I was going thru my 400 folders on my computer and found a (most likely forgotten ) version of the 400 manual with a serial of 30000 and up. Upon deeper looking I noticed that it showed that the unit had 6 RF tubes and "AX" opt's. I thought this ain't right , and looked at the pictures of the 40 I bought back in 2011 from Audiodon. Sure Enough it had SERIAL # 32932, and had 5 tubes, and "A" opt's. As far as I'm concerned this manual is a BUST! (See below for Rant).
Not having original manuals to verify this info, I'm presuming that there is some reasonable doubt as to the veracity of the info as back pages could have been mixed. But this is the best I've got so I'll go with it.
400 MANUAL's for.........................................Production code on back page
10001-19999 .............................................. N-1020-103 1963 F.R.C.
20001-29999 .............................................. N-1020-103BXA 1964F.R.C.
20000 and up .............................................. N-1020-103BXA 1964 F.R.C.
30000 and up............................................... N-1020-103AXA 1964 F.R.C.
48001 and up............................................... N-1020-103CX No date....After 1964 presumed
Looks like the (Engineering) Drafting Dept Screwed the big one again. I get the impression the same guy who was responsible for the 800c manuals was also responsible for the 400 manuals. He must have been dead at the wheel when it came to doing revisions.
I think what we have here is a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. If you look at the production code number for the manuals it gets even more cornfusing. Both of the 20000 versions are younger than the 30000 version??????? Yeah Right!!
RANT OFF
Of the 5 manuals listed above 3 deal with the Early model and 2 supposedly deal with the LATE. I say supposedly as my 1st 400 was an EARLY MODEL (5 tubes for tuner and "A" version outputs) and it's SERIAL # was 32932. According to the to the manuals it should have been a late model with 6 tubes in the RF Section and with AX output transformers.
Honestly right now, with all the confusion with the manuals, I'd cull out two of them and just run with 3. Cull out the 20001-29999 and the 30000 and up. Reason being as these are identical to the 20000 and up and 48001 and up manuals. But the units don't match up with the manuals as is right now between 30000 and 48000. Culling these two manuals eventually will set the demarcation line straight..
I would still make the Demarcation of EARLY/ LATE models at based on the 400's I've had thru here in the last 4 years;
10001-47999 is EARLY Version (5 RF Tubes and "A" OPT's)
48001 and up is LATE Version (6RF tubes and "AX" OPT's)
I'm asking everyone who has a 400 to pull the serial number and note how many RF(Tuner) tubes it has and get the Part number off of the Output Transformers. And post the results in this thread.And please note the EIA CODE off the transformer. This is the 7digit code under the transformer serial #.
FORMAT
SERIAL RF TUBES Transformer Suffix
#32392.............5................."A"
OR
#48293.............6.................."AX"
If we get enough to verify my theory, we will be able to make a clear demarcation of the EARLY to LATE VERSION. This 30000 and up manual throws some doubt into the present equation where the LATE 400's start with 48001. If we can get more verification of the number of tubes and the Transformers in the 30000 -47999 range we may be able to refute the 30000 manual as an anomaly and write it out of the akdatabase/Fisherconsoles/other sources where we have some control or say what goes in.
We want, and need correct manuals for these units, and AudioKarma has a lot of pull in the Forums market. So lets all pull together and get the 400 manuals straightened out once and for all.
Thanks
Larry
Not having original manuals to verify this info, I'm presuming that there is some reasonable doubt as to the veracity of the info as back pages could have been mixed. But this is the best I've got so I'll go with it.
400 MANUAL's for.........................................Production code on back page
10001-19999 .............................................. N-1020-103 1963 F.R.C.
20001-29999 .............................................. N-1020-103BXA 1964F.R.C.
20000 and up .............................................. N-1020-103BXA 1964 F.R.C.
30000 and up............................................... N-1020-103AXA 1964 F.R.C.
48001 and up............................................... N-1020-103CX No date....After 1964 presumed
Looks like the (Engineering) Drafting Dept Screwed the big one again. I get the impression the same guy who was responsible for the 800c manuals was also responsible for the 400 manuals. He must have been dead at the wheel when it came to doing revisions.
I think what we have here is a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. If you look at the production code number for the manuals it gets even more cornfusing. Both of the 20000 versions are younger than the 30000 version??????? Yeah Right!!
RANT OFF
Of the 5 manuals listed above 3 deal with the Early model and 2 supposedly deal with the LATE. I say supposedly as my 1st 400 was an EARLY MODEL (5 tubes for tuner and "A" version outputs) and it's SERIAL # was 32932. According to the to the manuals it should have been a late model with 6 tubes in the RF Section and with AX output transformers.
Honestly right now, with all the confusion with the manuals, I'd cull out two of them and just run with 3. Cull out the 20001-29999 and the 30000 and up. Reason being as these are identical to the 20000 and up and 48001 and up manuals. But the units don't match up with the manuals as is right now between 30000 and 48000. Culling these two manuals eventually will set the demarcation line straight..
I would still make the Demarcation of EARLY/ LATE models at based on the 400's I've had thru here in the last 4 years;
10001-47999 is EARLY Version (5 RF Tubes and "A" OPT's)
48001 and up is LATE Version (6RF tubes and "AX" OPT's)
I'm asking everyone who has a 400 to pull the serial number and note how many RF(Tuner) tubes it has and get the Part number off of the Output Transformers. And post the results in this thread.And please note the EIA CODE off the transformer. This is the 7digit code under the transformer serial #.
FORMAT
SERIAL RF TUBES Transformer Suffix
#32392.............5................."A"
OR
#48293.............6.................."AX"
If we get enough to verify my theory, we will be able to make a clear demarcation of the EARLY to LATE VERSION. This 30000 and up manual throws some doubt into the present equation where the LATE 400's start with 48001. If we can get more verification of the number of tubes and the Transformers in the 30000 -47999 range we may be able to refute the 30000 manual as an anomaly and write it out of the akdatabase/Fisherconsoles/other sources where we have some control or say what goes in.
We want, and need correct manuals for these units, and AudioKarma has a lot of pull in the Forums market. So lets all pull together and get the 400 manuals straightened out once and for all.
Thanks
Larry
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