Valve amp identification - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ajquiksilver · 16th Jul 2019, 7:39 pm

Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I found an old valve amplifier in a junk shop and wondered if you could help me identify it? I'd love to be able to restore it but have no idea what each wire is for what and what the knobs even do.

It turns on and left knob is power on then volume I presume. The right knob clicks into 3 positions. Not sure what this means it was used for?

Any help you could give me would be great. Even if its just some guidance on where to connect a speaker to see if it works!

Thanks,

Station X · 16th Jul 2019, 7:43 pm

That is, or was, a radio. Note the IF Transformers, tuning coils trimmer capacitors and cut out for the tuning scale.

What valves are fitted?

ms660 · 16th Jul 2019, 8:23 pm

6K8G, 6K7G, 6Q7G, 6V6G....6X5G?

The tuning capacitor is missing along with the tuning mechanism and tuning scale and the audio output transformer might be missing, other bits might be missing too.

The three position switch will be the waveband switch, originally it most likely would have covered the Medium Wave band, the Long Wave band and one of the Short Wave bands.

Lawrence.

Sideband · 16th Jul 2019, 9:01 pm

Basically it's only any good for parts. It WAS a radio as already stated but has been severely robbed of essential parts. As it is, the valves might be worth selling on eBay for about a fiver each.

Sorry but it's useless as it is.

peter_sol · 17th Jul 2019, 3:11 am

And there is no output transformer which would have been mounted on the speaker which is also missing.

Cobaltblue · 17th Jul 2019, 8:54 am

It looks very similar to but not exactly the same as a Cossor 464 chassis possibly a 463

Most Cossor sets of this period had the supply taps on the transformer making me think this is an export model or possibly from a gram.

Cheers

Mike T

Edward Huggins · 17th Jul 2019, 4:03 pm

For the sake of safely I would advise the OP to not attempt to plug in to the mains as it cannot work as it is. Leave well alone and sell as spares on ebay. It's not an amplifier anyway.

Techman · 17th Jul 2019, 4:57 pm

I totally agree with Sideband. It's the remains of an old radio and not worth bothering with, and is worth around a fiver for the valves and possibly the mains transformer.

paulsherwin · 17th Jul 2019, 5:17 pm

I also agree. You can clearly see the cutout in the chassis where the speaker would have fitted. It dates from the 1940s and is effectively unrestorable in its current condition.

Don't attempt to power it up, it won't work and you may get a shock.

kalee20 · 17th Jul 2019, 5:26 pm

When I saw the photos, I immediately thought, "Old radio, partially complete. No tuning capacitor, but RF coils and IF transformers still there, plus (obviously) valves and mains transformer."

No use as-is, though the valves look visually OK. If heaters are intact, may be worth advertising them on eBay or whatever, couple of quid each as otherwise untested.

crackle · 17th Jul 2019, 6:37 pm

If you bought this as a valve amplifier then I am sorry to say, you were done.
I advise like the others, that you dont mess with it just try and sell for £5 as spares.

Mike

snowman_al · 18th Jul 2019, 7:26 am

Sad to say there appears to be more and more old radio chassis being sold as 'valve amplifiers' these days.

I guess a lot of traders actually do not know (being kind) what they do or do not have... It's got valves so I thought it was an amplifier?

Herald1360 · 18th Jul 2019, 9:53 am

Three of the valves and the mains transformer and the chassis could be used with a quantity of new parts to make a simple low power (about 3 watts) amplifier. In addition, a new output transformer would be needed- about £15-£20.

Effectively, though, a complete and working radio with a "Gram" input already has this capability and is a radio as well.

Looks like we've lost the OP though......

