That's exactly what Heathkit's founder , Ed Heath, did. Killed in a homebrew aircraft crash.
The tube tester I usually use is a Hickok "Cardmatic" (branded for Western Electric), which is programmed for each tube type by inserting a punched card into a reader slot. Just plug the tube into the right socket (one for each base type), then plug in the card. Let warm up, and test...
Here is a good picture of the unit, and the suitcase full of cards:
http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Roe...5874-L2/Western-Electric-KS-15874-L2.htm
