years later, the 300B is perhaps the most recognizable electron tube in the world. Serious music lovers everywhere have carried the triode deep into the digital age, continuously rediscovering its pleasing, analog musicality. What served moviegoers back then still endures: low noise, ultra-long life, sonic purity. The LP, the CD, and digital streaming is rendered with deftness and authority. Popular new amplifier designs position the shapely bulb front and center with dandelion yellow lettering on proud display. After eighty-five years of sweet 300B sound, we know it’s more than just another electron tube.
Expanding the legacy
The 300B is at the heart of Western Electric. Our company is grateful for the growing number of tube lovers and amp makers who support our project. To continue the 300B’s great legacy, we are expanding to bring the same level of authenticity and precision to new, more universal tube types. Our goal is to deliver quality, American-made tubes to a wider audience of music makers and music listeners. Thousands of guitar players, studio engineers, and key guitar amp manufacturers have shared their common concerns and urgent demand for reliable, better sounding 12AX7s, for example. We are in a position to define how tubes are made in the 21st century. We trust you’ll stay tuned.
