FREE Retro Office Equipment or Guitar Amp?
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
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In this video, we'll take a preliminary look at a 1958 Rauland-Borg Amplicall intercom speakerphone system. We'll trace out the circuit, look for a schematic, and plug a guitar into it to see if it might be a good candidate for a future guitar amp conversion!
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T= talk
L= listen
R=radio
Most inner Com units do have microphone and a radio input to pipe sound to the shop
If I send you a McDonald's cheeseburger can you build an amp out of it.
Years ago I was working on a pair of these jewels, testing their ability to communicate with each other. Both were plugged in with 2-prong plugs, and (it seems) had opposite polarity, as I discovered (to my dismay) when I touched both chassis at the same time. It was the worst electrical shock I have ever experienced, passing through my chest and heart, and damned near killing me. It took a couple days to fully recover. That said....be glad he only sent you one of them :)
Ouch!
WOW!! Once upon a million years ago, I attended a little parochial school here in MA....from 1957-1966. Around 1960, our parish's pastor (who was this crusty, sawed off little French-Canadian...like me! LOL) came trooping through school 'out of uniform,' and ready for work...which, for him, was not all that unusual! Long story short, he outfitted the entire school (20 classrooms, plus offices, cafeteria, etc., across three floors and a basement!) with those very intercom boxes!! They remained in use until I replaced them with more modern equipment, in 1998. To call them durable would be a bit of an understatement! Rauland-Borg, BTW, is still very much in business, and is the leader in institutional communications...although you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone there that remembers these boxes. The T, L, and R refer to Talk, Listen, and pRivacy (the master could listen in on a classroom unless you were in privacy mode....without the privacy tone that now has to be built into any new systems, by law).
BTW, these all operate on 25V (similar to fire alarm systems) distributed audio to enable 'all-call' from a master station, hence the speaker transformers. The A and B on the rear terminal strip refer to A and B bus connections (channels), which were there to facilitate establishing zones.
Thanks for explaining that! The schematic says "Call" or "Reset" depending on whether you have the Master or Sub box. Pretty interesting. So what did the Master box in the office look like? And were all the classroom subs dummies with no tubes?
@@TheGuitologist All the classrooms were equipped with what you have on your bench. Masters had an 'all-call' amp capable (power-wise) of paging all speakers in a zone, and/or all in a system. Attached to the master (and as opposed to the rotary switches on your 1948 office system) were switchbanks that usually had 25 4-position switches (Intercom, A, B, and 'off,' which was the normal position, and allowed for 'all-call.'). To call a classroom, you moved the appropriate switch to the intercom position, pressed the 'Talk' button, and spoke directly into the classroom...which could answer, hands-free. The system relied on the classroom unit amp for intercom functions (which was later changed to classrooms being totally passive...with just a speaker and call-in switch, or handset). If a classroom wanted to call the office, they pressed the talk button, which would sound a tone at the master...then you waited for an answer. The A and B busses were for program distribution (music, news broadcasts, etc.) or class change tones. There were separate busses to allow for either two program sources or to NOT send class change tones to outdoor speakers....so as not to piss off the neighbors!
Believe it or not, some of these are still in use (along with their marginally-improved cousins) and I still get calls to work on these things.....because these days if it isn't digital/programmable/IP-based, young technicians are scared to death of them!! (most young field service techs are generally afraid of voltages in excess of 24VDC) I actually used to teach a course that included servicing this stuff...until a health issue temporarily slowed me down and the school shitcanned the specialized courses that I taught. Now, if someone wants to learn, I teach! Otherwise, I charge! LOL :-)
Oh, and that R position is definitely a privacy setting!!
On Ebay that would be listed as "Rare dual transformer tube guitar combo amp" buy it now for $350 plus $78 shipping, perfect working condition but untested.
Dang, I wish I would have thought of that.
@@outthereassociates7155 Dan, I forgot to add "No tubes" :) :) :)
"perfect working condition but untested" - gotta remember that for my next listing!
