Vintage Audio Activities...

[bobins]

Unfortunately, I've never seen or heard this particular one working, but considering it's current state, that's not surprising

[Peter.N.]

Mine wasn't quite as big as that. Nice pair of KT66's

Peter

[myglaren]

A bit bigger than my first amp - a Philips 2½A valve amplifier. Had to be operated with the top off so that the RH channel valve could receive a finger flick to start it. About 8"x4"x4".

[white exec]

Where was that rack monster installed, Bobins?

[bobins]

The old central Govt. War HQ, though I think it predates that !

[white exec]

So - all part of a thermionic nuclear end to life as we knew it.
I wonder which eight gramophone records would have been standing by?

[bobins]

The PA system associated with the War HQ is a much much smaller bit of kit - it's a tape based one that sits on its own on a shelf. That hasn't worked for years either, but I did get to hear it work years ago, and even then it sounded decidedly wonky !

I've got a photo of some of the gramophone records from the old PA system somewhere. If I can find the pics I'll post them up later.

[CitroJim]

As I said on your Instagram feed, that looks like a main line battle tank should be bolted to it!

I think the Grampian is possibly tougher and better armoured than the average tank

Bobins, interesting stuff Thanks for posting it

Grampian, not heard that name for years. In the late 70's I worked in a factory which had Grampian PA throughout, ancient even then but wholly reliable.

It certainly was some very good kit Richard and always highly respected...

Clarke & Smith held sway in schools right up to the '70s, most famously for LW/MW (and later FM) radio receivers, with 100v line output, which was conduit-routed to all classrooms.

Another very famous company and highly respected Chris... Their kit is very sought-after by collectors these days.

All of us of a certain age remember it from our schooldays - maybe that's the reason so many have such an affection for it

[bobins]

Here's the four speed gramophone player that would have entertained the masses. You can choose from 16, 33, 45, 78 rpm speeds.

PA gramophone - own work

And the last few of the records that I know of that were played on the PA system. You'd just have to hope that whoever chose the records wasn't a Val Doonican fan

Old records - own work

[CitroJim]

Here's the four speed gramophone player that would have entertained the masses. You can choose from 16, 33, 45, 78 rpm speeds.

That record deck looks very familiar Bobins A BSR? As used in Dansettte and similar record players and radiograms of the period...

Those broken records are 78s I guess... Hope you turned the stylus over before playing them

[bobins]

Apparently it's a BSR UA14.
I'll try and track down those records next time

[Peter.N.]

I remember those.

Peter

[CitroJim]

I remember those.

So do I I have serviced many and swapped a lot of stylii and cartridges in them Happy days...

[Peter.N.]

They used to bounce a lot when the records dropped Jim, needed some dampers.

Peter

[bobins]

Jim - a nice little restoration job for you and Peter.......

Moldy bits 1 - own work

Moldy bits 2 - own work