Unidentified amplifier - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

py2kjr2 · 16th Sep 2018, 9:01 pm

Hi guys, I was wondering if anybody here could help identify an amplifier that has just come in to my possession.

AC/HL · 16th Sep 2018, 9:41 pm

That looks like the control panel. Is there another part to this?

crackle · 16th Sep 2018, 9:50 pm

What does the text that is almost illegible in the photo say, it looks like "Sound Sales"

Mike

py2kjr2 · 16th Sep 2018, 11:39 pm

Sound tales

Diabolical Artificer · 17th Sep 2018, 5:56 am

Looks homemade.

Andy.

Edward Huggins · 17th Sep 2018, 6:52 am

"Sound Sales" made good quality, somewhat heavily-built, Amplifiers and AM Tuners from the late 1940s until early 1950s. After that, I don't know any more.

Ted Kendall · 17th Sep 2018, 7:30 am

Sound Sales were active in 1960-ish, making PA and hi fi amplifiers. The legends on the knobs look hand written, but the unit itself is of commercial manufacture.

Radio Wrangler · 17th Sep 2018, 7:34 am

The hand-written labelling seems to be over some much classier engraving. I think we're looking at the victim of some period re-purposing.

David

Hartley118 · 17th Sep 2018, 7:57 am

I recall a new Sound Sales radio/gram amplifier being installed in my primary school to feed the existing loudspeaker network. It was in a grey metal cabinet with businesslike knobs and dials on the front. The date would have been around 1952; it was used to feed 'Singing Together' and other schools programmes to the various classrooms. As a 'warm up', the BBC programme would often be preceded by music on records selected by the Headmaster.

I have a particular memory of us all being called to assemble in the school hall to hear John Snagge announce "The King is dead".

Martin

wd40addict · 17th Sep 2018, 8:16 am

Sound sales never seemed to make it to the big time alongside Quad etc. But they were a long established company making high quality equipment and pioneered the active crossover for loudspeakers.

See https://m.review33.com/forum_msg.php...=1&number=1520

rontech · 17th Sep 2018, 9:33 am

In the late 1950's / early 60's an upmarket furnishing store in Southport had a Sound Sales mono amp/speaker unit. They used it as a demo system for their excellent record department. They also sold some hifi equipment and I recall a very large 3 way Sound Sales system, presumably with 3 separate amps and speaker chambers with bass mid and treble filter networks on their respective inputs.

Cobaltblue · 17th Sep 2018, 10:47 am

Looks like the original designation of this unit was TYPE TC/1

The printing of the "level" indication also looks original so peeling off the labels might give you an idea of the original use.

Cheers

Mike T

crackle · 18th Sep 2018, 3:27 pm

Yes it says TYPE TC/1 in the centre and at the bottom it looks like Patents Pending.
So it looks like a part of a Sound Sales TC/1 what ever that was.
It looks incomplete.

Mike

ms660 · 18th Sep 2018, 3:30 pm

It was a posh one of these:

https://www.americanradiohistory.com...ch=%22t.c.1%22

Lawrence.

stevehertz · 18th Sep 2018, 5:48 pm

You can always trust Lawrence to find a photo, a video, whatever! He's da man!

Herald1360 · 18th Sep 2018, 6:12 pm

At a guess TC/1 is short for Tone Control Type#1

nicam49 · 20th Sep 2018, 6:01 pm

Most likely formed part of a factory or working men's club PA system from around the 1950s.

16th Sep 2018, 9:41 pm	#2
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,643	Re: Unidentified amplifier That looks like the control panel. Is there another part to this?

16th Sep 2018, 9:50 pm	#3
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Unidentified amplifier What does the text that is almost illegible in the photo say, it looks like "Sound Sales" Mike

16th Sep 2018, 11:39 pm	#4
py2kjr2 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Isle of man Posts: 2	Re: Unidentified amplifier Sound tales

17th Sep 2018, 5:56 am	#5
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,670	Re: Unidentified amplifier Looks homemade. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

17th Sep 2018, 6:52 am	#6
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,340	Re: Unidentified amplifier "Sound Sales" made good quality, somewhat heavily-built, Amplifiers and AM Tuners from the late 1940s until early 1950s. After that, I don't know any more. __________________ Edward.

16th Sep 2018, 9:01 pm	#1
py2kjr2 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Isle of man Posts: 2	Unidentified amplifier Hi guys, I was wondering if anybody here could help identify an amplifier that has just come in to my possession. Attached Thumbnails

17th Sep 2018, 7:30 am	#7
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,675	Re: Unidentified amplifier Sound Sales were active in 1960-ish, making PA and hi fi amplifiers. The legends on the knobs look hand written, but the unit itself is of commercial manufacture.

17th Sep 2018, 7:34 am	#8
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,902	Re: Unidentified amplifier The hand-written labelling seems to be over some much classier engraving. I think we're looking at the victim of some period re-purposing. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

17th Sep 2018, 7:57 am	#9
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: Unidentified amplifier I recall a new Sound Sales radio/gram amplifier being installed in my primary school to feed the existing loudspeaker network. It was in a grey metal cabinet with businesslike knobs and dials on the front. The date would have been around 1952; it was used to feed 'Singing Together' and other schools programmes to the various classrooms. As a 'warm up', the BBC programme would often be preceded by music on records selected by the Headmaster. I have a particular memory of us all being called to assemble in the school hall to hear John Snagge announce "The King is dead". Martin __________________ BVWS Member

17th Sep 2018, 8:16 am	#10
wd40addict Octode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Stevenage, Herts. UK. Posts: 1,518	Re: Unidentified amplifier Sound sales never seemed to make it to the big time alongside Quad etc. But they were a long established company making high quality equipment and pioneered the active crossover for loudspeakers. See https://m.review33.com/forum_msg.php...=1&number=1520

17th Sep 2018, 9:33 am	#11
rontech Heptode Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 646	Re: Unidentified amplifier In the late 1950's / early 60's an upmarket furnishing store in Southport had a Sound Sales mono amp/speaker unit. They used it as a demo system for their excellent record department. They also sold some hifi equipment and I recall a very large 3 way Sound Sales system, presumably with 3 separate amps and speaker chambers with bass mid and treble filter networks on their respective inputs.

17th Sep 2018, 10:47 am	#12
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,879	Re: Unidentified amplifier Looks like the original designation of this unit was TYPE TC/1 The printing of the "level" indication also looks original so peeling off the labels might give you an idea of the original use. Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

18th Sep 2018, 3:27 pm	#13
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Unidentified amplifier Yes it says TYPE TC/1 in the centre and at the bottom it looks like Patents Pending. So it looks like a part of a Sound Sales TC/1 what ever that was. It looks incomplete. Mike

18th Sep 2018, 3:30 pm	#14
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Unidentified amplifier It was a posh one of these: https://www.americanradiohistory.com...ch=%22t.c.1%22 Lawrence.

18th Sep 2018, 5:48 pm	#15
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,835	Re: Unidentified amplifier You can always trust Lawrence to find a photo, a video, whatever! He's da man! __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

18th Sep 2018, 6:12 pm	#16
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Unidentified amplifier At a guess TC/1 is short for Tone Control Type#1 __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

20th Sep 2018, 6:01 pm	#17
nicam49 Hexode Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Wigston, Leicester, UK. Posts: 351	Re: Unidentified amplifier Most likely formed part of a factory or working men's club PA system from around the 1950s.