If these are designed the same way as the 12AX7EH the filament is almost completely surrounded by the other elements so there isn’t much glow. If you get really close you can see the top of the filament sticking out a bit & it will be glowing a dull red.
Best test without a tube tester: Run a signal through the device and see if you get output
As a cellist, it doesn’t quite sound like a cello – the notes are right, but there are qualitative factors that are lacking and the result sounds too sterile to my ear.
That said it’s a great synth approximation, and it’s equal to or better than a lot of MIDI cello patches I’ve heard.
Depending on what you’re doing it may be fine – I’d listen to https://www.ehx.com/blog/effectology-cello-concerto for yourself and decide if it’s suitable.