New Old Stock

The English term New Old Stock (NOS ) means "new old stock ". He describes components and devices, their production has been established, are available but, for example, from spare parts stocks ( unused).

The term is also used for components or equipment that were made ​​before the adoption of new rules and this therefore may not meet, yet still sold ( for a transitional period ), or may be used ( for replacement). An example of such a rule is the EU RoHS Directive that prohibits the use of some pollutants such as lead, mercury and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment since 1 July 2006. This is to ensure that the hazardous substances, if technically possible, get neither in production nor in the subsequent disposal in the environment.

Another example is electron tubes, which have today been largely replaced by semiconductor, but in some applications are still very popular, such as for high-end hi-fi and guitar amplifiers. Tubes of defunct manufacturers are partly available from old military spare parts inventory. They have partly sought other properties as tubes from current production and are therefore.