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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets. |
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29th Apr 2021, 11:38 am | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 541
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Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
I picked up two valve power supplies from a local but now sadly closed electronics aladdin's cave called Robbies, I'm looking to repurpose them as valve amp power supplies and it occurred to me they may be from a well known amp maker of the past - just wondering if anyone recognises them - the 6V6 is just there as a size reference, the socket is wired for GZ32 - the transformer and choke are both marked Gardeners Radio Ltd.
The Jones style connector has 3 connections - 6.3V ac, HT and both share a common ground, the twin electrolytic is marked Nov. 51 I'm assuming this is November 1951. Doing some internet searching revealed little except that it appears Gardeners is/was a UK based concern. |
29th Apr 2021, 11:59 am | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 827
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply
I have one. Bought late 1970s from NW Electrics in Levenshulme. It doesn't have the fuseholder. The electrolytic blew up when left unloaded once.
I would also be interested to know about its origins. |
29th Apr 2021, 1:08 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,255
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Looks as though Gardners (without the first "e") has folded but their technical information is in the hands of Avon Magnetics, still in the same town of Christchurch, Dorset, who offer a transformer building service:
https://www.avonmagnetics.com/news.php They say data sheets are available for some products: I don't expect that would be likely to include the transformer and choke here, but an enquiry might possibly be worthwhile. Paul |
29th Apr 2021, 2:38 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,311
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Interesting design ! 2-pin mains inlet, so no earth (at least not that way) and the mains inlet connector facing upwards, so bound to 'collect' whatever falls onto it. If that's a long enough bit of metal debris then you've successfully connected mains live to the unearthed chassis ...
If you were going to modify it very much then you might want to consider what a matching pair of Gardners mains transformers and chokes is worth now. You may find that you could sell them, buy less prestigious replacements and have funds left over to go towards the rest of the valve amp. Cheers, GJ
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29th Apr 2021, 4:18 pm | #5 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, USA.
Posts: 823
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Quote:
Dave, USradcoll1 |
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29th Apr 2021, 4:37 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 388
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Something brings to mind Vortexion but made for the military/naval use.Les
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29th Apr 2021, 7:09 pm | #7 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 870
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Quote:
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29th Apr 2021, 8:15 pm | #8 |
Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK.
Posts: 6,863
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Historically Christchurch and Bournemouth were part of Hampshire until 1974.
This has little bearing on the parts in question but makes sense why "Christchurch" address would make sense when these transformers were made. Anyone who knows the area can clearly see where old Hampshire ended and Old Dorset started, think communications Poole had a lot of Manufacturing including Company's Like Cyldon and of Course Plessey it could be manufactured for such a concern Cheers Mike T
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3rd May 2021, 12:13 pm | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Dorset, UK.
Posts: 521
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
For anyone interested in a potted history of Cecil Gardner and how his business expanded in Somerford Road, it can be found on Wikipedia. Scroll down to the section entitled 'Ministry of Defence and the electronics industry' then last paragraph.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor...church,_Dorset Rich
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3rd May 2021, 3:25 pm | #10 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 541
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
Thanks for all the replies, I checked out the Christchurch Wiki page thanks for the link it was interesting reading and downloaded the Gardners catalog from Electrojumble, the names of the various transformers reminded me of browsing through an Ikea catalog - Gardners transformers look to have been quality gear, the ones I have look to be part of the Hengist series.
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3rd May 2021, 3:39 pm | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,557
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Re: Does anyone recognise this valve power supply?
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