TUBE AMP 1946 worth grabbing?

[DogStone]

Hi all, It is a Packard MFG. tube amp. All tubes light and I have no reason to believe there is anything wrong with it. Unfortunatly the type of input is an old phono type so I it can not be tested it before purchase.

Any input would be greatly appreciated (any info on this type of set up would be great) easy conversion to instrument input? Would I need a phono preamp.
Thanks in advance.
A.

[aardvarkash10]

good lord... You are buying the basis of a full rebuild - in essence a chassis with two lumps of iron, because everything else should be assumed to be dead, about to die, or dangerously obsolete.

Pay next to nothing, proceed with your eyes wide open.

[astouffer]

Never fire up an old tube amp that hasn't been thoroughly tested. The filter caps are guaranteed to be bad, usually dried up and no longer filtering but one time there was a shorted filter cap. The 5U4 plates glowed nicely as the old man at the flea market demonstrated Any wax capacitor will need replaced along with any resistors out of tolerance. Wax caps tend to absorb moisture over the years and can explode in the right circumstances.

The amp likely has enough gain from the microphone inputs. I don't think anyone makes adapters for those old flat coax connectors anymore so drill a hole for a normal 1/4" phono jack.

[DogStone]

Originally Posted by astouffer

Never fire up an old tube amp that hasn't been thoroughly tested. The filter caps are guaranteed to be bad, usually dried up and no longer filtering but one time there was a shorted filter cap. The 5U4 plates glowed nicely as the old man at the flea market demonstrated Any wax capacitor will need replaced along with any resistors out of tolerance. Wax caps tend to absorb moisture over the years and can explode in the right circumstances.

The amp likely has enough gain from the microphone inputs. I don't think anyone makes adapters for those old flat coax connectors anymore so drill a hole for a normal 1/4" phono jack.

Yea, I checked around a few places to find an adapter they don't make em.
It was originally an amp for a jukebox I believe, mono 6pin coax?
Any idea what it may be worth? It looks to have been taken care of very well
for 60+ years old amp, it lights right up, iron looks good hell the chassis looks good for it's age.

Buy it cheap, have the wax caps replaced along with any resistors out of tolerance, replace coax phono with a 1/4 instrument jack.
Any idea what the tubes are from the pic? stages ect.
Thanks

[DigitalJunkie]

I'll guess PP 6V6's,and 6SN7's.Rectifier might be a 5U4.

[richwalters]

Once running don't force drive it. The o/p trannies don't have any mean time left before failure on high voltage swings, that is time and degradation of insulating materials takes place gradually over time and 60 years is a fair while for the materials of that era. The enamel quality or even silk covered wire may be quite frail and brittle.
These types of amp probably never required an earth connection. So chassis may appear statically liveish. Working with an isolating transformer and variac is a wise move.

richy

[DogStone]

Originally Posted by aardvarkash10

good lord... You are buying the basis of a full rebuild - in essence a chassis with two lumps of iron, because everything else should be assumed to be dead, about to die, or dangerously obsolete.

Pay next to nothing, proceed with your eyes wide open.

Thanks for the input, I will choose wisely!
Definetly don't plan on a full rebuild, thought I could get tips on a way to make it more safe.

Only considering it because I came across it and didn't want it to go to waste. A little project for a bass or guitar setup.

So no diamond in the rough huh? Should I pass on it, it's dirt cheap!

[DogStone]

Originally Posted by richwalters

Once running don't force drive it. The o/p trannies don't have any mean time left before failure on high voltage swings, that is time and degradation of insulating materials takes place gradually over time and 60 years is a fair while for the materials of that era. The enamel quality or even silk covered wire may be quite frail and brittle.
These types of amp probably never required an earth connection. So chassis may appear statically liveish. Working with an isolating transformer and variac is a wise move.

richy

Ok thanks, no difference if the unit had not been powered for some time meaning (decades) and was packed fresh, the guts after all these years look perfect. So sitting for this amount of time the materials would naturally be in need of replacement? All right! Thanks Richy for taking the time.
Anthony