Reunited w/ Old Friend... (Tube Amp content)

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So I came across my old Eico HF-87 amp while going through some items.

EicoHF87.jpg

Not my photo there, but you can see the EL34 tubes all Aglow.

eico_hf87_amplifier.jpg

Thanks to 'Canuck Audio Mart' for the close-up of the screen-print.  I found it languishing away in my Dad's stash of old audio Gear and hauled it up to Montrêality for a Groovy college dorm audio system. I ran a AIWA HSF-1 cassette deck through it into (one) Vintage speaker.

vintage-eico-hf87.jpg

Mine looks more like that foto above, with its 'cage' intact.  It was stored in a Vintage Molson Canadian Beer Case, made of triple-wall cardboard from Canada. I ran it from 1982 to 1987 or so. 

So not having been run in aboot 30 years, I imagine all those big Caps/Cans are a bit grainy and dried out.  I suppose I'll put it on a Variac and gently warm it up. 

Probably about due for a minor overhaul, yet I've been pleasantly surprised by old Tube gear over time.

Of course I've also allowed the Magic Smoke to escape a few times, which is Stinky surprise

Just for kicks, I looked up the Eico HF-87 on the eBanes and such.

Even without actually functioning, they are considered a worthy commodity.

Of course people re-furb and hot-rod them like any Tube gear, or '57 Studebaker.

Mine has all the original Stuff and probably runs without catching on Fire.

I've also got an Eico HF-60, which is a Mono Tube amp, but that's got some Mutant transformer mod. 

But if any Zoners run across the Eico stuff in the junque shoppe, grab it !!!

The HF-81 is considered the Ultra Groovy enlightened

Eico, eico

 

My fiends father buys up old tubes from universities and schools and resells them

My first love's father either sold or distributed tubes. The guy made millions in the 60s-80s.

Who knew?

I distribute electronics and don't discriminate against tubes.

ize hassez teh tubes, and is can hass....

So I'm relatively certain Dad got these old Hi-Fi items from 'Uncle Nick' back in the '60's & '70's. He was a techie/salesman/installer type Dude. 

Uncle Nick passed away maybe 1983-1984 and Dad went to his place to remove unwanted items at the request of remaining Wives/Family.

I recall he brought home some interesting Speakers & PA Amps of questionable value and said "He had a lot of old Tubes, but who needs that stuff."

Good Golly, Miss Molly.  I bet Uncle Nick had quite the stash of vintage Telefunken, Mullard and who knows what?

Play your guitar thru that bad boy!  

Kimock says one of his favorite tone producers is the tube amp out of a Bell and Howell film projector. 

Damn just read the wattage.  Dual 35 watts?  Like running two Deluxes in stereo.

Get  FYD or Sarno Jerry style preamp and a  JBL (or Weber cali ceramic) and you can join a Dead cover band,

My main stereo is powered by one of these bad boys:

https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=252846488088&lpid=82&&&ul_noapp=true&chn=ps

Also have the matching pre-amp, both are "hybrid tube" (tube for low end, electronic for hi end)

These power a pair of ADS speakers w/dual 12" woofers.

Sounds great but need to turn them on 24/7 for "conditioned" power but they double my electric bill ($150 instead of $75) plus generate a TON of heat in the summer, so last few years they only get turned on for "special occasions"

I have a "Pilotone" AA-904 which is a 30 Watt monoblock amp that I use for guitar with various pedals for preamp functions.

No JBL @-120 speakers or Hard Trucker cabinet, but the thing sounds wonderful with just any old speaker and whatever Tube Screamer clone (I like the Maxon 808).

Looks something like this, apologies for the crappy foto I borrowed from radiomuseum.

904.jpg

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pilot_aa_904aa90.html

Kinda tough to find much info on these Pilot amps, but they are out there and a lot of Audio freaks & Guitar pickers are fond. The boss was actually a WWII Air Force pilot.

That one I plugged in (outdoors) and let it warm up a while before attempting any signal input. It was fine!  Now, some years later, I've learned of the Variac but still don't own one.

 

oops - double post

904.jpg

 

Thanks for the tip Firebird. I'll keep my Sanford & Son feelers sharp for old B&H projectors.  I've got some awful 60's console stereo that is constructed like a battleship and has some tube amps in it. Forget if it's a Zenith  or what.

I don't have a Variac either but since I have two late sixties Fenders I am interested. 

Being drawn to the Brownie pedal that is used for voltage variance up to 50 w.  Cool because the Vibrolux is 35 and the Bassman is 50.