Okay, so I bought this this morning. It is an old console that says Ambassador. That's all it says, no model number nothing. Who has more information or has seen these before? I paid $5 for it, so I am hoping it was worth it.
What do I HAVE?
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ferninando
Lunatic Member
6BQ5 PP power amp will sound good. do a refurb first, all new caps and resistors. easy job.
dont know hoo makes it. maybe Admiral, philco, ???
amp alone is $150 or there abouts. dont matter hoo makes it.
not a great powerhouse but adequate for good music. or bad if you like it.
It wont work without the tube.
dont know hoo makes it. maybe Admiral, philco, ???
amp alone is $150 or there abouts. dont matter hoo makes it.
not a great powerhouse but adequate for good music. or bad if you like it.
It wont work without the tube.
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So what are my next steps?
I guess the first thing I should do is clean it up, although I am tempted to plug it in without doing it to see what happens. Clearly it hasn't been used in awhile. So clean the amp, then the FM/AM and then the record player? It will be impossible to find a needle for that won't it?
I guess the first thing I should do is clean it up, although I am tempted to plug it in without doing it to see what happens. Clearly it hasn't been used in awhile. So clean the amp, then the FM/AM and then the record player? It will be impossible to find a needle for that won't it?
ldatlof
We are all steak
It looks like you are missing a 6BQ5 tube. If so then it is PP and will put out 15wpc which is very good if you have effeicient spaekers. You did well for $5.
It is hard to tell but do the 6BQ5s have raised seams at the top? If they do they are Mullards and you have really scored.
It is hard to tell but do the 6BQ5s have raised seams at the top? If they do they are Mullards and you have really scored.
janikphoto
Lunatic Member
Yeah, you made your money and then some, but that aspect belongs in the dollars & sense section. It looks like real easy piece to repair and enjoy or to pull and use as a stand-alone amp.
My Plans
I plan on enjoying it, obviously the cabinet is in rough shape, but the speakers are in good shape. I have to believe that they have been replaced. There was a tube rolling around in the top of the case, I am sure that is where it belongs. I am not really concerned of it's value, just not sure who makes anything on it, or who originally made it. Is it a system that you mixed and matched components on? I only recently got into vintage solid state, and now I need to step back a decade or so. How old is it? I don't think I would ever try to sell anything out of it, just trying to get a sense of the history.
I plan on enjoying it, obviously the cabinet is in rough shape, but the speakers are in good shape. I have to believe that they have been replaced. There was a tube rolling around in the top of the case, I am sure that is where it belongs. I am not really concerned of it's value, just not sure who makes anything on it, or who originally made it. Is it a system that you mixed and matched components on? I only recently got into vintage solid state, and now I need to step back a decade or so. How old is it? I don't think I would ever try to sell anything out of it, just trying to get a sense of the history.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
I am thinking that "Ambassador" was a house brand name... but I cannot remember what store chain! :-(
Here's a short list, off the top of my head; maybe this'll stimulate some long-dormant neuronal network
Truetone = Western Auto
Bradford = W.T. Grants
Silvertone = Sears
Signature = Montgomery Wards
XAM = E.J. Korvettes
Did G.C. Murphy's have a house brand? Or S.S. Kresge (the precursor to... K-Mart)?
Here's a short list, off the top of my head; maybe this'll stimulate some long-dormant neuronal network
Truetone = Western Auto
Bradford = W.T. Grants
Silvertone = Sears
Signature = Montgomery Wards
XAM = E.J. Korvettes
Did G.C. Murphy's have a house brand? Or S.S. Kresge (the precursor to... K-Mart)?
They appear to be raised seams, Made in Austria, say Ultratone on them.
Trio
Super Member
The first stereo I cut my teeth on as a kid was an Ambassador, Same turntable platter too. although the one I had was a lower level model as it had 50C5's in push pull. I do not believe it was a house brand but rather a lower price point system made available to any chain store or indvidual store or catalog that wanted a lower price point system. Lafayette was that way. Ambassador did exist back far enough to be included in volume 17 of the Rider manuals (an AA5).
It is just one of those low production orphans and likely was a mail order catalog piece if you are distance from the middle of the continent of NA..
Plus Wells Gardner, Arvin and Balkeit made radios and stereos for other companies as well under contract and put that companies name on it. Most lasted into the 1960's.
But to add to the list of brand names that were store brands,:
Wards also had Airline
It is just one of those low production orphans and likely was a mail order catalog piece if you are distance from the middle of the continent of NA..
Plus Wells Gardner, Arvin and Balkeit made radios and stereos for other companies as well under contract and put that companies name on it. Most lasted into the 1960's.
But to add to the list of brand names that were store brands,:
Wards also had Airline
On the VERY bottom of the Tube, it has a 7 etched in the glass. Printed on the Glass is rx3 a9d in black, and then 038 in white. I REALLY have no idea what I am doing or looking for.
I got it at a historical society auction and I am as near to Canada as possible and in the furthest east point of the US.
