RARE & BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF VINTAGE MONOBLOCK TUBE AMPLIFIERS AMPS - ONE-OF-A-KIND!
- Condition: Used
- Price: 296.34 EUR
- Status: sold
- Item number: 256669850172
- Bids: 25
- Seller: jaymalkin (512|100.0%)
- Seller information: non commercial
- Item location: Wheat Ridge, Colorado
- Ships to: US
- Shipping: 39,99 EUR
- on EBAY
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Description
A description of this rare, unique, and special pair of vintage monoblock tube amplifiers is provided below after the following photos: Up for auction is one of the most interesting, unusual, and unique pairs of tube amplifier monoblocks that I have ever seen. The pair of amps being sold in this auction is really “one-of-a-kind”. Please see the many photos of this pair of amps that I have provided. In addition, please check out this description very carefully which provides many details about this very unusual pair of amps which would make an incredible addition to any vintage tube amp collection. ***DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AMPLIFIERS *** I purchased this pair of tube amps at the estate sale of a man who was very active in vintage electronics and enjoyed taking various amps and mounting them on beautiful decorative platforms to create true works of art. I spoke to the son of the man who provided me some information about the amps being sold in this auction. Both of these amps were made by Magnavox in the late 1950s. According to what I was told, one of the amps was used in a “main” unit with a turntable and various speakers, while the other amp was used in a separate speaker unit which was designed for use with (and connected to) the main unit in order to produce a stereo system. I actually saw the empty cabinets from the main unit and the separate speaker unit in the basement at the estate sale. Both of the amps are very similar to each other as discussed throughout this description but, written in black ink with a pen on the underside of one amp is “MAG 151AA” and written in black ink with a pen on the underside of the other amp is “MAG 151BB”. From what I’ve read on-line and based on what I was told at the estate sale, the 151BB amp was used in the main unit, with the 151AA amp being used in the separate speaker unit. According to what I read and was told, the 151AA amp was somehow connected to the 151BB amp, with the 151AA amp being wired/configured so that the 151AA amp would come on when the 151BB amp was turned on. However (and this is important), please note that I cannot guarantee the correctness of the above-listed information and the other information in this paragraph (or any other information about the amps). I can only describe what I was told at the estate sale and what I read on-line which was very limited in scope. I also cannot guarantee that the above-listed model numbers are correct. In this regard, I will leave all issues involving the pair of amps being sold in this auction to be researched, verified, and assessed by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. Both of the amps in the pair being sold in this auction are in very nice cosmetic condition and have a fantastic retro look to them. They also have a very distinctive long and thin shape. Furthermore, the amps are very compact in design and have a really unique appearance. Check out the photo of the amps next to a drinking cup which shows their unique shape and compact design (cup not included). Both amps do have some discolored areas, smudges, scuffs, scratches, bends, scrapes, marks, stains, dings, dents, corrosion, spots, swirls, etc. on them from age, use, etc. The power transformers look nice, too although it appears that the black paint on them (one more than the other) may have been touched-up in the past using a black marker or other source of black ink. However, I don’t know if this is correct or not since I don’t have any detailed historical information regarding these amps. Located on the top surface of the each amp is a large power transformer as noted above and an output transformer, with the output transformers both being shiny and clean-looking. There are also various tube sockets on the chassis of each amp, with all of the sockets (as well as the output transformers) being riveted in place on the chassis which would appear to suggest that they are all original although I don’t really know if they are actually original and if all of the amps’ other parts and components are original. Accordingly, I will leave all issues involving the originality of both amps, their parts, tubes, sockets, transformers, power cords/plugs, and all of their other components to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert and I cannot make any warranties or guarantees regarding the originality thereof. As noted further below, I didn’t have any way to test these amps since they had already been removed from the above-listed cabinets when I bought them. Both amps and all of their parts, tubes, sockets, transformers, power cords/plugs and all of their other components are therefore being sold untested. There does not appear to be any On/Off switch on these amps (at least I couldn’t find one) which is fairly common regarding amps removed from console cabinets. Accordingly, the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert will need to provide On/Off switches if needed and/or desired. Likewise both amps don’t have any pilot lights (I don’t know if they ever had such pilot lights originally). Accordingly, the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert will need to provide such lights if needed and/or desired. I have not inspected or tested the power cords/plugs used by both amps (or any of the other components and parts used by the amps, as well as the amps as a whole). I will therefore leave an assessment of the power cords/plugs, the amps’ other components, tubes, sockets, transformers, resistors, capacitors, parts, and the amps as a whole