Help me identify these vintage amplifier speaker connectors. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: stickman
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 12:27:19 am
content: I picked up a cool little vintage 1960's vintage PA amplifier last week, and it's never been modified, but it has a couple 6L6 tubes in it, just like some of the Masco amps that are popular with blues harmonica players. I'd rather not drill it to add 1/4" jacks, but I cannot find out what the name of these kind of speaker connectors are.Can anyone help me out? And where in God's green earth can I find plugs that would fit in them?

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 12:54:01 am
content: I think those are multiple sockets in one. one common, one for four ohms, one for eight ohms, etc. So if you had a for ohm speaker, one wire goes to the common the other to the four ohm sticker. They likely take some sort of simple pin or just solid core wire ( or stranded made solid with solder). otherwise no clue

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 01:44:03 am
content: well they're made of bakelite - so they're bloody old

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 01:45:47 am
content: It looks like the speakers are actually powered. I wonder if they had an amplifier onboard...

author: C
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 01:49:25 am
content: Looks like a tube socket connector.Some old devices used a socket that were the same as the larger tubes of the time.C

author: dentaku
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 01:52:56 am
content: I winder if it looked like this?http://www.mbzponton.org/n2awa/mb_radio_Blaupunkt_Frankfurt_connector.jpg

author: dentaku
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 02:00:09 am
content: They look like they're sometimes called 6 pin amphenol connectors... maybe?http://www.wdgreenhill.com/AtoZ/connectors.htmThey where used on Leslie speakers. You know, the rotary horns they use on old organs.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 02:04:53 am
content: Quote from: duskglow on June 09, 2013, 01:45:47 amUmm, no. That's 70V line. Commonly used for multiple speaker setups (eg shops, halls) where each speaker has a transformer that taps the amount of power it takes from the total 10W output.Other outputs are, as people have said, 4, 8, 16, 500 ohm. You may have to search around some old amateur radio or antique restorer groups to find the connector though.

author: C
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 02:07:45 am
content: I have seen that style, but I think you are looking for one that looks like a the base of a tube minus the glass part. I have seen two types in additional to your example.The ones I am thinking of had a screw on cap with a hole in the cap center for the wire. These you normally soldered the wires.the second type The cap was taller and the base with the pins thin. These were solder or screw clamp for the wires.Note that the socket has no plastic center pin so there will be a difference in spacing or pin sizes like your example shows.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tube_socketLists a lot of measurements that might helpdentaku 's link some good examples.C

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 03:07:28 am
content: Not quite the same as a tube socket. The pins were similar but connector had no center post. The ones I remember had a Bakelite connector with a black metal shell that pressed on. Late 1940s/early 50s. I don't remember how they oriented so you didn't plug them in wrong. Might have been a small pin or something to line them up. I'll have to dig through some boxes to see if I still have any.

author: fpliuzzi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 03:21:29 am
content: Hello,As dentaku mentioned, this does appear to be an Amphenol connector. I had a Hammond M3 organ and a Leslie rotary speaker system in the 1970's that used connectors similar to these.Here's a matching set of connectors on ebay that appear to be of the same type and vintage...www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-UNUSED-AMPHENOL-6-SIX-PIN-CONNECTOR-SET-FOR-LESLIE-RODGERS-ORGAN-SPEAKERS-/170824788263?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c5f36927Regards,Frank

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 04:50:14 am
content: Before the days of Octal tubes & sockets,they both came in several varieties:5 pin & 6 pin --what you have are 6 pin tube sockets,which were widely used,along with plugs to suit,after the demise of the tubes they were designed for.These sockets never used a centre key like Octal & its derivatives,such as Loctal.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 09:04:15 am
content: Looks a lot like what used to be called "octal" socket but those had eight pins. I actually have about six new and unused sockets just like the one you show in my parts bin, it says Amphenol pat. made in USA on the back but no number

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 10:05:11 am
content: Those Amphenol connectors linked above are the ones I remember. There are two larger pins so the plug is oriented correctly.

author: stickman
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 09, 2013, 06:56:21 pm
content: Thank you all very much!I believe the consensus of them being 6 pin Amphenol is correct.the wiring on the interior of the chassis looks very intense.