I think the "reset" is for a "hang up" function. You call them, it goes to listen automatically. Hold up the button to respond, let it go and listen. When you are done, hit reset. They can't eavesdrop, in theory, after you hit reset.
That's what another commenter was saying too, in essence. Makes sense.
I plugged a 2017 Gibson into my printer....
It didn’t make any sound, but it kept spitting out copies of the poop emoji.
I don't know how you're able to continue to churn out such high quality videos, but I'm sure glad you do. Every video of yours that I've watched has been great.
Keep up the good work. I especially like the conversion videos.
I'd also like to see a playlist devoted to your tools and equipment, new and old.
Out in the universe there is a parallel planet to ours. It is a better place, they still have Radio Shack and you can still buy ammo at the grocery store.
And tubes at the pharmacy.
@@TheGuitologist yes, and a Steely Dan was something that momma never talked about.
@@TheGuitologist Yep,I remember as a young man standing by the tube tester at our local pharmacy with my dad watching him test TV tubes .
I think that this unit was meant only to be used as an intercom I don't think that this unit was intended to be used for telephone. The "R" selection on the switch was probably to listen to the piped in music that would be playing through the master unit if desired. I will bet that this will work with the NuTone intercom unit that you showed a while back. I have the operating manual for that NuTone intercom and if you want I can scan it and send you a copy.
I thought of that. Some guy is buying the NuTone, but I still have it for the time being. I may try to hook them up. I think I downloaded the manual for that already. Not sure though. I might be mistaken on that.
Very cool find. That's the stuff you could find in quantity in dumps back in the 70s when everything was modernized.
It's an intercom, not a phone system. As for your testing... "Negatory suppository" As we heard on NASCOM one afternoon when a project was testing their system. They were called on the carpet about it.
Now people who wondered know how the two way intercoms worked in schools in the 60s. How hot does that big resistor get?
Anyone notice the alnico speaker? Drive in speakers had them.
Cool. I spent a week training in Rauland Borg's factory in Chicago a couple years ago. Pretty nice facility. They're big into Hospital nurse call stuff now.
Cool.
Cool that they're still in business, and still in Chicago!
From Leo: I used to work on Nutone brand intercoms in larger homes.and small businesses. The extra transformer is for intercom line transmit signal. 25 v or 70.7 volt carrier was common then, Speaker is the mic on that unit. Most 3 position switches were press to talk(or page), listen and privacy. I would be very surprised to see a telephone line interface, that was not done when the phone company owned all the lines and gear.
The pics of the Perry Mason model with the telephone receiver integrated is what threw me. I'm sure you're correct. What was input "B" for?
From Leo: Likely a loop to another slave unit. Some were home run only wiring with all stations tied back to the master, and the other system was a loop system that fed each additional unit through the last. The loop system can be tough to trouble shoot as every wire and every switch has to be right before any can work right. We are talking 40 years ago. With cell phones, and ISDN business sets, no one buys intercoms any more. Sort of like the radio/TV repair shops, pretty much history. BTW Gaitronics commercial intercoms had the open speaker mic function and they had a telephone looking handset that when you picked it up the system switched off the speakers for private operation.
Yep used for office or small station Broadcast intercom remote station to communicate between offices
Thoes old Fuller Screwdrivers are every where. I still have all of mine from an old set I bought 30 od years ago. 👍
It doesn't matter what it was - as long as it is cool looking it's a cool challenge with a - most of the time - cool outcome. I am cool with that.
I love your sense of humor , whats your vector Victor. I loved Airplane so silly.
The marks T, L, R could stand fot:
T=talk
L=listen
R=record
I thought that too at one point.
@@TheGuitologist The R is either "receive" or "reset", depending if it's a master station or a sub-station intercom.
K. M. I'm thinking "Ring" also
My grandfather worked at a tool repair service shop/retail store many years ago. They had something similar to this in the offices, sales floor, repair shop etc. I think the "R" is for radio. You could have these connected to a central radio and you could listen to the radio where ever you had one of these intercoms. They would have one on the sales floor playing music. I think the output for the radio and the voice, are on separate transformers. I think that the voice would come through even if you had the radio on, but in listen mode, the radio wouldn't play.
