DOES anyone remember ACOUSTEC?

[gain-wire]

Good evening to all of you. I write this message in the hopes that someone has a knowledge of a long-forgotten company by the name of ACOUSTEC. There is no "H" at the end, tis simply Acoustec. I am searching for any information, with the exception of referrals to Stereo Review, which I already have, but any brochures, catalogs, review paper and the like would be wonderful. Even word of mouth, or in this case word of "electronic ink" would even be appreciated.
Maybe are you, or know of someone, who has once worked for this company? If you have I politely summon your response.

Knowing all too well that this company has fallen into the abyss of remembrance, I only expect a select few to be able to answer. I seem to have the unfortunate habit of asking the wherabouts of now defunct societies or components, sadly my demand for information concerning motorola transistors has been left unanswered. DEC3000, anybody?
Should the occasion arise, I would even consider the purchase of any piece of equipment from Acoustec.

Their "add-an-amplifier" amplifier kit is of particular interest to me.

With much gratitude and reconnaissance,

Baron of Hull,
Solid Estate
Wartonbury-on-Heath,
Germania

[Nat Eddy]

I believe Acoustec was one of the first (if not the first) maker of completely solid state audio components. That would suggest that they might have used germanium transistors, which I have heard were not as robust as the later silicon ones, and so perhaps the reason they have disappeared is that they all blew up. I believe that the AR reciever originally was made with germanium transistors and they were pretty unreliable. Recently I picked up a 60s Altec reciever which boasted of being the first all silicon transistor reciever so perhaps the argument is correct.
To my eye, the pictures I've seen of Acoustec equipment suggests that they were generally very handsome pieces.

[gain-wire]

M'yes, indeed they were. Although I am greatful for your prompt reply, and you provided insight into their technology, I do hope I shall have the occasion to actually see a real Acoustec device. I shall rather like to give it an audition.
OK i'll cut the pompous english stereotype here I'm making this a BOUNTY HUNT for Acoustec equipment. The first to get me any Acoustec amplifier wins a great prize: an original Motorola RTL gate still in it's package from 1968. Bet noone can resist that.

Except, sadly, me.

thanks Nat Eddy!

[NanoFrog]

What?!? And give up that precious little piece of electronic history? Are you insane?!

[gain-wire]

Oh, not to worry, I got tons if 'em. Probably enough to repair the Apollo 11 computer, should it be necessary.
Also have PDP-8 boards, TI transistors in original "match" packs, oh what else...
Bogen amplifier, Dukane PA amplifier. Pair of Boston Acoustics A100, need new surrounds.
Hey, I might as well advertise while I can...

Vintage stuff rocks.

Speaking of Apollo's computer, anyone out there have some schematics for that? Just curious.

[NanoFrog]

Nothing on the Apollo computer. Sorry.

Nice stash though!

[gain-wire]

Thanks, there's alot more including Tek 543A, another with nuvistors, unfortunately my parent's place is where is I "stash" most of my stash because there ain't no room in 1 bedoroom appart.

I wonder how much an abandonned missile silo costs?

[NanoFrog]

Find the right government auction, and bid low. You'd be surprised!

I remember an article in some magazine (This Old House?), where a couple got a silo cheap, and converted it into a really nice home. They even had space to convert still.

[kevinkr]

"Oh, not to worry, I got tons if 'em. Probably enough to repair the Apollo 11 computer"


A little off topic perhaps, but you can build a modernized clone of the original Apollo guidance computer if you so desire.. Others have done it:

http://klabs.org/history/build_agc/

Actually looks kind of cool, downloaded and read the entire article several years ago...

Thank you Nasa..

[d to the g]

I work in the building where the Apollo computers were developed. We call it "the bomb shelter", as it's got a 20ft thick floating concrete slab in the basement and no windows on the first two floors.