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Goldentone 4

Model 1778

New: 22/6/07
Serial: 2157

Martin Eade writes:

I very recently came into possession of a very old goldentone amp. After looking at your website (and grouse guitars) I think this dates from about 1959-1961.

Contributing editor Ken Palethorpe comments:

What we are looking for is, same cabinet shape and layout, same rear top controls not stepped down but let in, reference to 12PX (specifics which RM appear to only use when describing an up market feature) FOUR inputs, Vibrato between 10 and 20 watts.

OK cabinet shape and layout suggest early model pre 64. Very early RM badge. The linked letter Goldentone name was used up till around 64 on some models. The cabinet style was still used on the 1756 15 watt Soloist in 1962/3 but now three inputs (which gut feel says replaced the mid 10-20 watt like yours).

My best guess Model 1778 1961-2 It has the early RM badge not the Shield shaped enamel badge we see on the Soloist in 62. Certainly one of the early ones.

I believe it is a 1778 (see Model Listing) from 1961/2

Details are:
Rated as 17 watts, 4 inputs, 2 x 12AX7, 1 EF86 preamp, two 6BQ5 and 1 x vibrato 6CG7. 1 12PX high quality speaker. Separate bass and treble controls two volume, separate intensity and speed for vibrato and 9 feet of cable on the foot switch. (Roly someone sent through a similar request a little while ago which we identified as a 1776 10 watt and they measured the footswitch cord as 9 feet!) This amp has same shape same panel layout and appears in the 1961/2 RM catalogue.

The only other one close is the 1776 which is 10 watt which has 12AX- EL34-6AU6 for vibrato. 12 inch “High quality Rola”? BUT it is only TWO inputs.

Note both say they have speaker fuses?

Roly how does this fit technically??

It doesn't. It's a good idea in a solid-state amp but it's a singularly bad idea in a valve amp unless you want to save the speaker at the expense of the output transformer, and it's unlikely to save the speaker anyway.

Any valve amp with a fuse in the actual speaker circuit should have it wired out/bridged so the speaker circuit cannot be broken. The right place for fuses are in the mains infeed, and in the HT supply - never in the speaker circuit in a valve amp. - rr

Source: Martin Eade

Serial 2208

New: 3/12/06
Update: 13/1/07

This little lovely little blue combo doesn't have a name yet, so we'll just have to call it “2208”.

Two inputs, pilot light, volume, tone; power switch on rear

L to R; 6X4 rectifier, 12AX7 preamp, and ~~6M5(?)~~ 6BQ5 output

The underchassis is an excellent example of an early 1960's chassis. The style of resistor, the black-drop coupling caps, yellow electros which I think were a British import, wide-spaced tagboard, and laminated phenolic connectors are all typical of the early 60's.

Note the Rola 8MX speaker, an 8-inch unit with a secondary co-axial whizzer cone denoted by the “X” for “extended” range.

Somewhere in the mid-60's transformer manufacturer A+R Sonar in Lexton Rd, Box Hill, Melbourne, started importing components from Japan in a serious way and Elna electros became the common fit. They also introduced greencaps and Sato knobs (see Electravox, Savage)

Prior to that component supply was either domestically manufactured behind tariff barriers, or was imported either from the Europe and the “mother country”, Britian, or increasingly from the USA, capacitors in particular.

Sonar were very proud of the fact that they had opened a buying office in Japan, and were certainly way ahead of their time, and despite import restrictions the cost advantage of importing from Asia and the quality of the components ensured their wide adoption and A+R Sonar's success.

A+R started out as a transformer manufacturer and many of their transformers can be found in classic Aussie valve amps, particularly those built in Melbourne. In fact the make of transformer fitted to an amp gives a strong clue to its city where it was built.

Aside: one of A+R's transformer designs was so successful that its type number has become a generic - the 2155 multi-tap low voltage tranny is no longer made in Australia, but you will still find an identical “2155” in most catalogues.

Source: Evan Lorden

Rare suitcase combos

New: 7/4/07

Source: Owen Mcguire

New: 3/12/06

An MSP 6x9-inch eliptical speaker

The silver block left of centre is an early form of bridge rectifier

The circuit for this amplifier, all thanks to Richard D.

Mystery solved
New: 11/4/07
Peter Hutchison writes;

Just thought I would point out since the posting of the “Rare Suitcase Combo” 3/12/06 by Richard [D] its obvious that the two Goldie mystery amps are in fact a suitcase combo without the suitcase!

Interesting to note that the knobs are the same design (kinda like a radar screen) but available in black or white.

Can you tell us anything about this model?

Source: Peter Hutchison

Source: Neil Rote, Grouse Guitars

The look of both of these suggest to me that they are re-packages of the chassis from the orginal case. -rr

Broadway

New: 2/7/06

Another early suitcase type, this time with the original packaging. Two inputs, volume and tone, and a small red bezel pilot light in the middle.

Source: Music Swap Shop

Baby Goldentone combo.
Price $A13
One 6GW8
two inputs,
volume and tone knobs
Rola 6-inch alnico speaker

Source: Stuart Kent, ANZamp Sep 4, 2001
Click on image to see full size

Source: e-bay 8/05

Click for full size 180kb jpg
Source: Ken Palethorpe

Given to me by my Mum a very long time ago! This gorgeous little amp needs to find a new home with a loving and appreciative collector.
I really don't know how old this amp is. My guess is 1950s. Fitted with a Rola speaker and 6GW8 Hitachi valve, it sounds smooth and rich - and overdrives with a very sweet purr.
Case, grill and Bakelite knobs are all in excellent condition.