Western Electric theater amplifiers; how to hook them up?

[Micah McDowell]

Hello all, new here.

I just came across a pair of IPC (Western Electric design) AM-1001 power amps. They've been dormant since the mid 1980s and I'm itching to give them a try. However, all my experience with tube amps has been with guitar gear and these are a different animal. It's a bit over my head to wire them up.

Each amp has a terminal strip with these positions:
Input
GND
RVC (four terminals)
FIL (two terminals)
OUTPUT
PLATE
MON+

In addition, they have the AC/common power leads. How would one wire this to a modern preamp output and a loudspeaker? I have the matching crossover network but I'll probably just hook to a modern full range speaker for now. Thanks all!

 

[Micah McDowell]

Here's some pictures of what I'm talking about if that helps...

 

[Pano]

Thanks for the pic. Those amps are highly coveted, you have a nice find!
There should be someone here who can help. You'll want to power those up slowly, like with a variac or light bulb in series trick.

I'm very curious as to why the plate and filament are brought out to panel connections. Perhaps to power the preamp?

 

[Micah McDowell]

Yep, was planning on using a Variac... these were in a theater that closed in 1986, so they've been sitting at least that long.

I was wondering if those plate/fil connections were for the preamp. Maybe they are superfluous for using the amps by themselves? A bit out of my realm of experience. Thanks!

 

[Pano]

You're welcome. If you don't get an answer here (not likely) then we can try over on the Altec forum.
It's a little scary to think that the B+ voltage could be sitting there on the a screw terminal.

 

[martyh]

RVC is remote volume control, jumper 1-2 and 3-4
Connect input + to input and – to ground
Connect speaker between output and ground
Mon + and plate are DC and Fil is 6.3Vac for other parts of the system

Look here for the manual and schematic under C60 sound system
Film-Tech
Note the networks on the feedback loop for adjusting HF and LF

 

[Trout]

Here's some pictures of what I'm talking about if that helps...

I hope you are going to replace that gassed tube before powering up. 😱

 

[Pano]

Excellent! Here is a direct link to the manual:
http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/manuals/SIMPLEXC60.pdf
The schematic appears on page 35.

 

[Zen Mod]

yup - that most left tube is dude

 

[Pano]

What's new set of matched 6L6? About $50?

 

[Micah McDowell]

RVC is remote volume control, jumper 1-2 and 3-4
Connect input + to input and – to ground
Connect speaker between output and ground
Mon + and plate are DC and Fil is 6.3Vac for other parts of the system

Look here for the manual and schematic under C60 sound system
Film-Tech
Note the networks on the feedback loop for adjusting HF and LF

Just what I needed to know... thanks a million, martyh!

I do have some more tubes; can probably mix and match to get something that works.

 

[Micah McDowell]

Just an update... got one amp running fairly well, the other has some issues. I've learned a lot about these old beasts in the process. Thanks all!

 

[bear]

a couple just went on ebay, you might look at the completed auctions...

let us know how they sound...

_-_-bear

 

[Zen Mod]

just forgot to say

I have perfect place for hooking them up

 

[GloBug]

Man would I love to have those.

Restored and put on eBay could sure fund a lot of projects.

Even better if your flush with cash cause you can keep them!

 

[ke4mcl]

thanks for the link to the manuals guys. i have 5 of those myself i havent messed with yet. 4 seem complete and one is in parts.

 

[multi]

I have rebuilt lots of Western electric PP amps for use as high fi amps.
i would have been better off selling them on Ebay and using the proceeds to buy sowter out put transformers. The western electric outs are not in the same class as Sowter, but they still make a very good amp.
I got mine when no one wanted the push pull amps. My amps had 4X kt66.
Sold the 300B Se amps for a fortune to japan
About to make two pp x 4, El34 triode connected amp with two spare WE out put transformers
Phil

 

[rpwillys]

Amp hook up

Hi, Just joined after reading this article. Micah did you have any luck hooking up this amp? I have the same amp. Just got it and including the entire cabinet with power supply and speaker network. Will this amp work with a common hi fi mono preamp and 8ohm speakers? Don't want smoke rolling out of anything! Just real curious! My amp powered up fine and the tube guages read fine. So I guess If someone could help me out on the correct wiring for home use then I would greatly appreciate that! Also is this amp even worth messing with? Thanks so much! Rick

 

[speaker]

I've had several sets of these over the years. Likely every drive-in in New England was running them at some point. They are one of my favorites because they are... so easy to dump. multi is on the right track, use the proceeds to get something superb.