Hickok 118B Military Computerized Cardmatic Tube Tester (Bitmatic)


Did I say computerized? You bet! This Cardmatic doesn't need any cards!

Here we have a refurbished Hickok-made 118B Cardmatic tube tester for your consideration. That alone will turn some heads, but this one has been computerized! The computer interface box is new, right off the production line. And now an IBM ThinkPad Laptop is included!

When I say it has been refurbished, I mean it (all of this work was performed by me personally):

* All electrolytic capacitors in the power supplies replaced with long-life 105 degree parts
* Grid Signal Amplitude pot sensitivity mod has been installed
* 5U4 rectifier tube has been replaced with a solid state rectifier to remove the heavy filament load from the power transformer
* All push button switch decks have been disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled
* Selenium rectifiers replaced with silicon diodes
* Full Calibration
* NEW Calibrated Calibration Cell Included!

If you don't know about the Computerized Cardmatic testers, hold on to your hat. There is no way to list all the features in this auction. But there is a lot of information about it available on the Internet.

The software is supplied on a bootable thumb drive that boots directly into the software. Plus, an IBM ThinkPad laptop computer is included! The ThinkPad is great because on it the software boots instantly and it is 100% compatible with this system.

It is very easy to use, and it is by far the fastest way to test tubes on the planet. There are no switches to set, no adapters needed, even if testing Compactrons and Nuvistors. Here are just a few of the features:


  • No cards needed -- even the calibration cards and the instructions are programmed into the database.
  • The database contains the equivalent of 3,924 Cardmatic cards.
  • 3 Additional tube sockets are provided including 9-Pin Novar, 12-Pin Compactron and Nuvistor!
  • Plate current jacks for an external current meter are provided on the control box.
  • Fully tests for heater cathode leakage, shorts, gas, transconductance, plate current, cathode activity, grid current, grid emission, voltage drop.
  • A chart is displayed on the screen during each test which converts the meter reading directly to micromhos, milliamps, or volts.
  • You can program and store your own custom tests. The ultimate in versatility.
  • Built in calibration routines for the highest accuracy possible.  Instructions are printed right on the screen.
  • Uses sealed computer controlled relays, meaning no wrong settings, no dirty switch contacts, no faulty readings.
  • For tubes that have multiple tests, the heater remains powered between tests. No extra warm-up time!
  • Heater voltage can be varied while testing. Handy for rejuvenating tubes. Not normally possible with Cardmatics.
  • Turns your tester into an exquisitely sensitive curve tracer. Print curve charts with just one keystroke.

    • PLEASE NOTE: The last picture shows a computer control box that is decked out with all the available sockets. This auction is for a system that has the 12-pin Compactron, 9-pin Novar, and 5-pin Nuvistor sockets only. The additional sockets can be added as an extra cost option, just contact me for details.

    This tester had a case in poor condition, so the tester was put in a re-purposed card case. The case is in good condition.

    Do you already have a Cardmatic Tube Tester and want to get it refurbished and/or computerized? Check out my other auctions or contact me!

    This system comes with a full money back guarantee and a full one year warranty.

    Shipping to outside the continental United States will be quite expensive ($300 to $350 for Europe). Contact me for a shipping estimate if outside the US.

    You don't get glitz or pizazz on my eBay pages, just really good products and unbeatable service. I specialize in calibration (see my calibration test bench), and I build these Computerized Tube Testers, so I stand by my test results. :)