A Monaural System: Garrard RC 88 Turntable, Viking 6V6 Amplifier, Homemade Horn Speaker

Finally, I have put together a monaural system based on one given to me by an uncle over sixty years ago. The original one I had back then consisted of a Garrard RC 88 turntable with wood base and a Thordarson 6V6 amplifier in a wooden case with a hinged glass window that opened for access to the controls. The only speaker I had back then was a 4" x 6" radio speaker without any baffle. I have not been able to locate another amplifier like the Thordarson. I did manage to find a Garrard RC 88 and an audio amplifier with 6V6 output tubes.  I listen to this setup through a straight horn I made myself.

Here is the turntable:

Garrard RC 88 Record Changer

Here is the amplifier out of the case:

Viking 6V6 Amplifier

Here is the nearly completed refitted case for the turntable and amplifier in front of the horn speaker:

Monaural Setup

And here is the system playing part of a track from an old 78RPM record:

Some Beautiful Hawaiian Music

 Here is some beautiful Hawaiian Music playing on a fully horn-loaded loudspeaker system. Please be patient for the music to start playing.

The pair of fine old bass reflex speakers are not playing for this recording.  The horns are not visible in this video.  The LP is called "Hawaiian Holiday".  The receiver is a Pioneer SX-1280.

A New Midrange Horn From A Mold I Made Years Ago

 About 45 years ago I decided to make a midrange horn similar to the Klipschorn midrange horn to go with my one-off Klipschorn that I made from 3/4" plywood.  I based the design not on actual plans but on photographs of the Klipshcorn I found in an audio magazine.

I no longer have the old home made "Klipschorn" but I do still have two midrange horns I made from 1/4" plywood.

The other thing I still have is the solid pine mold I used to form the midrange horns over.

Quite recently, I decided to make another midrange horn using this same mold.

In the photos you can see this "new" horn with a special stand to support it.  It is resting on a genuine Klipsch La Scala.  On the floor is the pine mold.

New Midrange Horn, Klipsch La Scala, and Pine Mold

New Midrange Horn

One Eight Foot Long Horn with Snowblower

 This shows one of the eight foot long horns set on wheels beside a snowblower.  We are preparing for winter to arrive in a few months.  It will be nice to hear some music while I am clearing the snow from the driveway.

Eight Foot Horn with Snowblower

It is a lot easier to move this horn around now that it is on wheels.  I can even roll it outside in good weather.  You see a small treble horn mounted in the top of the bass horn opening.  Because the bass horn covers a range from 40Hz to about 1500Hz, it is possible to connect the tweeter horn in parallel through a single capacitor just to protect it from low frequencies.  Other than that, there is no crossover network.  This setup sounds a lot like a vintage movie sound system.

Supreme Model 400 Tube Tester with Provenance

I have had a Supreme 400 Tube Tester for quite a while now.  Today I got it out and cleaned it up.  I will post some pictures of it later on.  The date on the catalog page advertisement illustrated below is 1938.

Supreme Catalog 1938

It is interesting that the price of the 400 Tester in 1938 was $38.95.

Inside the narrow storage slot in the case, I found several small paper items of interest.  First is a business card for "Wiscasset Radio Service".  The telephone number is only two digits, "20".

Wiscasset Radio Service Business Card

 

Also found were a couple of radio tube sticker labels, one Philco and one Zenith.

Philco Tube Sticker Label

Zenith Tube Sticker Label

These are each about an inch long.

Finally, I found a roll of tube test result labels that might have been used to help keep track of the condition of the tubes in a radio.

Radio Tube Test Labels

These three stickers were separated from the roll already.

It looks like if a tube tested "feeble" then the radio might still work but with less than good reception.

 

Two of my watercolors on sale at Pemaquid Art Gallery today, August 22, 2020!

 In order to paint, I must have music playing during all of the process.  The wonderful music playing on the magnificent horn loudspeakers playing in my work rooms makes my work a pleasure to say the least.

At any rate, here are images of two works recently completed and now on sale at the Pemaquid Art Gallery.  You can see more at my blog, https://artbypaulsherman.blogspot.com.

"Red White Blue Buoy" by Paul Sherman

"Wet Red Buoys And Water" by Paul Sherman

Victor Phonograph Packing Crate

This is one side of an original Victor phonograph packing crate rescued from a construction waste grinder fifteen years ago.  It was raining when I found it and the plywood had already delaminated.  Recently, I set up a clamp and glued the top lamination back down again.

Victor Packing Crate Repair

Here it is after the lamination repair.

Victor Packing Case Repaired