That is how I remember it anyway. I don't know if the Reset idea is correct. It seems that it would be spring-return in that direction too, if that was the case.
It would be nice if someone had the manual for one of these old units! Then we'd know for sure. It definitely had me confused trying to figure it out...but that's half the fun.
Oh wow, I had stopped the video to type the thing about the radio being sent to the intercoms, then when I started it back up, you were talking about sending out a radio signal to each unit. That is too funny.
And this is why Brad gets the big bucks. I bet you could MacGuyver my OralB toothbrush into a fricking tube amp.
Hey Brad, cute little device. It was common practice to use the speaker as a microphone in the 1950's. I remember playing around with this sort of thing in the 1970's - a speaker used as as mic works great! & I didn't know I had to use a matching transformer either:)
I used to have a whole host of car stereo speakers, radios and other crap that I rigged up as monitors (4-track) and "amps" (1990's). Had no idea what I was doing but my dad was an electrician and I picked up a lot of stuff from him. They worked fine but I stopped doing it when I moved everything over to digital, now I can't even remember how/what I was doing!
I have an intercom system in my house, which was built in the 50's. The main unit is in the kitchen/dining room area, with simpler units are in each of the bedrooms. They're all recessed into the wall, about eye level. Pretty interesting/weird since it's just a single story brick, ranch style house. Unfortunately nothing works, though the pilot light on the main, kitchen unit still lights up when switched on. I'd like to get it all working again someday, just for the hell of it.
Tank it out and do a video of the innards and stuff. I'll include in a SPF segment.
Cool old unit Brad. I'd love to see you make this thing into a little bedroom guitar practice amp or something like that.
I've got an idea for this thing how about making it a guitar amplifier but also keeping the speaker microphone diaphragm switch so you'd be able to use it as a funky acoustic guitar microphone.
This is how Bosley commu icated with Charlie's Angels.
If you're old enough to remember.
Change the tubes to 6x4, 12ax7, 6aq5, add a Champ PT & OPT & circuit. Viola’
It's just that easy. :D
Love the "Airplane" reference !!! Great vid!
"Mrs. Wiggins?... Mrs. Wiggins?" :)
Father Duffy is a full of shit
Pretty cool. Thanks Brad.
Thanks for watching, Robert.
the 1948 one almost has an Art Deco streamlined look to it, and the one from the late 50s has more of a Sheerform design. Interesting how design aesthetics change within just a decade of time.
Hey Brad, Fox Den to Thistle Down, do you copy Thistle Down, over, copy that, Fox Den. Cool little widow maker practice amp. Happy Summer, Cass.
You too, Cass. Good to see you again on the channel. It had been a little while.
I just picked up a similar pair of these ..speaker code is 48 and a bakalite cases. All passive on the slave unit. Gonna make a cigar box guitar amp out of it
By the way, here's the site with the Rauland schematic. www.radiomuseum.org/r/rauland_amplicall_2105_master_st.html
Breaker Breaker! I hear you loud and clear but I don't think I'd play a guitar through this one! That is a big 10-4!
Put a pedal between your guitar and the input! You will get a big gain distortion boost from pedal! Won't be too loud, but should sound cool!
When I'm done with it, it'll sound cool without a boost. ;)
Not without major modifications and or additions! Everyone has a Dist/Boost pedal. All you need is to wire a 1/4" jack on the input and give that a try with your pedal board! ;^) I think you will be quite surprised by how that sounds! 8^)
i think you will fine that one transformer is for output and the other is for input. They were using the speaker as a microphone also.
Looks to me like it was designed to communicate with two other boxes(offices) and that this would let the receptionist talk to both, one, or the other at one time.
I think that RCA Tube Manual had schematic in the back of it for a intercom circuit
hey Brad, U really need a "Audio Tone Oscillator" for all that U do : ) if you're to cheap to get one u can get a (FREE) APP for your phone, and make your own adapter plugs, Regards man really enjoy your comments, i used to Work for Lois Maxwell who played Moneypenny.
