Help identifying P.A. tube amp

[ibm3270]

Hello! The Borough in Donora is planning on bringing their antique Public Address system online for it's 125th Quasiquicentennial celebration. Numerous hours searching online has returned zero results with the manufacturer of their historical amp. Historically there was a Montgomery Ward in town and the amp was discovered in the old building amongst the historical town Christmas decorations. So far they are leaning that it might be a Wards-Airline amp that is a rebrand of a Allied-Knight amp. Any information is very much appreciated! Tube arrangement is (2) 6J7,(2) 6N7,(2) 6L6,(1) 5Z3

 

[Dswankey]

.. it might be a Wards-Airline amp that is a rebrand of a Allied-Knight amp. Any information is very much appreciated!

I have no answer as to which it is however if you're still leaning to it being a Knight amp sold by Allied you can research the old Allied catalogs as seen in the link below

An archive of Allied Radio & Allied Electronics Catalogs (1929-1981)

Flip-through every Allied Radio & Allied Electronics catalog. These catalogs include vintage electronics, stereos, speakers, CB radios, tube radios, computers, communication equipment, electronic test equipment, gadgets, technology & more!

www.alliedcatalogs.com

Tip, when you click on a year and that catalog comes up be sure to click on "index page" first from there you can search what pages PA Amps are on. It'll make for easier searching

 

[Dswankey]

..The Borough in Donora ...they are leaning that it might be a Wards-Airline amp that is a rebrand of a Allied-Knight amp.

Being the curious type I decided to do a little search on my own, didn't take long but I think I found it.

See page 72

1940 Allied Radio Catalog

Flip-through every page of this 1940 Allied Radio Catalog containing vintage radios, phonographs, amplifiers, amateur / short wave radios, knight kits & electronic parts.

www.alliedcatalogs.com

Fwiw

Cool history page on Allied

Allied Radio—1928-1970

chicagology.com

 

[Mr Boochie]

Prolly a Masco PA amp.

 

[Dswankey]

@Mr Boochie

Any possibility Masco manufactured for Allied and they just branded it Knight?

The only difference I can see from the OP's pic and the one in the catalog is the Masco doesn't have the center flip switch or indicator light

 

[Mr Boochie]

@Mr Boochie

Any possibility Masco manufactured for Allied and they just branded it Knight?

The only difference I can see from the OP's pic and the one in the catalog is the Masco doesn't have the center flip switch or indicator light

View attachment 3705349

View attachment 3705350

Sure thing! I think Matco built amps for many retailers and theater & sound equipment suppliers.

 

[james_A]

Wow that really is historic...very cool. I wonder when it was last powered up?

 

[ibm3270]

Being the curious type I decided to do a little search on my own, didn't take long but I think I found it.

See page 72

1940 Allied Radio Catalog

Flip-through every page of this 1940 Allied Radio Catalog containing vintage radios, phonographs, amplifiers, amateur / short wave radios, knight kits & electronic parts.

www.alliedcatalogs.com

Fwiw

Cool history page on Allied

Allied Radio—1928-1970

chicagology.com

That looks to definitely be it. It's a Knight. It doesn't say much about it other than basic info. A Google search for Knight 30E doesn't turn up anything only the 30S has any documentation. As far as a schematic, I probably won't find one although I'll keep looking! Thanks you for pointing in the right direction. At least it's positively identified as a Knight. Thank you!

 

[ibm3270]

Wow that really is historic...very cool. I wonder when it was last powered up?

I couldn't answer when it last was used. I am sure it went through the Donora 1948 killer Smog and probably announced info. during the Halloween parade that was happening at the same time. I work for Mon Valley Youth and Teen Association. The amp is in our care to restore and get running for the 125th borough birthday party. We also have the original outdoor P.A. speakers that the amp was driving. Those were made by Majesty from White Plains, New York.

 

[Dswankey]

Hello! The Borough in Donora is planning on bringing their antique Public Address system online for it's 125th Quasiquicentennial celebration.

I couldn't answer when it last was used...The amp is in our care to restore

As far as a schematic, I probably won't find one although I'll keep looking!

So the celebration goes off without a hitch it would behoove you have the unit assessed by a competent audio technician. Don't plug it in and hope it works. There are 80+ year old internals that more then likely are way beyond their shelf life.

I would suggest contacting Vince in the Burgh at Galaxie Electronics. He's old school and KNOWS his tube amp repair/restore and more then likely will not need a schematic

 

[gadget73]

yeah plugging in old gear like this is a good way to let the smoke out, and possibly damage it beyond reasonable repair. OTOH its also usually extremely possible to make this stuff run reliably again so long as that hasn't already happened.

 

[fxer1982]

i spent a half hr trying to find one that has the same look to it. no good luck i checked 1930's, 1920's vintage public address 30E ..... you may find more help with radio museum . sorry i cant find anything that looks like it. but those 2 6l6G tubes are where you can get some money and the power transformer. being it to be a public address amp it will work for guitar but never just plug it in. find a good tech to go through it to test the circuit first. if you have no experience again don't plug it in it will have enough power to kill ya dead

 

[Tom Bavis]

I have a partial scan of the Rider's PA Manual, and this is the closest Allied unit I found. It's missing the second microphone input, and the corresponding second 6J7 preamplifier, but all the other tube numbers match, so I'd expect the circuit to be very close.

 

[Dswankey]

i spent a half hr trying to find one that has the same look to it. no good luck i checked 1930's, 1920's vintage public address 30E ..... you may find more help with radio museum . sorry i cant find anything that looks like it.

See posts #3 & #5