What's on in the workshop?

Here's where all the electronics happens. It's a bit of a mess but 'I know where everything is'. As if!

A 60's Japanese 'Riviera' restoration project. Cost - $12.00 at a flea market. I may give it a 'Casino' treatment.

This is the project on the bench at the moment. Very early 60's Klemt Echolette tape echo. As used by the Beatles. Unfortunately the heads have been damaged by polish residue entering the windings. There are 3 record and 2 playback heads. A unique setup that produces chiming effects not possible on any other tape echo. Made in Germany.

One I've been tinkering with out of interest is this 'flea market' 1950's mono tape deck. It's now up and running and I can just picture it on the floor in front of the Cavern stage. It also has Alligator-look rexine covering - strange but true

A comparison of GZ34 (5AR4) Rectifier tubes. Left - 60's Mullard, middle - modern National brand, Right 60's  NOS large bottle Philips 'Made in UK' 5AR4.

Here are the reserves. I always keep my eye out for NOS valves at secondhand stores etc. Over the last few years I've  managed to get a reasonable assortment of the common types used in guitar amps.

When everything is going wrong I can always fall back on the 70's pinball machine. This one was left, non-working, in our premises when we moved office. It's now fully operational.

Caught by 'flea-market fever' once again I lashed out and bought a whole box of old tubes. These are very old radio types, many in original packaging. Some are ex-US Naval stock. I'll be selling these. To give you an idea of the size - the far left middle row is a 12ax7