Ship amp with tubes installed or not?

[husky]

Well I have shipped a lot of amps UPS and I will say that with UPS AND new Belton sockets that have base clamps I have NEVER had one tube damaged in 1000's of amps.
With White Ceramic sockets and the Spring holder I had the locater pin of every 5 amps break at least on one tube.
As far as tubes up or down do you really thing UPS cares which way is up and down? But for the record my experience is with tubes down.

John, do you have a model number for these Belton sockets?

I buy them direct but this looks like it
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt8-st.html
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-tubeclip.html
http://tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt9-st-c.html

[LeftyStrat]

I buy them direct but this looks like it
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt8-st.html
http://www.tubedepot.com/sk-tubeclip.html
http://tubedepot.com/sk-b-vt9-st-c.html

Ah, thanks. I see. I remember those octal clips on Fender amps and Ampeg combos. They are good at holding tubes in.

Guess I've been working too much in upside down world (or right side up world for the TW/Marshall guys).

[Teleguy61]

Welcome John.
Thanks for chiming in and your many contributions to amp building in general.
George