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Identify NOS 1966 Potentiometer (maybe McIntosh?)

SaturationPt

SaturationPt

Big Woofer Club
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The story is I bought this several years ago with a bunch of McIntosh parts, it was not the right pot. I have never tossed it in the trash, and it might be useful but I don't know to what gear.

It does not have a McIntosh xxx-xxx part number but I have it in a McIntosh part bag so I don't know.

3-gang, coaxial shaft. 500K - 500k - 41k - DPSP from the top down.

I didn't measure the taper, and am assuming the 4 pins on the switch are N.O. DPST.

Date is 16th week of 1966.

I'd love to know if it's useable for a McIntosh or just another miscellaneous part. Wish I would have asked Chris / c_dk when he was around (lots of things I would ask now).
 

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SaturationPt said:
. . .I'd love to know if it's useable for a McIntosh or just another miscellaneous part. Wish I would have asked Chris / c_dk when he was around (lots of things I would ask now).
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I don't know but do I see two concentric control shafts? Might be a clue there. Maybe put a meter on it to see what shaft does what (does that outside shaft just operate the switch, or?) and then look for a unit that has that functionality. The MAC 1500, for example, has concentric tone controls (so you can easily rotate right and left together or separately) but there is no switch on those controls.

If I see this wrong and there's only one control shaft, then disregard my suggestion.
 
Yes concentric / coaxial shaft. I don't recall which one operates which, but both have 270* rotation and run pots.

1966 does eliminate a lot of gear, especially since it appears to be 2-channel.
 
I was thinking maybe a combined balance / loudness control like on a MAC1700. I think the switch turns the loudness on and off, and first two pots would be balance. But I don't know what that 3rd pot would do, I don't think it's variable loudness on a 1700.

Can you get a close up of those stamped markings? Anything marked on the back side of the switch cap?
 
Okay, more information and pics @Bob the Tech :

The outer shaft controls the top pot, which is a 500k pot with the taper set up from the center, I believe it to be BALANCE.

The inner shaft controls the second pot, 500k, and the third pot, 41k. Also the switch. Perhaps gain/volume + loudness?

Photos show the numbers on the stack as well as on the switch.
 

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Maybe -??
two 500K turn together for volume and can be separately adjusted to tweak the balance and 41K for loudness. Switch at 3A and 125V would work for power on.

Pretty sure that the pot is **GOLD** for the guy who needs it!!
 
No. Top 500k is a balance pot I believe turned by the outer shaft. Second 500k, 40k, and switch are on the inner shaft.

Not sure, would like to find it a piece of equipment to save instead of storing it until I die. I keep too many things believing that they will someday help someone out, but they don’t help anyone on my shelf. I feel it’s a shame to toss things like this. I might send it to AC, if they can use it ,,.

Thanks though, maybe we’ll get there.
 
SaturationPt said:
Not sure, would like to find it a piece of equipment to save instead of storing it until I die. I keep too many things believing that they will someday help someone out, but they don’t help anyone on my shelf. I feel it’s a shame to toss things like this. I might send it to AC, if they can use it ,,.
Click to expand...
I know how you feel. I have a hard time getting rid of things too. Hell, I had to throw away a microwave at work today and could not help myself from stripping the power cord, a few microswitches, and the small bulb and socket.
If AC can use it that would be great.
 
If 2nd and 3rd (40k) and switch run on one shaft, I'm now wondering if the 40k is "broken" and it's supposed to be another 500k (or the other way around). It doesn't make sense to me to see a switch w/ two dissimilar pots on one control (in McIntosh gear). If it is McIntosh, that 137 might be a clue to the part number, i.e. the [3 digit prefix for pots-137].
 
If it were mono, the 2nd & 3rd could be dissimilar (volume and loudness?), but the first one then would be ?? on the outer shaft.

Thanks, mystery yet unsolved but great that we're trying!
 
I'm working on a couple early C, MX, and MAC units of that vintage right now, and I really thought it was one of those loudness/balance combinations. I was curious so I checked some documentation, but I really can't find a McIntosh match anywhere. Doesn't mean there isn't, but I haven't found it ...
 
Well thanks for checking Bob.

Maybe I will send it to AC, if it has value to them I can always use some parts for my MC75 restoration project (and by project I mean taking up space on my bench).
 
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