I have found these two books the most valuable to me when I was getting into building and home brewing and I find myself going back to these books from time to time. They are a great addition to any collection.
Bill Orr's - W6SAI - Radio Handbook, 15th edition ( sometimes refered to as The West Coast Handbook) and the RCA Radiotron Designers Handbook, Fourth Edition .
G
That would be the
Amalgamated Wireless Valve Company Radiotron Designers Handbook
. Just a note to anyone looking at picking up a copy, the 4th edition is THE one to get . The 3rd edition is 352 pages, the 4th is 1482 pages! Thats not to say that there is anything wrong with the 3rd Ed, Its just that the 4th is one of the most complete references I have ever seen. It would have been an almost complete coverage of the design of domestic electronic equipment when it was published in 1952.
There was a reprint some time in the 90s(?) from Newnes due to demand from tube audio amp builders.
Ian VK3KRI