I have several.
USE THEM : )
Hey Brad I think the R is for receptionist.ive seen some stuff like that in jails I've worked it
If you convert the amp into a guitar amp, you might be able to use one of the extra transformers as a phase inverter, if it is center tapped. I've been meaning to experiment with transformer phase inverters just for fun.
Could you do a video on making series filament/hot Chasis amps as safe as possible?
That would make a neat little practice amp. you have (3) 7pin sockets, you can use a 6AQ5, 6AV6 and a 6x4. use a small radio power transformer there is plenty of room. the output transformer should be fine.
Cool find, thank for the video.
You haven't watched many old movies have you Brad? It was just like the standard internal intercom from either reception to each manager or from the secretary to the boss. Imagine Charlies Angels... You never saw Charlie but the angels heard him on the speaker.
A circuit like this would usually output very little - on the order of 100 MW. This was not much but was the same output a tube portable radio would output. Some competing brands actually use portable radio tubes which gave a sort of "instant on" feature. Setchell-Carlson was one.
I'd love to find something like this
A lot of the old office amps that could play " Muzak" and other elevator music plus what ever they were used for had several different ohm outputs for different speaker setups. The setup in the back of that looks a lot like those amps.
And this is how "Ring" started.
The last time I saw something like that was on one of those old TV shows like Bewitched or The Beverly Hillbillies.
There were being used in the shows. Somewhere.
Was used in back in the day to call your secretary from your office. Perry Mason: Della, I need those drafts of the Guitologist case for the court today' Della: Be right in with those Perry!
it is back in the 50's and i can hear whats coming out of this in an office some where HEY SWEET LIPS GET THAT CUTE ASS IN HERE AND GIVE YOUR BOSS A MASSAGE!
Ah, the good ol' days of workplace harassment.
How about a old CB radio guitar AMP? Could it be done?
Anything with an amp section can become a guitar amp, it's just a question of how much extraneous crap you have to remove.
Uncle Doug has done this a number of times with different electrical items.
Here is a playlist of my conversion videos. Enjoy! :)
Thanks for the mention, Will :)
This guy is great. Anybody know anything about the 5150 combo amp? Pre-amp tube replacement experience? Tools you have to have with this amp? It's been a long time since I looked at mine, can't remember how the tubes are fastened to the amp; the space is not easy to deal with, I remember that much. Thanks
R could stand for Ring. Intercom with tone/oscillation attention getter? I thought the two transformers are for turning speaker into microphone
Should I go to an art bar with a french barmaid or stay home and watch this? Thumbs up for the former, down for the latter. Thank you
Even I vote barmaid.
@@TheGuitologist Done deal, off I go. I will regale her with tales of how you ditched Big Bertha for a new post-colonial, nouveau capitalist model.
Big Bertha is always on standby for the sloppy jobs. Take video and share! No video means it didn't happen.
@@TheGuitologist very true
@@TheGuitologist Sadly I was usurped halfway through my introduction by a french handwear model - he wears gloves for a living - and whilst I opted for a non- confrontational, placid approach, the quim-lipped (ask your wife) bastard forced me to adopt the path of least resistance. and regroup for the next onslaught.
Picked up a pair of Mitchell wireless “intercommunicator”s 1951 bak-alight case, 30w power consumption, a 12AU6, 12SJ7, 50L6, 35w4 neat little yard sale pick up? How can I go about learning how/if I can mod this?
You could mod it for sure.
Good evening want to say really enjoy your videos and have to also say really like your work ethic. I was wondering how I might get in touch with you and where might you be located.
Happy Red and Green Month. Happy XMas month, Happy Santa days. Happy Holiday season is the worst but most of all Merry Friken Christmas.
I think the R is to ring
If it like a phone (7:00) treat it like EAM (Ear And Mouth) tech
I was half expecting SPFBI
Brad, what happened to the vid? Seems it cut off at the end.