16th Jul 2019, 7:39 pm	#1
ajquiksilver Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Brighton, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1	Valve amp identification Hi I was wondering if you could help me. I found an old valve amplifier in a junk shop and wondered if you could help me identify it? I'd love to be able to restore it but have no idea what each wire is for what and what the knobs even do. It turns on and left knob is power on then volume I presume. The right knob clicks into 3 positions. Not sure what this means it was used for? Any help you could give me would be great. Even if its just some guidance on where to connect a speaker to see if it works! Thanks, Attached Thumbnails

16th Jul 2019, 7:43 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Valve amp identification That is, or was, a radio. Note the IF Transformers, tuning coils trimmer capacitors and cut out for the tuning scale. What valves are fitted? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

16th Jul 2019, 8:23 pm	#3
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Valve amp identification 6K8G, 6K7G, 6Q7G, 6V6G....6X5G? The tuning capacitor is missing along with the tuning mechanism and tuning scale and the audio output transformer might be missing, other bits might be missing too. The three position switch will be the waveband switch, originally it most likely would have covered the Medium Wave band, the Long Wave band and one of the Short Wave bands. Lawrence.

16th Jul 2019, 9:01 pm	#4
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,566	Re: Valve amp identification Basically it's only any good for parts. It WAS a radio as already stated but has been severely robbed of essential parts. As it is, the valves might be worth selling on eBay for about a fiver each. Sorry but it's useless as it is. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

17th Jul 2019, 3:11 am	#5
peter_sol Octode Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,906	Re: Valve amp identification And there is no output transformer which would have been mounted on the speaker which is also missing.

17th Jul 2019, 8:54 am	#6
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,857	Re: Valve amp identification It looks very similar to but not exactly the same as a Cossor 464 chassis possibly a 463 Most Cossor sets of this period had the supply taps on the transformer making me think this is an export model or possibly from a gram. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk Last edited by Cobaltblue; 17th Jul 2019 at 8:58 am. Reason: add

17th Jul 2019, 4:03 pm	#7
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,326	Re: Valve amp identification For the sake of safely I would advise the OP to not attempt to plug in to the mains as it cannot work as it is. Leave well alone and sell as spares on ebay. It's not an amplifier anyway. __________________ Edward.

17th Jul 2019, 4:57 pm	#8
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Valve amp identification I totally agree with Sideband. It's the remains of an old radio and not worth bothering with, and is worth around a fiver for the valves and possibly the mains transformer.

17th Jul 2019, 5:17 pm	#9
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,929	Re: Valve amp identification I also agree. You can clearly see the cutout in the chassis where the speaker would have fitted. It dates from the 1940s and is effectively unrestorable in its current condition. Don't attempt to power it up, it won't work and you may get a shock.

17th Jul 2019, 5:26 pm	#10
kalee20 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK. Posts: 7,077	Re: Valve amp identification When I saw the photos, I immediately thought, "Old radio, partially complete. No tuning capacitor, but RF coils and IF transformers still there, plus (obviously) valves and mains transformer." No use as-is, though the valves look visually OK. If heaters are intact, may be worth advertising them on eBay or whatever, couple of quid each as otherwise untested.

17th Jul 2019, 6:37 pm	#11
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Valve amp identification If you bought this as a valve amplifier then I am sorry to say, you were done. I advise like the others, that you dont mess with it just try and sell for £5 as spares. Mike

18th Jul 2019, 7:26 am	#12
snowman_al Octode Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Llandeilo, West Wales, UK. Posts: 1,092	Re: Valve amp identification Sad to say there appears to be more and more old radio chassis being sold as 'valve amplifiers' these days. I guess a lot of traders actually do not know (being kind) what they do or do not have... It's got valves so I thought it was an amplifier? __________________ Never Leave Well Enough Alone...

18th Jul 2019, 9:53 am	#13
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Valve amp identification Three of the valves and the mains transformer and the chassis could be used with a quantity of new parts to make a simple low power (about 3 watts) amplifier. In addition, a new output transformer would be needed- about £15-£20. Effectively, though, a complete and working radio with a "Gram" input already has this capability and is a radio as well. Looks like we've lost the OP though...... __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O