US exports vacuum tubes?

[rif]

Billions of dollars worth? Can someone explain this to me- I had no idea.

 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-gas-other-fuels-top-200739135.html

[Grainger49]

rif,

I can't find the word "tube" in the text.  It only appears in the comments on the page I looked at.

[rif]

That's odd. It links to a different page now. The one I had listed the top 5 exports by year for the last few years. I'll see if I can find it.

[rif]

Here's another link. This one is the Washington post

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/big-shift-for-gas-guzzling-nation-fuels-are-top-us-export-oil-imports-still-worlds-highest/2011/12/30/gIQAw0A5QP_story.html

And just in case the internets decide to play tricks again, here's an excerpt:

 e the top U.S. exports for the past six years, according to U.S. Census records.

___

2011 (Through October)

1 — Fuel: $73.4 billion;

2 — Aircraft: $70.8 billion;

3 — Motor Vehicles: $39.6 billion;

4 — Vacuum Tubes: $37.1 billion;

5 — Telecommunications Equipment: $33.2 billion.

___

2010

1 — Aircraft: $79.2 billion;

2 — Fuel: $53.7 billion;

3 — Vacuum Tubes: $47.3 billion;

4 — Motor Vehicles: $39.3 billion;

5 — Telecommunications Equipment: $35.3 billion.

[howardnair]

i googled- us vacuum tube export-found a small list of manufacturers-here is richardson electronics-go to products-scroll down to  electron tubes-a menu pops up -it is amazing the application and types of vacuum tube devices in use--i myself had no idea--i don't know about you but i was only thinking audio--

tube exporters
http://www.vacuumtube.com/mfg.htm

richardson
http://www.rell.com/Pages/Product.aspx?productCategory=All

[Grainger49]

Thanks for the link.  In addition to those mentioned I'll add CRTs, like a monitor for a PC, and klystrons or magnetrons, the microwave producing devices for heating your TV dinner.  And I had almost forgot that the Western Electric company exports 300B tubes.

[rif]

But $40 BILLION DOLLARS?

 doesn't anyone else think that's very high? I mean that's on par with Motor Vehicles.

[Grainger49]

I have to admit, $40 Billion is unbelievable.