New Toys

[GregBilodeau]

One of our local collectors is retiring from the hobby and he had a silent auction to sell off some of his gear. I bought six pieces and a couple of them are mono amps so I will be on the look out for a mate or may consider selling if I can't find one. I got the following

Eico HF85
Eico HF87
Heathkit SA3
Radio Craftsmen 500
Heathkit W4AM
Altec 340A

They were all pretty dusty and dirty from a long time in storage, see below, I cleaned up the Altec first and it looks great.

Gregb

 

[maxhifi]

Wow, you've got some real classics there Greg!

I'm especially interested in how you like the radio craftsmen and the altec. How is the chrome on the R/C 500? Does it have original tubes?

 

[crispycircuit]

I've always liked the HF-87. Cathode bias EL-34, great circuit, nice transformers, nice find.....

 

[Tom Bombadil]

That Altec looks very nice. I'm glad I don't know anyone getting rid of vintage tube amps. I have too many already.

 

[GregBilodeau]

OK, here is a couple pics of the Radio Craftsmen 500. Other than some dirt the chrome is in near perfect condition. It had a pair of EL34 tubes in it when I got it so I have installed a set of the new Gold Lion KT66 tubes so it looks right. And it seems they had a problem with power transformers as all the ones I have seen have a replacement including mine.


Gregb

 

[s-petersen]

Your 340A looks much better than the one I had...

 

[Leland47]

Nice haul. The Altec looks great!

Patience will see some duplicates you need show up....

Its kinda weird....I looked for a duplicate Harman Kardon C-300 for about a year....and nothing. Now 3 or more are available.

 

[derekva]

Damn...

 

[GregBilodeau]

Here is a picture of the HF87 and the Heathkit W4AM behind it.

Gregb

 

[GregBilodeau]

After a hand full of caps, a couple resistors, and a new line cord and the Craftsmen 500 is up and running. I have it paired up here with my little HK20 and a Chinese tube preamp and it's sounding really good with my Klipsch RF7's



Gregb

 

[maxhifi]

After a hand full of caps, a couple resistors, and a new line cord and the Craftsmen 500 is up and running. I have it paired up here with my little HK20 and a Chinese tube preamp and it's sounding really good with my Klipsch RF7's

View attachment 1194246 View attachment 1194247

Gregb

It really looks fantastic with the chrome plating and KT-66 tubes.

 

[Nixxuz]

After a hand full of caps, a couple resistors, and a new line cord and the Craftsmen 500 is up and running. I have it paired up here with my little HK20 and a Chinese tube preamp and it's sounding really good with my Klipsch RF7's

View attachment 1194246 View attachment 1194247

Gregb

I see you use the same storage system as I do..."It'll fit in there somewhere!"

 

[GregBilodeau]

So I have both the Altec 340A and the Radio Craftsmen re-capped and playing together. They sound really good together even though the different tube compliments and circuits. I still have to work on some old masking tape on the Altec but got the 500 all polished up and the look pretty good.

Gregb

 

[s-petersen]

This was the Eico HF-87 I had, with a strange 6SN7

 

[GregBilodeau]

I will most likely start on my HF87 next. That 6SN7 is what they call a coin base.

Gregb

 

[TENER]

Here is a picture of the HF87 and the Heathkit W4AM behind it.

Gregb

Wow Just Wow!!! Some real nice stuff you picked up.

 

[s-petersen]

Coin base, yes, but look how they put it in the bottle, like they ran out of the proper size.

 

[GregBilodeau]

I came across a bunch of those coin base 6SN7 tubes and they all look like that, kind of strange for sure.

Gregb

 

[GregBilodeau]

I put the HF87 on the bench and had a look, checked the tubes and they are all good. The EL34's are three different brands but are all made in Japan. I took some before pictures of the top and bottom, have a look. I checked and all of the transformers appear to be ok.

Gregb

 

[s-petersen]

It has a strange mix of caps in it, almost like someone was comparing different brands against one another, or recapped one side to see how it sounds.