to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. Since I am selling this unique pair of amps for non-operational display purposes only, I will leave everything associated with both amps (including the power cords/plugs) unchanged just as I purchased it/them at the estate sale and I will leave any changes, modifications, alterations, repairs, inspections, assessments, replacementsof any parts/components, additions of any parts/components, subtractions of any parts/components, updates, upgrades, expansions, revisions, replacements of any tubes, replacements of the power cord/plugs, etc. to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. As noted above, one amp has “MAG 151AA” written on it, while the other amp has “MAG 151BB” written on it. These amps are very similar and look nearly identical. However, there are some differences. Both amps use the following tubes which are included with the amps and came with them when I bought them (all of the tubes are “MAGNAVOX” brand): (A) 6AQ5; (B) 6AQ5; and (C) 12AX7. I read on-line that 6AQ5 tubes have great tone quality and are quite similar in many respects to 6V6 tubes but are much smaller and more compact. Also, 6AQ5 tubes are quite plentiful and very inexpensive from what I saw on-line. However, I don’t really know if this information involving 6AQ5 tubes is correct or not and I will leave an overview of such information to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. In addition, each amp uses a rectifier tube. In the amp marked “151AA”, the rectifier tube that was in the amp when I purchased it is a 6X5GT, while the rectifier tube that was in the amp marked “151BB” when I bought it is a 5Y3GT. Both rectifier tubes have the “MAGNAVOX” name on them. I did view a schematic on-line which showed the 151AA amp having a 6X5GT tube in it. I could not find a schematic for the 151BB amp. However, I don’t know if the schematic that I located for the 151AA amp is correct and accurate and, accordingly, I don’t know if the above-listed rectifier tubes are the correct ones for both of these amps. In addition, I don’t know if the other tubes are the correct ones for these amps. I also don’t know for sure which tubes go in which sockets. Likewise, it appears that there are some wiring differences between both amps although I don’t really know if this is correct or not. In this regard, it is important to note that I cannot guarantee the correctness of any and all information provided in this description regarding the tubes in both amps, the placement of the tubes in the sockets as shown in the photos, and the wiring used by both amps. I will therefore leave all issues involving the tubes, wiring, power cords/plugs, and the other components/elements/electronics used in both amps to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert to assess, verify, and analyze. I did not test any of the above-listed tubes and I therefore do not know if they are good or not. Since I don’t know how old these tubes are and whether they are original or not (they may all be original since they are all “MAGNAVOX” brand although I don’t really know), the Buyer of these amps should assume that one or more or all of the tubes will need to be replaced, etc. I also did not check the tube sockets and I likewise cannot warrant or guarantee that they are good, original, and operational (although they are all riveted in place as noted above which would suggest that they are original although I don’t really know). I did notice that there is a “line” on the surface of the 12AX7 socket on the 151AA amp. This appears to be a scratch (possibly made during production) and I don’t believe that it is a crack. Nonetheless, I can’t guarantee that it is not a crack and I will leave an overview of it to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. I should note that the 12AX7 tube does fit snugly in this socket. Accordingly and as stated above, I will leave all of the issues involving the tubes (whether the tubes are good, whether the sockets are good, what sockets the tubes should be in, etc.) to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. Also, I have no idea if the wiring in both amps is correct or good and I don’t know anything about the output and power transformers used by the amps (if they are good, correct, original, functional, etc.), as well as the other electronic components associated with the amps and, as stated above, I will leave an assessment of all of these items (and everything else regarding both amps) to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. Another interesting point of information is the fact that both amps have substantially identical Serial Nos. stamped into the top surface of both amps as shown in the photos. Except for the last number, both Serial Nos. are the same, with the 151AA amp having Serial No. 635367-2 on it and the 151BB amp having Serial No. 635367-4 on it. Regarding the electronic components used by both amps, I have provided underside views of the amps in the photos which shows various components, parts, wires, etc. I have no idea if any work has been done on these amps in the past and if the components, parts, wires, sockets, transformers, capacitors, resistors, tubes, power cords/plugs, etc. are correct, original, appropriate, and proper for these amps, if they are correctly wired/installed, etc. and this is also something that I will leave for the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert to assess. As shown in the photos, both amps have various additional items mounted to the outside of the amps. On one side of each amp there is a single jack. On the same side where the jack is located, there is a small socket and, on the 151AA amp there is also a large metal structure with 2 prongs in it next to the small socket (the 151BB amp does not have this particular structure). However, on the 151BB amp, there is a large round socket with multiple openings in it which is not present on the 151AA amp. On the top surface of both amps, there is