VINTAGE AMPLIFIER
This is a vintage tube amplifier. Amp was pulled from original wood box, where it was connected to a field coil speaker. The label on the box read: "ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS INC.", "A SUBSIDIARY OF WESTERN ELECTRIC C0. INC.". In my opinion this amplifier dates from the 1920's - 1930's. This item is exactly as it was, and has not been altered, or molested in any fashion, excepting perhaps, that the vacuum tubes may have been replaced at some point. The original power cord was no good, so my husband replaced it with a new 3' cord that matched the original. No plug is attached to the cord. The original plug had a bakelite cover, but it was also un-salvageable.
Amplifier dimensions:
10.75" LONG (+ mounting flanges which are 5/8". Total length: 12")
5 7/8" WIDE (+ Control knobs which are .75". Total width: 7 3/8")
5.50" TALL w/o Tubes. With tubes: approx. 6.50"
Tubes: 1 each: 5Z4 SYLVANIA 1 each: 6J7 SYLVANIA 1 each: 6L6 KEN-RAD
Amplifier case has original Dark Brown wrinkle finish, which is excellent, excepting for some minor spots on the top. The inside (where the electronics are) is matching Dark Brown, but smooth finish (also excellent).
Tubes are mounted on the top, along with a large transformer. 2 large capacitors protrude from underneath, and there's a wrinkle painted cover enclosing another transformer mounted from the underside.
On one end there is a 2 prong, female input jack marked "PHONO", and a Bakelite 4 pin female socket marked "MIC" in the center. On the opposite end is a Bakelite 5 pin female socket marked "SPKR" in the center, and the replacement input power cable with the original case grommet. The unit has a flange on each end with holes to accomodate mounting hardware. Flanges measure 5/8" each, and are part of the case. All of the input sockets are very high quality, and are in excellent+ condition. The painted socket I.D.'s (which are inset into each socket) look a litle worn, but they may have looked that way originally.
Mounted on the front are 3 Bakelite control knobs, and a 'On-Off' toggle switch. The toggle is chrome, or Nickel plated, with a bezel plate marked 'ON' and 'OFF. Basically a typical toggle except much nicer, with a large 'ball' end. The controls are stunning! Each has an Art Deco styled Bakelite pointer knob, with a painted line inset along the pointer. Behind each control dial are stunning Brass bezels measuring approx. 2.50". Each has level indicator lines around the outside which are numbered from 0-10 (with shorter lines half way between numbers). Each is marked respectively: "MICROPHONE", "PHONO", and "TONE". All lines, numbers, and letters are inset, and highlighted in black. Numbers and letters are in a cool vintage font style. The knobs, and toggle/toggle faceplate are perfect. The brass bezels are excellent, and shiny, but have some very minor scratches which should easily polish out. The scratches are so minor as to not detract from the appearence. They do not stand out like they appear to in the photographs. All controls operate easily.
The electronics all appear to be in excellent condition. The large transformer on the top looks a little oxidized on the surface of the cover, but otherwise appears to be excellent. The tubes look excellent, but I did not test them. The Bakelite Octal tube sockets are perfect, and are the nicest I've ever seen. These are beefy sockets, and each has the tube number stamped into the top rim. The large capacitors look excellent, and have the original labels intact. Each of the labels, while slightly different in appearence are marked "USA Mfgd. by CORNELL-DUBILIER Corp.", "Cat. No. EA-9080", "Max Surge V. 525", "D.C. Work V. 450", "Cap. Mfds. 8." (one is marked "NY. NY.", the other "Plainsfield N.J."). I couldn't read the info printed on most of the component parts, but one part is marked "AeroVox", and printed on the gold band surrounding the 'Blue' resistor (?) is: "ELECTRAD N.Y.", "Ohms", and engraved: "200". The components and the manner in which wired up, in my opinion, look to be of the highest quality.
Other than the label that was on the original case this Amp. was enclosed in, there is nothing that indicates the manufacturer, or date of manufacture. The case construction, the overall look of the contents, and the verified age of the other electronic stuff I acquired from the same source/same purchase, in my opinion indicates the date of this example to be somewhere in the 1920's, thru the middle of the 1930's.
This item has not been tested. However, I have absolutely no reason to believe that it doesn't work, although the tubes may/may not need replacing. Buyer will need to attach a plug to the end of the 2 wire power cord, or else hardwire it direct to some 110 volt AC power source. I would recommend that the buyer examine/check the circuitry, etc. before powering.
We have collected, and sold/traded high end Hi-Fi equipment for many years. My husband has extensive knowledge of Motion Picture Theatre sound systems (installation, and operation), worked in the music industry as a professional musician, and occasional 'sound man'. We are also members of Lansing Heritage. That said, we are far from experts in this, or any other field, but I can say with some measure of authority that this amplifier is easily one of the coolest I have ever come across, and in my opinion, is of the highest quality (available at the time of manufacture). I would think this amp would be highly prized by collectors.
THIS ITEM IS SOLD "AS-IS". NO RETURNS, OR REFUNDS OFFERED.
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Please check out my other items. We have on auction now, or will have in the next day or so, numerous, highly collectible Vintage Sound, and Hi-Fi items, all in fantastic condition, including: the FIELD COIL SPEAKER that was attached to this amplifier, an early ALTEC LANSING 416A 15" SPEAKER (removed from a LAKE TAHOE CASINO in the early 1980's), a JBL D130A 15" SPEAKER, a JBL K130 15" SPEAKER, a JBL D140F 15" SPEAKER, a set of consecutively serial numbered JBL HF COMPRESSION DRIVERS, a set of JBL HF HORNS, a 1920's vintage UNIVERSAL XX BROADCAST SUSPENSION MICROPHONE w/ART DECO BASE in amazing condition, a mint condition VOM CERAMIC MAGNET BULLIT MICROPHONE (fantastic sound for Harp players), a mint pair of REALISTIC-FOSTER 40-1310A UHF TRANSDUCERS (Super Tweeters), a scarce ADC ACCUTRAC +6 TURNTABLE (complete w/Remote, and original Sensor Ball), lots of early vintage vacuum tubes, plus much more!
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Item will be promptly shipped. Item is carefully packaged in a custom shipping container (box), created/sized specifically for this item from high grade/strength cardboard, and is surrounded internally with 1 3/8" rigid styrofoam panels to preclude the possibility of damage incurred while in transit.
Will ship WORLDWIDE. Please consult the shipping calculator for accurate shipping costs. Insurance is mandatory for this item. We add no "handling" or other lame charges. You pay only what the carrier charges me.
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