The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Bob,
Congratulations on a great restoration job and awesome video presentation.
You are incredibly talented!
Gene

gemering wrote:Bob,
Congratulations on a great restoration job and awesome video presentation.
You are incredibly talented!
Gene

Just wanted to add my congrats and second what Gene said above. Truly a superb, professional video that goes a long way for collectors and non-collectors alike to understand and appreciate what wonders of engineering these machines can be.

Thanks again guys! I enjoy taking the time to make these projects interesting and entertaining!
Bob

That's fabulous. Closet radio geek that I am, I'm curious about the amp: the tube component, mainly!
Jim

Great machine and wonderful video. Thanks for sharing!

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:That's fabulous. Closet radio geek that I am, I'm curious about the amp: the tube component, mainly!
Jim

Thanks again, everyone! I'm glad people are enjoying this.

Here are a few pictures of the amplifier. Notice the tag "Webster Power Amplifier, Racine Wisconsin."
I know next to nothing about electronics, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.
We haven't been able to find an actual schematic of this; the closest thing was a wiring diagram from Robert Baumbach's Capehart book.

I didn't include pictures of the speaker. Although it's electrodynamic, it is an old replacement of the original. I don't think the original was "harvested" as many Capehart speakers are, since this was obviously done a very long time ago. In taking these pictures I noticed a penciled date on the wood: "2-5-'41." Maybe that's when it happened.
Cheers!

Bob

With two 45 triodes in a push-pull circuit it should in fact really pump out the goods! Those 45s are the ones that tube fetish audiophiles still use in stereo amps. Matched pairs of 45s can be very pricey these days. Although I think the modern tube amp fad is fading a bit. The one chap that I know that has one is finding that it sounds great, but he's also discovering that tube equipment needs to be serviced!
I see someone has swapped 56s for 27s . They're essentially interchangeable. 56s are a tad later. I forget all the ins and outs of changing one for the other..or why. I think the 56's draw less current, but don't quote me.

Jim

What a beautiful example of mechanical, electrical and woodworking arts (yes, truly arts)coming together to create a fabulous machine for the ages. Bob, a tremendous amount of credit is due to you for taking the time, making the effort and having the patience to restore this piece. Thank you also for the taking the time to make this excellent high quality video so that the rest of us might share in your accomplishment. My hat is off to you.

Jim

What a beautiful example of mechanical, electrical and woodworking arts (yes, truly arts)coming together to create a fabulous machine for the ages. Bob, a tremendous amount of credit is due to you for taking the time, making the effort and having the patience to restore this piece. Thank you also for the taking the time to make this excellent high quality video so that the rest of us might share in your accomplishment. My hat is off to you.

Jim

Just curious... was this a basket case type of project? Fantastic restoration and fantastic machine.