a small screw-type terminal board with 3 screws and some kind of moveable metal piece attached to the screws. The screws on each terminal board are labelled “2”, “1”, and “G”. I don’t know if these jacks, sockets, and terminal boards/screws/metal pieces are original, functional, correct for these amps, etc. and I will leave an assessment of these items as well as all of the other parts, components, tubes, transformers, sockets, wires, power cords/plugs, etc. used by both amps to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. As noted above, both amps have a really unique, attractive, and clean appearance. I’ve never seen any others like them. Even more attractive and interesting is the fact that both amps are mounted to a really beautiful wooden board which has a fantastic color and rich appearance. Also, secured to the top surface of the wooden board between both amps are 4 beautiful and shiny circular metal decorative disks. I’m not sure how these disks are attached (possibly by using an adhesive but I don’t really know). These metal disks give the amps and wooden board a very special, unique, and elegant appearance as the photos show. On the bottom of the wooden board, there are 4 felt pads as the photo show. Finally, in front of the amps and secured to the board is a beautiful “MAGNAVOX” name-badge. I’m not sure how the badge is attached (possibly by using an adhesive but I don’t really know). This badge has a fantastic look to it. The combination of the shiny and clean amps, the “MAGNAVOX” name-badge, and the shiny metal disks really create a unique, beautiful, and very unusual appearance which is like nothing that I’ve ever seen. In summary, the pair of tube amps being sold in this auction along with the beautiful wooden board, the “MAGNAVOX” name-badge, and the shiny metal disks is something quite special and, as stated above, is truly “one-of-kind”. The entire unit is fantastic-looking and a great piece of vintage audio equipment. Now is your chance to have something that is totally unique and very rare which, in my view, would be a really fun item to own and a great addition to any vintage tube amp collection. ***TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AUCTION*** **Very Important Information – Please read carefully before you bid**: Regarding the pair of tube amps being sold in this auction, this is an estate sale item and I honestly don’t know anything about how they work, whether they work, whether their internal and external wiring is correct and good, whether their components, tubes, transformers, power cords/plugs, and parts are correct and good, and whether the amps are complete. I have not done anything to these amps and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components and I know nothing about their condition. The above-described amps may have been worked on, repaired, had parts replaced/repaired, had parts added/subtracted, and/or been modified by someone else in the past, but I don’t know whether this is true or not. Likewise, I have not plugged in and have not tested the amps being sold in this auction and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components, with all of these items and the above-mentioned pair of amps as a whole being sold untested just as I purchased it/them at the estate sale. In this regard, I have done nothing to these amps and I have not inspected them (or any of their parts/tubes/transformers/components/power cords/plugs, etc.) internally or externally. In addition, please note that this auction is for a pair of amps (a total of 2 amps) mounted on a wooden board with the metal disks and name-badge secured thereto as noted above. Nothing else is included. Please also note: The equipment being sold in this auction (including but not limited to both amps and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components) is being sold entirely as a non-operative display item only. Since these amps are both untested, vintage estate sale items, the Buyer of this equipment should therefore assume that both amps are going to need at least some work, parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, replacement/repair of the jacks, sockets, and terminal boards/screws, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, power transformer replacement/repair, output transformer replacement/repair, replacement/repair of the electronic components, replacement of the power cords/plugs, additional parts, tubes, sockets, resistors, jacks, receptacles, capacitors, On/Off switches, bottom plates, etc. However, I do not know how much work, parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, replacement/repair of the jacks, sockets, and terminal boards/screws, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, power transformer replacement/repair, output transformer replacement/repair, replacement/repair of the electronic components, replacement of the power cords/plugs, additional parts, tubes, sockets, resistors, jacks, receptacles, capacitors, On/Off switches, bottom plates, etc. would be needed to get everything operating properly in the above-listed equipment and I will leave this up to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. I know nothing more about the amps being sold in this auction (and everything associated with them) and, accordingly, all of these items (both amps and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components) are again being sold for non-operational display purposes only with no guarantees or warranties of any kind. Please also note that, because both amps came out of console cabinets, they do not have a bottom plate, a cabinet, or a top cover/cage which, if desired and/or needed, the Buyer will need to provide. Likewise, these amps do not have a pilot light, tube shields, an On/Off switch, a fuse, a fuse holder, etc. which, if desired and/or needed, the Buyer will need to provide. Furthermore, no other items such as instructions, schematics, boxes, cartons, spare parts/tubes/wires/transformers/bulbs, or