Dandy
Addicted Member
Someone I know only slightly has very kindly passed on to me a superb home built stereo amp from the late 50s or early 60s. The amplifier is a stereo Mullard 5-10 with a huge separate power supply that could also supply power to a tuner, a preamp and a small office block! When I first saw pictures of it, I could see that the power supply was good by looking at the size of the PT and two chokes, and I guessed that the OPTs would be nice too from what I could make out. But, when I got it, I was amazed to see two beautiful matching Partridge C-core transformers under green plastic covers. The units have been in storage for a decade, or more judging by the grime covering the peeling grey-green paint. I believe it may have been built to supply music to a company recreation hall.
I had been advising the owner to restore the amp, before he decided whether to keep it and offered to help. But in the end he simply sold it to me for a very modest price.
I'm a great fan of EL84 amps of this era and have restored and bought quite a few, but this is likely to be the best I've ever heard. I did the obvious checks and cap replacements before first running it and repaired a few issues that may have led to it being put away in the first place. The most serious issue was that the Belling Lee connectors on the cable between the power supply and amp had a broken ground pin, so the whole amp was only grounded via the RCA plug connected to a flimsy later ss phono box. I found this out by getting a kick from it as I removed one of the RCAs! These connectors are obsolete, but I'll try and source a replacement. In the meantime, I've just added a connection between the busbars of the power supply and the amp.
With input direct from a CD player it is incredibly loud and detailed. I've replaced the essential electrolytic and coupling caps, but not begun a thorough service. I also removed a loose brass screw from under the tagboard, wondering what mischief it might have caused over the years...
Anyway, here are some pics. Feeling thankful.
I had been advising the owner to restore the amp, before he decided whether to keep it and offered to help. But in the end he simply sold it to me for a very modest price.
I'm a great fan of EL84 amps of this era and have restored and bought quite a few, but this is likely to be the best I've ever heard. I did the obvious checks and cap replacements before first running it and repaired a few issues that may have led to it being put away in the first place. The most serious issue was that the Belling Lee connectors on the cable between the power supply and amp had a broken ground pin, so the whole amp was only grounded via the RCA plug connected to a flimsy later ss phono box. I found this out by getting a kick from it as I removed one of the RCAs! These connectors are obsolete, but I'll try and source a replacement. In the meantime, I've just added a connection between the busbars of the power supply and the amp.
With input direct from a CD player it is incredibly loud and detailed. I've replaced the essential electrolytic and coupling caps, but not begun a thorough service. I also removed a loose brass screw from under the tagboard, wondering what mischief it might have caused over the years...
Anyway, here are some pics. Feeling thankful.