// implicit cast
var value = parseInt(tbb*1); // see original question
Explanation, for those who don't find it trivial:
Multiplying by one, a method called "implicit cast", attempts to turn the unknown type operand into the primitive type 'number'. In particular, an empty string would become number 0, making it an eligible type for parseInt()...
A very good example was also given above by PirateApp, who suggested to prepend the + sign, forcing JavaScript to use the Number implicit cast.
Aug. 20 update: parseInt("0"+expr);
gives better results, in particular for parseInt("0"+'str');