any other items are included with these amps. Likewise, it does not appear that there is any fuse in either of the amps being sold in this auction (it does not seem that there was ever one since there does not appear to be any fuse-holder, etc. in these amps although I don’t know if this is correct or not) and I can’t tell if the amps currently have a fuse/fuse-holder or if they ever had one. In this regard, I will leave it up to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert to assess the fuse-issue, to determine whether or not one or more fuses are needed and/or desired in the amps, and to add one or more fuses to the amps if needed and/or desired as again determined by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. I will leave any changes, modifications, repairs, inspections, assessments, tests, replacements of any parts, upgrades, corrections, rewiring, additions of any parts, subtractions of any parts, expansions, revisions, alterations, etc. to the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. As noted above, since these amps are both being sold entirely as non-operative display items, the Buyer will be receiving both amps in the exact condition that they were in when I purchased them at the estate sale and, in this regard, I have done nothing to them as noted above. Shipping Information: The amps associated with this auction will be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service and I will not ship them using any other carrier. These amps as mounted to the wooden board are quite heavy which is a factor regarding the shipping cost. However, I have found that the U.S. Postal Service is the least costly and most efficient shipper for items such as those being sold in this auction. I am an excellent packer and shipper. These amps have already been packed up and I used a large amount of bubble-wrap and tape in order to very carefully wrap and pack them. I also removed all of the tubes from both amps and separately wrapped them with bubble-wrap. Then, the entire wrapped unit (namely, both amps secured to the wooden board) was placed in a first box, with the first box being placed in a second box (double-boxed). It may take the Buyer awhile to unpack and unwrap the amps but I wanted to pack them as securely as I could. Please note that, if the final shipping cost is more than the amount quoted above, I will pay the difference and if it is less than the quoted amount, I will keep the difference. In addition, I also reserve the right, at my sole discretion, to ship this item with “signature confirmation” which requires that the item will have to be signed-for upon arrival in order to prevent package-theft, weather damage, etc. Check out my 100% positive feedback and the wonderful compliments that I have received about my packing and shipping. In addition, the quoted shipping cost does not apply to shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and US territories/possessions/locations outside of the Continental US which will be higher and will be separately quoted (if applicable) after the auction ends. While I will pack these amps very securely, some of the wires, components, parts, capacitors, resistors, sockets, transformers, power cords/plugs, jacks, terminal boards/screws, name-badge, metal disks, felt pads, etc. associated with the amps may detach, break, or otherwise come off of the items to which they are connected/attached during shipment due to possible rough handling by the shipper, etc., thereby requiring reattachment/replacement/repair by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert if he or she desires. Likewise, it is always possible that one or more of the internal components in the above-listed tubes may experience problems during shipping (and that the remaining tube numbers, logos, etc. may partially or entirely rub off of the tubes) due to possible rough handling during shipment. Furthermore, the “MAGNAVOX” name-badge is fairly delicate and may, in fact, partially or entirely come off, break, bend, etc. due to possible rough handling during shipment. Lastly, one or both amps may move, shift, or become partially or entirely detached from the wooden board, again due to possible rough handling during shipment. However, I will do my best to try and prevent these situations by very carefully packing these amps although I cannot guarantee that they won’t happen. Both amps are already packed-up for shipping. Accordingly, I cannot honor any special packing and shipping requests. Please make a note of this. Additional note: I will not disassemble anything associated with these amp and they will both be shipped totally assembled and mounted to the wooden board. I did not inspect, repair, examine, modify, update, alter, and/or work on the equipment being sold in this auction (including but not limited to both amps and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components). It is therefore important and necessary that these amps (along with all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components) be examined thoroughly by an electronic expert inside and out before the amps are plugged in, powered up, handled, tested, worked on, repaired, connected to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, or components, connected to a power source/supply, modified, disassembled, upgraded, altered, the addition of any parts/components thereto, the removal of any parts/components therefrom, removed from the wooden board, and/or used. Any repairs to these amps as well as the connection of the amps to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, and components, the connection of these amps to a power source/supply, the plugging in of these amps, the modification of these amps, the disassembly of these amps, the alteration of these amps, the handling/testing of these amps, the upgrading of these amps, the addition of any parts/components to these amps, the removal of any parts/components from these amps, the replacement