Would the speaker double possibly as a microphone?
remote.. that one goes on the secretary's desk. a smaller one goes on the executives desk controller with the R.. my guess
The speaker is for both speaker and microphone.
Mrs. Jones, can you please come in here for a minute please?
They could had switched out the 12AU6 for a 6AU6 and used a 50DC4 rectifier tube.
I don't see a power switch and since R is not momentary maybe it's the power off switch?
Talk, Listen, and Remote
Left goes to one room and right goes to another for an intercom?
Hey Brad, great vid as always, a little question about safety (cos a know you know what you're doing): you turn on the thing, ungrounded, and then touch the chassis and the signal screws with your fingers ; did you verify it was safe before doing that ? How did you know it was safe ? Thanks !
@piamp Hi! Brad analysed the circuit & found the neutral (return) wire was only capacitively coupled to the chassis. The whole cabinet itself was made of steel, so it would be unimaginable that one of the mains wires would be connected to the chassis.
T-L-R... I'm guessing 3:30 in that it's talk-listen-remote or receptionist?
12au6 is your output tube!
You'd think that, but in this case, no, it's the 6C4.
Don't be confused by the schematic you found, it is not for the item you have. On the schematic you have you are correct the 12AU6 is the preamp tube and the 50B5 is the output pentode. On the item you have the 6C4 is the triode preamp and the 12AU6 has become the output pentode, I'm pretty sure. ;^) I've seen a few other designs that use a 6AU6 or 12AU6 as the output tube before. True they also are often used as pre-amp input tubes, but I've never seen a design where the small single triode 6C4 is used as an output tube. 6C4 Phase invertors sure, but not as an SE output tube. Just hook your guitar to a Distortion/Boost pedal and then to the input of your item! You should be able to rock out just fine then! LOL 8^)
somewhere there's an old secretary saying these kids today don't know nothin
....secrataries back then were chicks,, hehe....
Didn't Bosley use one of those to contact the Angels???
T for talk
L for listen
R for radio to use without a mic as a one way signal
I was just setting up some gear and plugged in my old Gibson amp again. I left you a (reply) question on your recent post with Billy C. talking about the paint/tone thing. I know it’s long but would you check it out and give your opinion on the tube swap that was done to that amp? I’d really appreciate it.
Dang! Are you stealing my ideas? I posted Intercom stuff last week.
Didn't see it. I'll check it out though.
Guessing this is the vid you're talking about: czcams.com/video/W2Oh2ogQEMs/video.html
Maybe R is for Remote?
sweet
Yo brad, how would i go about sending you something for the shop/channel?
Just shoot me an email and I'll get you a shipping address. Thanks for thinking of me and contributing to the channel.
@@TheGuitologist fuggin oaf mate.. will do
Why didn't you plug in a TS9 & a talk box? LOL
Could you turn it into a tube mic with tube power supply?
Cool amp. Have you done anything with this.
No but I will.
No external Mic! Remember the intercom at grade-school the teacher didn't have a Mic. She merely pushed a lever and spoke to the air the released; then the office would talk back. Think walkie-talkie. When you push the button they can hear you but you can no longer hear them. Wink wink.
When you talk through it makes you sound like the Charlie Brown Wahnt-Wah voice
Shirley you can't be serious
I have a drinking problem.
Stop calling me Shirley
www.radiomuseum.org/r/webster_amplicall_210.html has a semi close model of a different brand i think. and there's more on the site...
Talk, Listen, Record?
Jim's secretary _is_ pretty hot...
Did you see that red dress she was wearing yesterday?
Its an intercom
well I missed the anny on this vid, turn up the Canadian Club!
Security - push to talk.. they still have that nowadays. Stops people from hearing stuff.
TALK LISTEN RING ON LEVER SPEAKER/MICROPHONE
Hey man if you bring three smoking hot chicks in Charlie may try to talk to you through that thing.
Sure looks interesting anyway bro.
Talk into my box she said.
.....and the echo was deafening :)
Well I could use something again...Lightning struck the shit...and HV side of Xformers Burnt up and shit and damn blown speakers.