of any parts/components from these amps, removal of the amps from the wooden board, and the use of these amps and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components should only be attempted by an electronic expert. I do not know if the amps being sold in this auction work (they are being sold untested as noted herein) and, since they are used vintage equipment, the Buyer should again assume that they will both need work, parts, wires, wiring work/replacement, replacement/repair of the jacks, sockets, and terminal boards/screws, repairs, rewiring, upgrading, power transformer replacement/repair, output transformer replacement/repair, replacement/repair of the electronic components, replacement of the power cords/plugs, additional parts, tubes, sockets, resistors, jacks, receptacles, capacitors, On/Off switches, bottom plates, etc. The equipment being sold in this auction should therefore not be considered to be “plug and play” items, may need replacement parts, components, transformers, tubes, repairs, power cords/plugs, etc. and both amps should be considered to be non-working. Please make a note of this. Likewise, I cannot guarantee or warrant that the amps being sold in this auction (and all of their parts/components/tubes/power cords/plugs, etc.) are restorable if that is desired by the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s electronic expert. Furthermore, all of the tubes, tube sockets, capacitors, resistors, power transformers, output transformers, power cords/plugs, sockets, wires, jacks, terminal boards/screws, and all of the amps other components/parts need to be checked out by an electronic expert to see if the tubes are good, if the tubes are the correct ones for these amps, if the tubes are in the correct sockets, and if all of the tubes, tube sockets, capacitors, resistors, power transformers, output transformers, power cords/plugs, sockets, wires, jacks, terminal boards/screws, and all of the amps’ other components/parts are good, correct, properly-wired, and operational before these amps are powered-up, tested, used, worked on, modified, altered, connected to any other equipment, instruments, speakers, or components, connected to a power source/supply, plugged in, upgraded, etc. The amps being sold in this auction and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components are being sold as-is with no warranties express or implied. Likewise, I have no idea whether everything is original or not in the above-listed equipment and I therefore cannot make any warranties regarding originality. In this regard, I do not know if any of the parts, power transformers, output transformers, capacitors, resistors, sockets, jacks, tubes, terminal boards/screws, wires, power cords/plugs, and all of the other components used in the amps are original or if they have been repaired/replaced at some time in the past. I also do not warrant that these amps are complete and I do not know if there are any missing or incorrect parts/components, etc. Thus, I cannot warrant completeness of the equipment being sold in this auction. These amps involve pieces of used vintage 60+ year old electrical equipment to the best of my knowledge which need restoration and they are being sold entirely for non-operational display purposes only (important). No returns or refunds, and Seller is not responsible for any damages or injuries of any kind resulting from the use, inspection, operation, connection to other equipment, components, speakers, or instruments, connection to a power source/supply, repair, work on, modification, disassembly, handling, alteration of, the plugging in, the upgrading of, removal from the wooden board, the addition of any parts/components thereto, the replacement of any parts/components therefrom, and the subtraction of any parts/components therefrom of the amps being sold in this auction, as well as all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, wooden board, name-badge, metal disks, and all of their other components. Likewise, Seller is not responsible for any damages or injuries of any kind resulting from anything else that the Buyer does or intends to do with the amps being sold in this auction and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name-badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components. Buyer uses, inspects, operates, connects to other equipment, components, speakers, or instruments, connects to a power source/supply, repairs, modifies, disassembles, works on, handles, plugs in, upgrades, alters, adds parts/components thereto, subtracts parts/components therefrom, replaces any parts/components, removes from the wooden board, and/or tests the amps being sold in this auction and all of their parts, transformers, wires, electronic components, tubes, sockets, jacks, terminal boards/screws, power cords/plugs, capacitors, resistors, name- badge, wooden board, metal disks, and all of their other components at his or her own risk. Furthermore, the colors of the items being sold in this auction as they appear in the photos may differ compared with the actual items due to the lighting which existed when the photos were taken. Likewise, Seller is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this listing. If you have any questions, please ask before you bid and I will be happy to respond to the best of my ability. Payment within 2 days of end of auction. Also, and this is important, should shipping damage occur, the filing of the insurance claim will be the Buyer’s responsibility. Should EBay go “down” for any period of time within two (2) hours from the end of this auction, we also reserve the right to terminate/cancel the auction. ***Finally, by bidding on this item, the bidder and/or Buyer agrees that he or she has fully reviewed and entirely understands all of the detailed information in the paragraphs listed above and completely accepts such information***. Thanks and happy bidding!
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